I have this great Japanese flute and koto CD I listen to. It's called Satori and I put it on every once in a while, not to relax, but just to be reminded of what music for music's sake sounds like. There is no planning here. No forethought. It is pure improvisation and frankly, there is nothing that compares with it as far as being in the moment improv is concerned. You can really "feel" the moment here. It's as if time is suspended and there is nothing but the player and the music. The best thing about this is that you enter the state of mind the musician is in when he recorded the music. You feel, through the music, the feelings and, in this case, the peace the flute player has in his heart as the instrument is played. It's really quite amazing! Here in the West, we are used to a music that must have a definite beginning and end. Everything is planned out and is designed to produce a certain emotional state. Drums, bass, volume, and heavy production are all used to drive the point home. But the mind can quickly grow tired of listening to the drone of a digital beat and wants something closer to itself. Something more natural and organic. I can think of no better music to treat the mind to than Japanese flute and koto music. |
