The Politics of New Age Music
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Alex VarlowThe Politics of New Age Music
Uploaded by
Alex VarlowThe Politics of New Age Music
Introduction
! The aim of this presentation is to discuss
the issues of the New Age Movement and
the music that goes under the genre
heading “New Age”.
! Alex Varlow, Telecommunications
Engineer with 30 years experience, 3rd
year music student retraining under the
Workcover scheme.
Topics of discussion
! Using references to Aldred, Blum, Heelas,
Newport, Possami, Weston, and Zrzavy as
well as listening to various sound
recordings, we will look at.
! The Beliefs and history of the New Age
Movement.
! New Age music and the role it plays within
the New Age Movement.
Questions
! What is the New Age Movement?
! What is New Age music?
! Is there a hidden agenda behind New
Age music?
! Can you determine what New Age
music is just by listening to it?
What is the New Age?
! ‘The search for an understanding of the New Age phenomenon is
fraught with difficulties … New Agers … move through fluid networks
… they assemble personal syncretism's of belief. The term “New
Age” is unacceptable by many New Agers’ Dr Adam Possamai UWS
! ‘The term “New Age” is not easily defined … due to the nature of the
movement itself … encompassing spiritual, political, medical and
scientific realms.’ Dr Donna Weston Griffith University
! ‘The “New Age” is an umbrella term … it should be understood as a
network, of networks … an extremely large and loosely structured
group of organizations bound together by common assumptions and
a common vision.’ John P. Newport.
! ‘One’s initial impression … is a hotchpotch of beliefs … mystical
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Taoism’ with ‘elements
of Celtic, Druidic, Mayan and American Indian practices’ Paul
Heelas.
What is New Age Music?
• Oxford dictionary: A style of chiefly instrumental music,
with light melodic harmonies and natural world sounds.
• Groves Online: A contemporary music genre that
generates important revenue for the industry.
• Wikipedia: Music of modal and consonant harmonies
with patches of nature sounds. Includes both electronic
and acoustic instrumentation. Initially vocals were rare
but can use Sanskrit, Tibetan or Native American
chants.
• The New Age Movement is a billion dollar industry of
which the music is a part.
What does it sound like ?
D’Angelo’s suggested features
• Repetition: Incantational aspect
• Tuning/Temperaments: A move away from Equal
Temperament
• Drone/Modes: An omnipresent constant
• Steady Pulse and Rhythm: To induce
entrainment of heart rate & breathing
• Major/Minor Triadic harmony
• Form: Performers are empathetic, dynamics &
tempo will disappear
Zrzarvy’s 5 common traits
! Emphasis on improvisational pieces.
! Shifting cycles of sound over music
dynamics similar to Minimalism
! Consistent absence of vocal pieces
! Infusion of ethnic stylings from a wide
variety of cultures.
! Incorporation of environmental sounds.
Halpern’s 5 stylistic
criteria
• Harmony and consonance rather than
dissonance.
• Unpredictable melody lines.
• Lack of traditional pulsing rhythm.
• Avoidance of instruments with harsh
or shrill sounds.
• Open texture creating a feeling of
“space” for the listener
Dr Weston’s analyzed
characteristics
! Track length is 3 – 7 minutes long
! Regular pulse of 60-70bpm generated by arpeggiation
! Percussion when used is unobtrusive
! Tonal harmony by block chords & arpeggiation
! Melody is thematic & diatonic with repetition.
! Medium dynamic range
! Texture is homophonic
! Instrumentation combination of electronic and acoustic.
! Form defined by principal melody returns.
What are the politics of the New
Age?
Bibliography
• Aldred, Lisa. ‘”Money is just spiritual energy”: Incorporating The New Age’ Journal of Popular Culture, (2002): 35,4.
• Blum, Peter C. ‘Typification, transcendence and critique: On the social construction of New Age music’ in Allan F.
Moore, ed., Analyzing Popular Music. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003
• D’Angelo, James. ‘Towards a new phenomenon of sound in the age of Aquarius’, Contemporary Music Review,
(1996): 15:3.
• Freeman, Hobart E. Every Wind Of Doctrine. Claypool, Indiana: Faith Publications, 1974.
• Heelas, Paul. The New Age Movement. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1996.
•
• Horner, Bruce & Swiss, Thomas eds. Key Terms in Popular Music and Culture. Carlton, Victoria: Blackwell
Publishing, 1999.
• "New Age music n." The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, Eleventh edition revised . Ed. Catherine Soanes and
Angus Stevenson. Oxford University Press, 2006. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.
2007 http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t23.e37866 15 Sept 2007.
•
• ‘New Age Music’. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age_music 15th Sept 2007.
• Newport, John P. The New Age Movement and the Biblical World View. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998.
• Possami, Adam. In Search of New Age Spiritualities. Aldershot, Hants.: Ashgate, 2005.
• Schreiner, Dianne. 'New Age', Grove Music Online.
http://www.grovemusic.com/shared/views/article.html?section=music.40613 5 August 2007.
•
• Weston, Donna. Music and Musical Thought of the “New age”. A dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the
requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland Conservatorium, March 1999.
• Zrzavy, Helfried C. ‘Issues of Incoherence and Cohesion in New Age Music’, Journal of Popular Culture, (1990):
24,2.
Discography:
• Ade, King Sunny. Sunny Ti De [sound recording]: (1974) male voice, guitar,
percussion. USA: Shanachie, 2003. 66034.
• Beck, Jeff. Bozzio, Terry. Hymas, Tony. Where were you [sound recording]: (1989)
electric guitar, drums, Synthesizer. Los Angeles: Epic/CBS records, 1989. EK 44313.
• Di Meola, Al. Under A Dark Moon [sound recording]: (1993) guitars, percussion,
voice. Austria: Play It Again Sam/Music Works, 1993. 598. 1089.20.
• Enya. Orinoco Flow [sound recording]: (1988) female voice, synthesizers. Australia:
Warner Music Australia, 1997. 3984 20895 2.
• Garbarek, Jan/the Hilliard Ensemble. Parce mihi domine [sound recording]: (1994)
soprano saxophone, male ensemble. Munich: ECM 1994.
• Hedges, Michael. Because it’s there [sound recording]: (1986) harp guitar. USA:
October Guitar Player Soundpage, 1986.
• Levine, John. Track 20 [sound recording]: oboe, keyboards. Australia:
Silenceofmusic.
• Metheny, Pat. Above the tree tops [sound recording]: (1992) Guitars, keyboards,
orchestra. Gemany: Geffen, 1992. GED24468,GEFD24468.
• Yanni. Aria [sound recording]: (1994) Concert Orchestra. Australia: BMG/Private
Music, 1994. 01005821222.
Dr Sally’s New Age listening
guide
• Harmony : Reliance on triadic consonance
• Melody : Not inevitable, no prominent motifs
• Rhythm : Dominant pulse weakened by
sustained slow attack sounds i.e.. drones
• Timbre : Avoidance of harsh shrill sounds
• Texture : Spaciousness with reverb/echo
