Genome is becoming one of the buzz words of the early 21st century. It all comes from The Human Genome, which of course is a scientific project of somewhat greater proportion than creating a mix of music suited to an individual listener. However, the premise is, with a bit of a stretched imagination, interesting. The Music Genome is a Web site designed to bring you individualized music - matched to your musical DNA in a way.

I gave this a test. I started with William Ackerman, being that he is an extremely well-known name in the neoclassical music world, and it did work. It took my first choice and continued to select music appropriate to my liking. The player is simple to operate, provided me with additional information as I listened, yet remained unobtrusively in the background when I was working.

Pandora is free - they guarantee it free for a lifetime, the ability to create up to 100 “stations” of your choosing, and accessible from any computer. It is a great way to not only listen to your favorites, but to discover new favorites, as their music analysis brings you likely choices.

Not really DNA, but not such a bad idea. I think you will enjoy this site and Pandora.

Pandora - Created by The Music Genome Project

I have a particular weakness for strings. If it is played on the violin, viola or cello, I love it. I vacilate between which I like best but I truly love good cello playing. Because of that, David Darling is definitely near the top of my list of favorite musicians.

Darling is another musician who has rejected the label of new age. He views his music as not having, “the busyness of progressive jazz, that has a meditative quality.” In the early 1990’s, Darling released the CD, “Cello,” which combined acoustic and electric cello with the hauntingly beautiful tones of Gregorian Chant.

A reviewer of his work says it best. You can read more about David Darling at this site as well, which is linked below.

His music is emerald fire on a midnight sea, an arctic exhalation amidst stifling summer heat, a northwest wind driving out a confusion of fog. It is archaic, intense and yet almost always calming. And thus far it has not ceased to carry me wherever it travels, however mysterious such places might be.
Kris Larson

David Darling Official Web Site

David Darling at Musicolog.com

I have received a couple of emails and several comments about a term that is used on this blog, and many other music sites, that is often misunderstood. The term is the “new age” part of new age music.

In this particular case, “new age” refers to a genre of music. It has no implications about the artist or anyone involved with the music. The artists within the “new age” music genre have belief systems just as diverse as any other population group.

Many are Christian, both Protestant and Catholic, some consider themselves spiritual rather than religious, others are Buddhist, Islamic, or are agnostic or atheist.

It is true that new age music evolved out of a spirituality that is growing in the world - a feeling of being closer to a Higher Power. Meditation, prayer, and consideration of life beyond the physical plane are now an active part of many people’s everyday routine. These practices are often accompanied by what is termed new age music.

The important thing is that a term does not give any indication as to an artist’s belief structure. Many artists are objecting to the term “new age” and wish for a better genre name; neoclassical, ambient, or contemporary instrumental are all possibilities.

For the purposes of this blog, I usually use the term neoclassical. I agree with the opinion of many of the artists because I don’t like labeling people. I see the “new age” genre as our current and contemporary form of classical music. Neoclassical fits the bill perfectly.

I love surfing the Internet for good music. Sometimes I find things that everyone in the world knows about but me. Today that is only partially true; Cecilia, an incredibly talented singer is known worldwide, and I believe her fame is only beginning to show itself in the United States.

Listening to Cecilia is reminiscent of Sarah Brightman, but the focus of her songs is different. Cecilia is all about healing people with her music. She hopes, in her words, to “give you hope and inspiration and a healing for your soul.” Her latest album is called, “The Healing Voice.”

Cecilia is a remarkable young woman. She was born in Norway, debuted in Australia and has a wide variety of vocal and musical training.

There are three samples of her latest album on the Web site. Listen and let them heal your soul. Her voice will speak to your soul with the gift of musical healing.

Cecilia - The Healing Voice