One of a growing breed of new acoustic musicians gaining a reputation for an eclectic approach to performance and composition, Peter Janson offers original fingerstyle guitar music with folk roots, mild rhythmic grooves, New Age aesthetics, Jazz aesthetics, Celtic elements, demanding part writing, and acoustic sonority. Solo and with his band this is world class acoustic music with artistry, detail of classical technique, and attention to melodic line. According to “Wind & Wire” magazine, “Peter Janson is one of the best acoustic guitarists recording today…a true artist’s soul.”

Acoustic guitar is proving to be a very popular form of new age or neoclassical music. I have been listening to his music tonight, and frankly, I am having problems picking the one I would call my favorite. Each piece is done with the gift of spirit and the skill of a well-trained musician. He allows the music say what he needs to say and leaves it at that.

Janson does have a page with music sample. I really appreciate artists doing this - it gives the listener a chance to hear different musicians and find the CD (or CDs) that are favorites. I know you will enjoy Peter Janson.

Peter Janson’s Official Web Site

Peter Janson’s Music Samples

New age music reviewer, R.J. Lannan has a great review on Grace Griffith’s new CD, “My Life.” It was released about two weeks ago. The CD is beautiful and I don’t think I have ever read a more well-phrased review.

Grace is fortunate. Her whole life has been filled with music of one type or another from her childhood to her present. Her parents sang as often as the sun rose and Grace made her own music with recorder and voice early in her life. Griffith is a physical therapist who is suffering the initial ravages of Parkinson’s disease of late. It has restricted her physical actions, but never her lustrous performances. Her voice carries strong and pure and as always, from the heart. Please keep singing Grace, and we will go on believing.
R.J. Lannan

Review by R. J. Lannan

Blix Street - Grace Griffith

If you are a David Lanz fan, you are going to want to check out his Web site. His CDs are on sale and there is a lot more to be found there as well.

First of all, the CDs are a dollar off, and if you are looking for a particular piece of music, there is a convenient table that lists all of his CDs and the contents of each.

There are also “songbooks,” and music for solo piano karaoke. These are not available for download, but are definitely at good prices.

There are some downloadable files however. There is one page that has sheet music for those of you who play for your enjoyment. This sheet music is at extremely reasonable prices and is a great buy for musicians. I’ll envy you for afar - I’m still pretty new on the violin and not quite ready to join David Lanz.

And last, but not least as they say, there are some mp3 files that are available free of charge. Take a look - there is some of Lanz’s earlier work, AND some new arrangements.

Believe it or not, Gregorian Chant is considered part of the new age music genre. I found that odd at first, but considering the spirituality of the chant, it makes sense. It is a beautiful chant, that is very meditative and relaxing. Although I prefer Russian chant, Gregorian is a more traditional and well-known chant, and it has become very popular.

Gregorian Chant is named after Pope Gregory I who led the Catholic Church in the sixth century. There are approximately 3000 compositions. It evolved out of Hebrew Chant and became the Catholic Church’s largest contribution to music after the time of Pope Gregory. Although seldom heard in the 1960s and 70s, it has enjoyed a recent popularity within the church and within the new age music genre.

Chant is sung without any instrumental background. The voices themselves create the music and the mood. It has no meter whatsoever, but groups around two or three notes. Musical scales, as we commonly think of them, are not used, but modes are, which is a form of music theory that groups certain notes together for an effect.

Listen to some Gregorian Chant online before making any purchases. Some people love it. Others do not care for it at all. As I said, I prefer Russian chant, but I do enjoy listening to Gregorian from time to time. It has a very unearthly and deep spiritual sound that touches the soul in a very unique manner. It could easily be thought of as the music of the angels.

Gregorian Chant at Princeton

St. Michael’s Abbey

Antiphon — Morning Prayer

The Catholic Encyclopedia - Gregorian Chant

Wikipedia - Gregorian Chant

Gregorian Schola

Although the lyrics are not copyrighted, the recordings are, so if you do download some chant, it is for personal use only!