One of the most popular sounds in new age music, is the sound of nature. Many CDs are available that have natural sounds combined with soft, gentle piano or guitar playing. And there are also CDs that are exclusively natural sounds: Thunderstorms, rainstorms, chirping crickets, and ocean waves are some of the most common and favorites.

There is a Web site that has a very large supply of the sounds of nature. I personally love thunderstorms, and I listened to them through my headphones; I could have been convinced a real storm was outside. My daughter liked the coyote’s call the best (although we get that one just by turning off the TV and listening as we live on the prairies).

There are also bird songs. Lots of them! Birdwatchers as well as music lovers will love this site. The site sells CDs of the beautiful sounds from nature as well as having the sounds on the Web site. There are also some absolutely gorgeous photographs for your enjoyment as your peruse this site.

If you plan on using any of these sounds, for instance to dub onto another music CD, be sure to check the copyright regulations they have posted. There are different regulations for different uses. Always respect the rights of the… well, I was going to say author but in this case, we will say editor, since coyotes and thunderbolts don’t worry about such things.

They will make custom CDs for people. Imagine a CD to drift to sleep with sounds of rain, coyotes, an occasional thunderstorm… anything you want.

I think you will enjoy the site. I certainly enjoyed finding them.

Nature Songs

Nature Songs & Copyright Regulations

True music lovers are not satisfied (usually) with just listening. They develop a driving need to make music as well. But wanting to make your own music and being able to do it, may be two separate things. There is an answer for neoclassical music fans who want to create music with a very low learning curve.

The Dallas Morning News recently covered the story of Suzy Hogue, who was once told she didn’t have the ability to learn playing an instrument. But she didn’t accept that and when she discovered the Native American flute, she learned it. And she learned it well. She now plays at retreats and she also teaches others how to play!

Hogue says that learning this flute is easy and can be accomplished in just a few hours. “You don’t really need to be able to read music,” another flute player said. “I could teach you to play in three or four hours.”

With a six note range, this flute truly is the answer for the person needing to play music. “A lot of people that play the Native American flute aren’t your typical musicians,” Hogue said. “You learn a few notes. You do your own thing.”

New Age Sound, Old Origins - Suzy Hogue

Native American Flutes - This site has links to actual flute makers, as well as CDs, flute bags, books, and more information. It is a good starting place for the person interested in pursuing Native American flute playing.

Native American Flute Instruction

Talking about celtic new age music, and not featuring Enya, has to be almost a crime. Ireland’s best selling solo musician was born Eithne Ní Bhraonáin - her name has been translated to English - in 1961. Once with Clannad, her solo career took off with the single, “Orinoco Flow,” also known as “Sail Away.” This song crossed from the new age charts into popular music, and sold eight million CDs. Her next album, “Shepherds Moons,” in 1991, won Enya her first Grammy.

Like many neoclassical or new age artists, Enya does not embrace the label. This seems to be a trend with many artists that have fallen into the genre, perhaps because of the spirituality attached to the genre’s name. Regardless of the label, 1995 brought Enya another Grammy with “Memory of Trees.”

Some controversy has surrounded Enya and the use of her music shortly after the September 11th attacks on New York City. Television and radio stations nationwide began using her song, “Only Time,” as background to news reports and documentaries of the attacks and resulting tragedies. As altering the music (dubbing in other sounds relevant to the attack) was not approved by Enya, she had mixed feelings about the music’s use. However, she did produce a version of “Only Time,” that had all proceeds go to the families of 9-11 victims. Her fans have had some negative reaction to the association of the Irish singers music to the war on terrorism that began shortly after the attacks on New York City.

Fans of “Lord of the Rings,” recognize Enya’s voice on the soundtrack from “Fellowship of the Ring,” in which she sang, “May It Be.” She has done other songs that relate to “Lord of the Rings,” as far back as 1991.

Enya’s songs are sung in Irish, Latin, Japanese, English, or an language known as Loxian. Loxian is a language created by Roma Ryan, who describes it as “futuristic from a distant planet.” Ryan, who works closely with Enya, also worked with Tolkien’s languages, particularly Elvish, in writing music for Enya which was inspired by “Lord of the Rings.”

Enya’s latest album is “Amarantine,” released in November of 2005. Her official Web site has a beautiful presentation of a beautiful album.

Enya - The Official Web Site
This site was a little confusing to navigate at first, but once you get the hang of it you won’t have any problems. Click on the album cover, click on the key of the snowglobe and if you want to go back or change page, right click and take the first option, which will take you to the beginning. The site is well worth the time to investigate. It is beautifully done.

Out Of The Blue

 

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon the cloudy seas
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor
And the highwayman came riding,
Riding, riding,
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
From “The Highwayman” - A Classic Poem Set To Music

One of the most beautiful voices in the neoclassical genre, is Loreena McKennitt. Her albums are more than music, although more beautiful songs you would be hard pressed to find. The Canadian artist, “…continues a process of cultural excavation of the pan-Celtic heritage, serving as a creative springboard and a passport to eras past.” (WBR)

Warner Brothers Records, calls McKennitt’s music, “translucent, subliminal and sensual.” McKennitt says about her music:

“I feel extraordinarily lucky to be able to marry the vehicle of my talents with the fuel of my curiosity and imagination. This process has allowed me to explore the greater depths of our humanity and the human condition in a way that is tangible and full of meaning. It has taught me that indeed we are a culmination of our collective histories and that at the end of the day, not only are we and have been more or less the same, but also there is probably more to bind us together than tear us apart. It is a force of faith I must believe in.”

Loreena McKennitt Song Samples

Loreena McKennitt Biography

Loreena McKennitt Official Web Site

Loreena McKennitt - WBR Official Site