What's the Antidote for Modern Life?

In our harried and hectic 21st century lives, Newthe musical environment rather than intruding
Age music just might be the right antidote for allupon it.
the craziness that seems to surround us everyIn the mid 20th Century, historians say, the New
day. New age music offers a magical blend ofAge genre was blown wide open by a composer
sounds that reach deep into the psyche andnamed John Cage who experimented with a wide
transport listeners to a blissful state of harmonyrange of sounds from countries around the world.
and contentment. New Age music is also knownCage even challenged the notion that music could
by many other names including ambient,not be a recording of silence. In the 1960s, the
contemporary instrumental, experimental,New Age floodgates opened when American
spacerock, mood music and chillout. Not everyonecomposers with classical backgrounds started to
agrees on exactly what New Age musicexplore the idea of repetition whether with
encompasses. One group of fans claims that Neworchestras, electric instruments or non-Western
Age is an offshoot of electronic music thatinstrumental arrangements. The invention of the
includes melodic non-dance pieces. Artists in thisanalog synthesizer led to the development of
tradition include Enya, Yanni and Vangelis, who aremany other types of compositions by this school
all hugely popular. Others consider New Age as anof composers who came to be known as
outgrowth of electronic music used primarily forminimalists. In the 1990s, some historians note
relaxation in Eastern practices like yoga andthat the term “New Age music,” for
meditation. There is an entire industry of recordingbetter or worse, was co-opted by self-help gurus
companies that produce cassettes and CDs towho thought that it could lead to self-realization
teach and compliment these practices. Anotherand new levels of consciousness. In the new
point of view is that New Age is purely melodicmillennium, historians say that New Age music
with long, soothing tracks.belongs to a whole new group of listeners known
The history of New Age music is also open toas the ‘rave’ generation.
interpretation. Some music historians say it can beWhatever your perception of the origins or
traced back to a British musician named Brian Enopurposes of New Age music, it’s clear that
who coined the term “ambient music.”there is a prominent place for it in today’s
regarding his 1978 album, “Ambient 1: Musicculture. Yes, we’re caught up in a harried
for Airports,”. In the sleeve notes, Enoexistence, but we always find time to take a chill
explained that it was music “designed topill with this soothing genre of music.
induce calm and a place to think.” He explainedListen to free New Age Music MP3's at Where
that depending on the listener, it could be used asdoes your favorite top New Age songs rank?
background music or be actively listened to.Visit EZ-tracks to check out top country music
According to these historians, New Agecharts.
music’s prime source is two 19th CenturyWant a soothing ringtone for you cell phone?
classical avant-garde composers--Claude DebussyDownload New Age Ringtones for your mobile
and Erik Satie—who heralded a new opennessnow.
in Western music to sounds that complimented