Featuring Matthew Zachary

Pianist Matthew Zachary has a unique story. When he was 21, Zachary was diagnosed with a rare cerebellum tumor, which effectively ended his career as a concert pianist. In time, he recovered, and has recorded, self-produced and distributed his solo piano music in the hope of inspiring others.

Zachary's CD Scribblings is a lovely George Winston-type collection of soothing, upbeat piano solos, including selection names such as "Simplicity," "Rain," "Innocence" and "Recovery." The tones are clear and light, with meandering melody lines that have an improvisational feel (and in fact, four tracks were improvised). The CD's tempo is a bit quicker than traditional meditative music, but the upbeat feel to the music brings with it a whiff of spring and hope--perhaps exactly what Zachary had in mind when composing the music.

To order, call toll free, 877-687-4277, or shop online at: [www.matthewzachary.com]. $15.00, plus shipping and handling.

Healing Vibrations
Composed and Arranged by Deva Sudha

If you're searching for background music designed to decrease heart rate and calm the mind, Healing Vibrations, a new CD from Meistersinger International, might do the trick. In the liner notes, Deva Sudha, the CD's composer and arranger, claims the music--the slightly Native American-sounding wind instruments, strings and chimes sounds--has been designed to create alpha and theta waves in the brain, which in turn calm the cerebral vibrations and decrease the pulse rate. Who knows? What I do know is that the music's languorous charm does indeed have a calming effect, making you feel as if you have all the time in the world. Only two tracks--"Soaring Spirit" and "Angelic Call"--comprise the CD. Each track is 30 minutes long.

To order, call Meistersinger at 800-668-8623, or visit their Web site at: [www.meistersinger.com]. $15.98, plus shipping and handling.

Pure Peace

Pure Peace, a New World Music product, takes an old favorite--Pachelbel's "Canon in D"--and infuses it with New Age synthesized instrumentals, including flutes, a piano, violins, a cello, and some amorphous and rather celestial sounding background vocals. The effect is probably not what Pachelbel had in mind, but as background music, the CD is relaxing. It's hard not to become comforted around "Canon in D," anyway. Add to it the somnolent sounds of New World Music's manufactured nature--birdcalls and the ocean surf--and I challenge anyone to not feel their bones and muscles start to melt into the gentle rhythm.

To order, go to: [www.newworldmusic.com], or call 800-771-0987. $15.95, plus shipping and handling.

Meditation & Visualisation
Featuring Medwyn Goodall

New World Music's Meditation & Visualisation CD contains the music of New Age Cornish composer and musician Medwyn Goodall. Billed as a "celebration of nature," this CD offers soothing--very soothing--delicate music, utilizing the sounds of piano and strings, along with various chimes. Goodall based his compositions on the ancient Hawaiian belief that life is made up of seven components: fire, water, air/wind, earth/stone, plant, animal and human. The CD's tracks take you through a journey exploring each of these elements for a total running time of 61 minutes, 6 seconds. Designed for meditation and visualization, these relaxing tracks also include the sounds of the nature they're representing (i.e., the surf, a brook, bird calls) for a delightful mix, perfect for background massage music.

To order, go to: [www.newworldmusic.com], or call 800-771-0987. $15.95, plus shipping and handling.

m'Anchelii
Featuring Enam

For those therapists who want to infuse their massage work with a touch of Celtic sounds, New Age musician and composer Enam's CD m'Anchelii offers the sounds of familiar and traditional Celtic instruments, blended with light vocals--not words, the liner note is quick to point out, rather, "combinations of pronounced sounds." The result? A cross between Enya and the chants of Benedictine monks. Tracks such as "Misereatori," "Socata Del Siero" and "Yellow Shades Turning to Blue" use sounds of bagpipes, a harp, a dulcimer and a flute, which are all synthesized for a dreamy compilation of music that has a slightly High Church feel. At times, the urgent percussion can take on a haunting sound. Total time for this CD is 54 minutes, 11 seconds.

To order, go to: [www.oreade.com]. $15.98, plus shipping and handling.

Buddha Nature
Featuring C. G. Deuter

If you're looking for genuine relaxation and background music that is both as inconspicuous and welcome as a summer breeze, consider C. G. Deuter's Buddha Nature CD. The five tracks--"Buddha Nature," "Illumination," "Amida," "Joyful Path" and "Blessing"--flow dream-like, one to the other. The soft synthesized tones of the flute, chimes, guitar and piano create a gentle landscape, almost imperceptible at times. Designed for healing and meditation, Deuter's music naturally flows with the breath, acting as a natural tranquilizer. The Santa Fe, New Mexico-based Deuter intersperses the sounds of birdcalls and ocean waves throughout the tracks for a natural touch.

To order, go to: [www.newearthmusic.com], or call 800-570-4074 (use order code NE2104). $15, plus shipping and handling.

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Clare La Plante, a songwriter and pianist, is a freelance writer based in Skokie, Illinois. She is coauthor of the book Dear Saint Anne: Find Me a Man and Other Time-Honored Prayers For Love (Rizzoli, December 2001). She can be contacted via E-mail at: CRLaplante@aol.com.