Description
Proportion, purpose, space… the fundamental principles of architecture exist on both physical and metaphysical planes. And they are the fundamental principles of the arts as well—and of music in particular.
This compilation offers a diverse glimpse into this connection between music and great works of architecture, as well as some unusual, and usually beautiful sites that are not nearly so well-known and the ultimate architecture—that of the earth itself.
The peculiar magic of the world’s great architecture is to both distill and expand the experience of music. A reverberant space gives the musician the change to really listen. Paradoxically, this deeply personal experience can be communicated to a wider audience. Maybe it’s that very intensity that enables this music to speak so clearly—to all of us who might never have the pleasure of playing one of our own creations into the echoing dome of the Taj Mahal, or the vaulted ceilings of a European cathedral, or the implacable stillness of a New Mexico night.
Paul Horn – The Peace Album
CD review by Tony Smith – TN178
TN1560-75 – $25
While this album might have been produced in 1988, Christmas music is timeless.
The tracks are: ‘Joyous’, ‘Joy to the World’ (Handel), ‘Good King Wenceslaus’, ‘Air’ (Bach), ‘God Rest You Merry Gentlemen’, ‘Christmas Morning Prayer’, ‘Ave Maria’, ‘Carol of the Bells’ (Leontovych), ‘Angels We Have Heard on High’, ‘Silent Night’ (Gruber), ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ (Malotte), ‘We Three Kings’ (Hopkins), ‘Magnificat’ (Palestrina), ‘Little Prelude’ and ‘What Child Is This?’
Except for the brief overture ‘Joyous’, which was written by Paul Horn, the carols without composers attributed are traditional and anonymous, with arrangements by Horn.
Paul Horn played C flute, alto flute, bass flute and Conn Multi-Vider.
This latter is a special effects machine somewhat like a synthesiser which alters and extends an instrument’s range.
Horn produced the album while Christopher Hedge joined in for recording and mixing.
Much of the production was in California, but the album was printed in West Germany in 1988.
Horn mentions Dan Hersch for help recording the album and Eckart Rahn for ongoing support.
Multi tracking the flutes works well.
This has an echoing effect in ‘We Three Kings’ and is especially effective in ‘The Ukrainian Bell Song’, which is perhaps my pick of the tracks.
Each of the tracks here has something significant about it, but the story of Franz Gruber’s ‘Silent Night’ has perhaps the most direct engagement with peace.
Famously, during the First World War in 1914, the carol was sung spontaneously across the trenches in various languages, especially the German ‘Stille Nachte’.
Opposing infantryman crossed no man’s land to exchange simple gifts of cigarettes.
According to some accounts, officers feared that peace would break out and so fired machine guns into the area to disrupt the Christmas spirit.
A number of films have been inspired by this extraordinary event.
Horn had a huge output of solo works and collaborations.
He was considered a pioneer of New Age music and as such, it is no surprise to find that his choice of carols and his arrangements result in a soothing and calming effect.
He dedicates this album to world peace.
Considering the way Christmas has become commercialised, returning people’s thoughts to the original messages of peace and joy and hope is a worthwhile project.
Paul Horn died in 2014 but this album is a great legacy.
As he pointed out, we need to amend the theme of ‘Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All’ so that we take responsibility for building peace among ourselves.
Ed. Paul Horn has two albums for sale on the Trad&Now website.
