Have you ever heard incredibly beautiful music in stores, malls, or offices and thought, "Wow! What kind of music is that?" Its not classical, not jazz, and not instrumental remixes of old stuff. Its new and fresh! Its called New Age. No one is really sure where that classification title came from, and many NA artists have gone on record as saying they dislike that title. Whatever you want to call it, NA music is very soothing and relaxing. Some forms are very romantic and sensual. Other forms are mood-elevating and caress the mind.
I created this site to assist others in their search for NA music. New Age artists and their music are so very different it is easy to get a "not-so-good" CD when one buys NA music on chance. Many radio stations are beginning to give NA music more air play, and NA music is rapidly gaining popularity as more artists and recording companies emerge.
This web site takes the guess work out of finding excellent New Age music. Listed here are what I consider the creme-de-la-creme of artists and their music. After purchasing and sampling over 300 NA recordings, I think I might be able to give you a pointer or two.
Many people love New Age music and don't even know it, like Vangelis' classic Chariots of Fire, Enya's Orinoco Flow (Sail Away) , and the soundtracks of movies like Last of the Mohicans and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. And have you ever really listened to the beautiful romantic background music in some of the daytime Soaps? For example, David Lanz's Cristofori's Dream has been heard on a popular day-time soap. That's New Age! See? You do like it! :)
There are several categories of the New Age music genre such as "Electronic," "Neo-Classical," and "Ambient." Another popular category is "Space Music" that is commonly heard in planetarium shows, on space documentary soundtracks, or recorded just to enjoy at home. I prefer the acoustical sounds of piano, winds, and guitar, and the ethereal, mesmerizing sounds of synthesizers and space music.
Here are some links to my favorite New Age artists to acquaint you with this music. The links below will take you to the CD. Just scroll down the page and select tunes you want to hear. Some pages show the artist's entire discography. Just click the CD you want to hear. Enjoy! :)
Narada Decade (various artists and styles)
Are you new to New Age music and don't know where to start? This is the definitive CD to begin your search. Premier New Age recording company, Narada, released this 2-CD, 10-year anniversary compilation of its finest artists and music. It contains over 20 artists on 31 tracks, and features many categories of New Age music. This collection is 156 minutes! New Age music icons, David Lanz and David Arkenstone are featured on several tracks. A "must have" CD for the New Age newbie. Listen to Volume I here.
David Lanz (piano / solo & ensemble)
The best way to describe Lanz is "extraordinary." Many of his tunes have beautiful string and wind accompaniments. His music ranges from pure acoustic in From the Heart, to the romantic and passionate Beloved, to the faster-paced Desert Vision CD. You can visit his home page here.You can hear all of his beautiful sounds here by selecting from the various CDs on the page. If you like beautiful pianoscapes, it doesn't get any better than this.
Craig Chaquico (acoustic guitar & electric ensemble / new age rock / some jazz crossover)
Chaquico (pronounced Cha-Key-So) is a master guitarist. Some of you may remember him from his days as lead guitarist for the Jefferson Starship. Now he is taking the acoustic guitar pass the limit in his music. His music is surrounded by excellent electronic keyboard, bass and percussion. I like his first two CDs, Acoustic Highway and Acoustic Planet the best. His later CDs have some jazz-crossover, but are excellent too. Listen to him here. Click on each CD for some great sounds! By the way, he's a real nice guy too. I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with him before a concert. He autographed my CDs. :)
David Arkenstone (neo-classical / progressive electronic)
Arkenstone is perhaps the best example of a modern-day musical genius...the Renaissance Man of music. He is a multi-instrumentalist and incorporates incredible synthesized sounds. Many of his sounds have ethereal and mystical qualities. My personal favorite CDs are Another Star in the Sky, In the Wake of the Wind, and Quest of the Dream Warrior. Listen to his awesome sounds here.
Troika (neoclassical / progressive electronic)
David Arkenstone is such a prolific musician that he has tunes he has never published, so an anonymous group of musicians calling themselves "Troika" brings them to life. David produces their music with an Arken-esque spin. If you like David's music as much as I do, you'll really enjoy these.
Jonn Serrie (electronic / space music)
Serrie is the guru of "Space Music." If you've ever been to a planetarium show, you probably heard his music. His music can be heard here, but be prepared to become totally relaxed! Some of his ethereal synthesized sounds will make your mind float. A nice tune to sample is "Timelines" on Midsummer Century. My favorite tune is "Gentle the Night" on Century Seasons. Listen to it and take flight through the clouds.
Yanni (neo-classical / new age pop)
Yanni is perhaps the best known New Age musician because he markets himself very well and tours on a grand scale. Of course, he does have some pretty good music too for a musician who does not read or write music. He's a natural and does it well. His magic is done on various keyboards, piano, and synthesizers, and he brings in very impressive orchestral arrangements. His music ranges from romantic/passionate keyboard and synthesizer, to bold, stimulating orchestral pieces. You can find his music here. If you like his music and decide to purchase his CDs, make sure you read the track listings because he recorded seven CDs then released five different compilations of the same music before doing the Tribute album. He recorded Tribute at the Taj Mahal and China's Forbidden City. Also check out the videos and DVDs of his majestic concerts here.
Suzanne Ciani (electronic / acoustic piano)
Ciani has the honor of being known as the "Diva of Electronic Music." Her unique blend of piano and synthesized sounds with other beautiful accompaniments has earned her four Grammy nominations. Her soothing, soaring, up-lifting sounds can be found here. Listen to "Megan's Dream" on Dream Suite and the title song on Hotel Luna to appreciate her varied styles.
Enya (Celtic / ethereal)
The Irish vocalist with the voice of an angel...Enya's music has been very instrumental in popularizing New Age music. The music alone is fantastic, but her ethereal vocals and songs make it irresistible. Her music is classified as New Age but is sometimes found in the Celtic section for obvious reasons. Her enchanting sounds can be heard here.
John Doan (Celtic guitar / traditional)
Doan is an Oregon guitarist, cultural historian, and a master of the rare 20-string harp guitar. His music includes other traditional Celtic instruments and sounds. An excellent example of his Celtic creativity can be heard on the song "Farewell" from the Eire, Isle of the Saints CD. Listen to this unique string experience here.
Vangelis (neo-classical / progressive electronic)
Vangelis is a prolific artist with more than 25 CDs released during his long career...and still counting. He is perhaps best known for his soundtrack to the movie Chariots of Fire, but that by no means is his only masterpiece. He has released many excellent studio albums and other movie soundtracks such as Blade Runner, Antarctica, and 1492, Conquest of Paradise. His style varies significantly according to the subject of the album, so I recommend sampling all of his CDs to appreciate the scope of his talent. No matter which CD you hear, you can count on finding amazing piano, synthesizer, and orchestral sounds. Some of his later works contain vocals by previous lead singer of "Yes," Jon Anderson. Listen to Vangelis here. Hint: his 2-CD greatest hits import is exquisite!
Kevin Kern (piano / solo & ensemble)
Kevin's music includes some solo piano and many other tunes with wonderful accompaniments. "Through the Arbor" on the In the Enchanted Garden CD is a one of many beautiful tunes you will carry around in your head throughout the day. Listen to it and his other CDs here.
Dan Chadburn (solo piano)
Dan sent me his CD to review and I am very impressed! His style is quite unique, but if I had to describe it with an analogy I would say it is like a refreshing blend of Lanz and Gettel. The CD is a creative variety of passionate, soothing, relaxing tunes...some quiet and melodic and some bolder and emotional. The music and melodies are less predictable than, for example, Kern's style, which creates an aural journey of anticipation for the listener. Visit Dan here and listen to this brilliant piece of art.
Celtic Twilight (Celtic / traditional)
These 6 volumes are a compilation of various Celtic artists, such as Steve McDonald, Bill Douglas, Joanie Madden, Loreena Mckennitt, and many others. Volume I also has John Doan's moving tune, "Farewell" here. These CDs are a must for the serious Celtic music collector, and for those who are new to Celtic music who want to sample various artists.
Steve Roach (ambient / some ethno-tribal)
Steve's music is an excellent example of what is known as "ambient" New Age music. My web site is dedicated to the more mainstream New Age music, but I decided to include some ambient as examples of this New Age sub-category to assist in your music search. One must be in a certain mood for ambient music. It is sometimes very mysterious and even haunting. But really good ambient music, like Steve's, can make the mind drift and promote relaxation. He experiments in his music which creates very unique sounds. I particularly like the didgeridoo sounds on his Origins CD. Check him out here.
Carlos Nakai (acoustic & ensemble / ethno-tribal)
Native American music is often classified as a sub-category of New Age music. It is sometimes classified under "New Age-World Music," but MOST "World Music" is not New Age. Nakai's music however, fits the NA category quite nicely. His heavenly Native American flutes have been incorporated into many other NA artists' music, but you can experience him best on his own CDs. The sound is calming, soothing, spiritual-like...excellent for quiet meditation. His music is here. Listen to "Shaman's Call" on Canyon Trilogy for an excellent sample of these soothing sounds.
Ah Nee Ma (acoustic, electronic & ensemble / ethno-tribal)
Ah Nee Ma is David Arkenstone and friends' version of Native American music. This music is an absolutely amazing blend of traditional native and modern instruments. You're going to love this!
John Huling (acoustic / ensemble)
Huling's music has a strong southwest "flavor" to it, combining Native American and modern instruments with mesmerizing environmental and animal sounds. The music transports you to places like a lonely dark desert and deep in the canyons. Listen to Mesa Sunrise, the collection of his best work.
2002 (electronic & ensemble)
Wonderful synthesizers and other instruments make up this group's style of music. Pleasant and soft sounds with a slight celestial quality, but not really space music. This music is perfect for relaxing with the headphones. Listen to their greatest hits here, and relax.
Will Ackerman (acoustic guitar)
If you're looking for pure, unadulterated, relaxing guitar...look no further. Ackerman was the first artist to record on the popular New Age Windham Hill label. That's because he created the company. He is the "Segovia" of New Age music. Intimate acoustic guitar at its finest can be found here.
Billy McLaughlin (acoustic guitar / light ensemble)
One of the newest guitarist on the New Age scene. McLaughlin's music ranges from slow and melodic solo to moderate tempo with light accompaniments. I can best describe his music as somewhere between Ackerman's and Chaquico's styles. Some tunes are calm and peaceful while others are more upbeat. Very nice variations. Check out the title song on Fingerdance to see what I mean.
Hoppe & Wheater (new age flute)
The very best collection of romantic flute music I have ever heard is The Yearning by Michael Hoppe and Tim Wheater. Hoppe's keyboard is an excellent complement to Wheater's mesmerizing flute. Each song on the CD is dedicated to a famous woman of the 1920's and 30's. Their combined expertise produced a unique masterpiece. You can find The Yearning on Hoppe's discography here, and Wheater's other works here.
Val Magyar (neo-classical / new age pop)
This is the name of a group, not a person. Probably one of the more obscure groups, but they produce some awesome neo-classical sounds, especially on their first CD, Acts of Love. Their use of French horn sounds are the perfect complement to their piano work. I like Acts of Love better than the more recent Take this Chance, but both CDs offer a variety of romantic and cheerful tracks. Listen to samples here.
Zazen (new age pop / some jazz crossover)
This group has a very unique style and sound; similar to Val Magyar, but with slightly jazzy moves on some tracks. Other tracks are light and airy. Very nice guitar, bass, and keyboard works. Check them out here.
Hilary Stagg (new age harp)
Looking for relaxing, ethereal harp music? I think Hilary's is the best! His electric harp, accompanied by synthesizers, flutes, and keyboards, produces celestial tunes unlike any other. This is music to listen to at the end of a stressful work day. Check out the Edge of Forever CD here for some beautiful sounds.
Patrick O'Hearn (electronic)
A long-time favorite of listeners attracted to strong synthesized sounds. The synthesizer is the predominant instrument in O'Hearn's music. He adds pulsating electronic percussion and bass, and a variety of other interesting sounds to create melodic beats within an almost continuous flow of airy chords. Most of his tunes are solemn or moody, but moving. A good example is "Devil's Lake" from Indigo which can be found here.
David Helpling (electronic)
If you like O'Hearn's music, you will be very impressed with Helpling. Similar to O'Hearn but more up-beat and variable. Percussion pieces are generally stronger, and use of other electronic sounds are more creative than O'Hearn's. Check him out here.
Wayne Gratz (piano & ensemble)
Gratz is a very versatile artist with tunes ranging from the passionate Music of the Night to the cheerful sounds in Island Sanctuary. Guitar, winds, and strings complement his piano to produce colorful, peaceful notes. Sample both of these CDs here to appreciate his versatility.
Christopher Franke (neo-classical / some electronic)
I like all of Franke's music, but he really created a masterpiece with Epic. The music is much less electronic than other artists who produce similar sounds with synthesizers. Excellent easy listening. This amazing CD can be found here.
Greg Klamt (progressive electronic / neo-classical / space music)
Klamt's style is hard to pin down. He does an excellent blend of neo-classical, space, and symphonic-like compositions through his mastery of the synthesizer. His music is an atmospheric orchestration with powerful electronics and percussion. If you like electronic, check out Fluxus Quo.
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