"Four Shakuhachi Meditations"

music by Andrew MacGregor

Produced by Andrew MacGregor & Tom MacGregor (for Media Dogs Productions)
Keyboards and textures by Tom MacGregor
Recorded and mixed by Andrew MacGregor & Tom MacGregor
Editing and Mastering: Tom MacGregor
Cover Design: Shane Hammon

1. IMAYO (14:36) This origins of this music are rooted in the ancient traditions of Japan and it is today still used in a religious context. This melody is also reminiscent of the Japanese folk song Kuroda Bushi.

2. GRATITUDE (11:09) The arrangement of the Zen shakuhachi piece expressing gratitude, is combined with the sustained sounds of didgeridoo, harmonic singing and voices.

3. BEGINNING (20:29 Two versions of the Zen piece "Shirabe", "Beginning", are combined with a lullaby from Shimabara and cello improvisations to create a scene of deep meditation.

4. MOUNTAIN PASS (18:11) Travellers crossing the mountain pass offered a prayer to the god of the pass for their safe journey. The rich sounds of the clarinet, the earth-rhythms of the clapping stones, and the Japanese lullaby (Itsuki no komoriuta) provide a hypnotic backing to this shakuhachi ceremonial music.

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