BENJY WERTHEIMER: Soul of the Esraj

Benjy Wertheimer

Soul of the Esraj

© 2000 Benjy Wertheimer (825336300026)

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A beautiful musical canvas for the practice of yoga, meditation, and the healing arts.

notes

Soul of the Esraj is a musical canvas for the practices of healing arts, hatha yoga and meditation. While the album has its roots in the classical music of North India, many elements of New Age and contemporary ambient musical styles have been included to build a multifaceted soundscape for each listener's spiritual journey. It is Benjy's hope and prayer that Soul of the Esraj will prove to be a steady and soulful companion to each listener on their path through this precious gift of life.

The pieces on the CD feature the esraj (an instrument from North India that resembles a small sitar but is played with a bow) accompanied by instruments from around the world, including bass flute, Celtic harp, viola da gamba, voice, and guitar. Indian classical ragas (ancient melodic forms) are associated with a particular time of day, and the selections on Soul of the Esraj flow through a sequence based on the ragas from which they are derived.

"The heart opens its doors to receive the Beloved in the form of the 'Soul of the Esraj.' Words fall at the feet of this music as we enter into the beauty that lifts us into ourselves. We find a home here, a place to rest and a haven from the storms on the ocean of this world. This is not just music, it is prayer."
-Krishna Das

"When I listen to Benjy play the esraj it transports me beyond the Beyond. 'Soul of the Esraj' is a must-have CD for all yoga practitioners."
-John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga

About Benjy Wertheimer
A founding member of the internationally acclaimed Ancient Future world fusion music ensemble, Benjy has studied Indian classical music for over 20 years with some of the greatest masters of that tradition (including Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain, Ali Akbar Khan and Z. M. Dagar). An award-winning songwriter, composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist (playing tabla, congas, percussion, esraj, guitar, and keyboards), Benjy has toured the US, Canada, and Japan with renowned bamboo flute master G.S. Sachdev and has opened for such artists as Carlos Santana, Paul Winter, and Narada Michael Walden.

For over five years, Benjy scored music for the internationally syndicated NBC series "Santa Barbara." He has recorded with numerous artists on such labels as A&M, Windham Hill, Narada, Nippon Phonogram, Triloka, Rounder and Global Pacific, and worked with such internationally renowned producers as Rick Rubin (the producer for the Beastie Boys, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, and many others). For several years, Benjy was a contributing composer/member of the Zakir Hussain Rhythm Experience (along with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead).

Benjy is very grateful to David Michael, Randy Mead, Matthew Montfort, Tim Ellis, and Heather Klinger Wertheimer - Soul of the Esraj could not have come into being without their unique and wonderful musical gifts.

reviews

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  • author: nancy dreyer

    Such a beautiful soulful cd! I use this for meditation and yoga. I have also just had as background with company. It fills the air with a wonderful energy! Great, thank you.

  • Soul of the Esraj
    author: Hiromi

    Love it!! I am going to use this CD a lot when I teach yoga. Also, good for meditation. It's really soothing and relaxing. Love it, love it, LOVE IT!!!

  • Soul of the Esraj
    author: Elaine

    Great for yoga, meditation, sleeping, reading - a favorite in our house.

  • Uplifting and peaceful.
    author: Eloise Ariza-Rodriguez

    I love this CD! Its uplifting music soothes away my tension and fills me with a sense of peaceful well-being. This music has the ability to transform even mundane household chores such ironing into a mind-expanding, experience. Well done, Benjy!

  • author: Carole Ivy

    This is a profoundly beautiful and meditative CD. I play it during yoga practice and when I take a soothing bath. And, it's a wonderful gift for people I love. Thank You!

  • Love it!
    author: Vikram

    I love this CD; its very soothing and puts me to rest after a long day. I had never heard of the Esraj before and now I am ashamed of myself for depriving myself of such pure pleasure!

  • author: Ginger Katte Dee

    The CD, "Soul of the Esraj," is an excellent CD for meditative listening as well as for a yoga class. Others I know who have listened to it love it too. It is very peaceful and serene, leaving the listener in a very peaceful state of mind. Thank you for such a wonderful CD!

  • rich layers of evocative soulful sound invite repeated listening

    I discover a new dimension every time I move to the music;mysterious,grounding ,expansive ,timeless, deeply resonant. A wonder !

  • THANKS FOR THE 9TH/10TH JUNE IN FRANKFURT
    author: HOLGER IDELER

    AN UNFORGATABLE EVENT TOGETHER WITH MITEN AND PREMAL. YOUR CD IS ALSO OUTSTANDING. I HEAR NOW IT ON AND ON... KIND REGARDS ALSO TO HEATHER - SAT SAM - HOLGER IDELER (holger.ideler@hiconsulting.de) PS: YR GERMAN IS FANTANSTIC!

  • A walk beyond the veil of reality!
    author: Ben Barlaba (UK)

    Wow! No music has ever taken me where this CD has - if ever music has assisted in transcendence, this CD simply picks you up and puts you there with hardly any effort on your part.

  • creates the perfect setting for yoga instruction
    author: Lorri , Imagine Yoga

    This is a wonderful CD! It provides a meditative and soothing environment for teaching yoga and many of my students request it...THANKS!!!

  • You guys are the Micheal Hedges of Eastern Music
    author: Richard Roberts

    Aerial Boundaries comes to my mind.

  • I love to do yoga to this music. It is great,soothing and very relaxing music.Lo
    author: BettieBoop
  • A must-have CD for all yoga practitioners!
    author: John Friend, Founder Of Anusara Yoga

    When I listen to Benjy play the esraj it transports me beyond the Beyond. 'Soul of the Esraj' is a must-have CD for all yoga practitioners.

  • This is not just music, it is prayer
    author: Krishna Das

    The heart opens its doors to receive the Beloved in the form of the 'Soul of the Esraj.' Words fall at the feet of this music as we enter into the beauty that lifts us into ourselves. We find a home here, a place to rest and a haven from the storms on the ocean of this world. This is not just music, it is prayer.

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