Album Notes

Improvised solo chant and overtone singing recorded in resonant spaces.

Overtone singing, harmonic chant, 'throat' singing & 'khöömei' - these fascinating styles of singing allow the simultaneous production of two or more notes by the same singer. This extraordinary feat is accomplished via the deliberate enhancement of the natural harmonics found in the human voice. Specific vowel sounds combined with very precise positions of tongue, lip and glottis allow the singer to produce a sung fundamental note with clearly audible overtones or harmonics floating above this base note. Singing in a resonant space with several seconds of delay allows the singer to improvise with himself whilst creating soaring melodies of tones and overtones.

Created for deep-listening and meditation the sounds on this CD are wholly vocal with no other instruments, save a quiet tuning fork, used. (Track 8 features a solo on Harmonic flute). The subtle but powerful mix of harmonic frequencies allow the listener to enter an altered and relaxed state whilst the sounds help balance the energies of the chakras and harmonize body, mind and spirit. The experience may be enhanced by the use of headphones for more immersive listening. However, as a number of the harmonic frequencies created are high-pitched, care should be taken over the listening volume used.

Jonathan Cope is a musician, artist, and writer who has practiced overtone singing since 1995. He has written a practical study-guide for anyone wishing to learn to sing in many of the styles of 'overtone' singing - entitled 'How to Khoomei and other overtone singing styles' it is available via Amazon, bookshops and via his website. ISBN 0-9539811-1-8.

Jonathan also leads workshops in the UK and overseas - please see the website for details. www.soundforhealth.com