A journey to the inner world ... that’s how I could probably describe this composition the best way... (although it’s always been the question for me whether you can describe music with words - I do not think so. It needs to be heard and experienced.).
Nevertheless, I would like to say a few things about the stylistics, the objective, the effect and the sound design of "Metamorphosis".
Stylistics
Although "Metamorphosis" CD contains tracks that can be selected individually, the composition is a long arc in which the music is not interrupted - and this is conciously (the first moment of silence is the last theme). The transitions between the different phases are flowing, one theme is "transformed" into the following (last but not least, therefore the title), the changes are designed very slowly and give the listener the opportunity to stay in the respective energy / mood and not to have to listen conciously to a new tune. That's why I recommend to download the "entire CD" - if you like the music. There you have the real composition with all the transitions. nevertheless you can download single tracks/themes, if you want.
Sound design
The sound design is influenced by the years of experience both as a musician and as a sound engineer. The sounds are deliberately used to activate / respond to certain areas both on physical and mental levels. This is on the one hand done by concious handling with frequencies (high, medium and low tones), on the other hand by the use of certain instruments with their very distinctive sound: Different sounds / instruments act differently and create different associations, moods and atmospheres (an example: The sound of the human voice is naturally much more "close" to us than that of a synthesizer and causes therefore a different feeling). Also the music is indifferent, but always has very large "acoustic spaces", which - depending on the theme - possess different sonic characters.
Objective and effect
"Metamorphosis" is a process both on a musical as well as on a inner-psychich level. This consists of different parts which are assigned to certain emotions (sadness, joy, shelteredness, anxiety, ...), associations / images (air, sky, water, ...), atmospheres (vastness, under water, ...), themes (internal review, the mirror of the ego, doubt, fear, opening, being, ...), energy centers (pelvis, abdomen, heart, head, ...), etc.. The long period of time over about 45 minutes gives the listener the possibility to deepen in his/her inner space and to become open for the pictures and feelings caused by the different musical themes - without being "led" by any verbal language (as it is the case in guided meditations). The process is so far not directed in a certain way, but determined by the listener him/herself, depending on his/her current topics.
In this sense, it would be dubious to define the effect of "Metamorphosis" - it will be very differing. You can also listen to the music "just as listening to music."
It is up to you to explore the effect on yourself.
Themes
Theme 1: By means of the very slow, shamanic sounding, monotonous rhythm (and the deep sound of the drum) the listener is led from the "everyday consciousness" into an inner space with a ritual atmosphere. The uniformity of rhythm supports the release of the everyday consciousness. The low-frequency sounds resonate in the lower body area and have thereby a "grounding" effect.
Theme 2: This section leads the listener gradually away from “conscious listening" (in other words: From the cognitive to intuitive listening).
This is supported by the odd, not easily transparent rhythmics (the rhythm is 9 pulses long and parted into different small rhythm elements) and the
high-frequency sounds (especially of the Indian Sitar), which resonate in the head and forehead. The energy is so focused upwards.
Theme 3: Here the rhythmic pulse still maintains basically, but is not explicitly accentuated by percussive elements / sounds, the rhythm goes to the background, thus for the first time opening space for a very deep, intuitive level. The sound is devoted to the element of water, the harmonic mood is soft and mystical.
Theme 4: This theme corresponds to the element of air. The very open harmonies (sometimes even different harmonies interfere with each other) are based on an Indian scale and direct the energy further upwards, the atmosphere is quite light, like the sight of a bird or the quietness on the top of a mountain at full moon. It opens the listener the connection to the cosmic energy.
Theme 5: This is the spiritual / religious part. The sound is becoming "centered" (in other words, the high frequencies, the "brilliance" decreases, the sound resonates in the 3rd , 4th and 5th chakra). The atmosphere is calm and flowing, the listener is acoustically in a church.
Theme 6: This section leads the listener to his / her own depths and shadows. The melodious harmonies yield an abstract, questioning, quite “disturbing” atmosphere, the sound is no more "etheric", but by the orchestral string sounds very “human” (thus it works directly on the emotional level). This section opens the possibility of confrontation with one's own self, the space is opened to not "harmonious" emotions, which may include fears, doubts and depths.
Theme 7: This theme accompanies the listener deeply into the area of his / her heart. It is devoted to the aspect of healing and purification. The level of the heart is opened and therefore the connection to ones own and cosmic healing force. The atmosphere and the sound are very gentle, soft and flowing, like cleaning and liberating tears.
Theme 8: In the final part, the listener becomes completely quiet. The sound spectrum is conciously still responding to the heart level, the harmony simplifies again. This part is devoted to the aspect of pure being, consistent with and as a part of the universe.
Personal thoughts on "Metamorphosis"
“…being a musician is more my vocation rather than my profession.
Somehow it is not simply my choice to be a musician. It is an inner call and my destiny to continue on my path.
It seems to me more like acting as a medium on a spiritual level. Music is something magic, sacred, it is religious, healing, changing, even political...”
A few words about the term “process”
The effect of music on people is as different as the people themselves. There are a couple of "archetypal" elements and stylistics, which have a similar effect to a large proportion of listeners - such as the different effects of a minor or major chord, certain intervals, frequencies / sounds, etc. With these elements I worked very conciously in "Metamorphosis", but from my subjective viewpoint, out of my own experience. This means that the "process" of this music, as I have described it, just reflects my own experience. Other people will experience "Metamorphosis" differently, with their own themes and processes in relation to their own current situation. Insofar my description is just one of many possibilities.
Also for me, music is always a process, equally if it is a piece of Johann Sebastian Bach, the "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber or "The Wall" by Pink Floyd. In this sense, it seems almost unnecessary to point out the process of "Metamorphosis" - this is intended just as a description of what the listener expects.
"Metamorphosis" was not "planned" or conceived from the beginning. It evolved, changed, enhanced and reshaped repeatedly during the work. During this time it became increasingly clear to me that it can accompany the listener through a process (what, as said, is the case in many pieces / compositions) that may go very deep.
"Metamorphosis" is not only "functionally-esoteric-therapeutic" music - it was made out of the perspective of a musician. Musicality is naturally very important to me as a musician (to me, many productions in the field of relaxation and meditation music – and this is no evaluation – are made a bit too “simple”), so I emphazised a lot to that aspect. In this sense, "Metamorphosis" can not clearly be categorized - it's music which can just be heard as music, it can be described as therapeutically or as meditation music - all that is correct.
I think the categorization is ultimately not so important – important is that the music serves the people.
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