Jonn Serrie
Encyclopedia
Jonn Serrie is a composer of space music
, a genre of ambient electronic music
, and New Age
music. He has recorded at least eighteen albums and worked on various projects for Lucasfilm
, IMAX Corporation
, NASA
, the United States Navy
, Hayden Planetarium
, Expo Seville, and CNN
.
in 1986. His second album, "Flightpath", contains six songs that commemorate the pre-space age test pilots of Edwards Air Force Base in the 1950s. Jonn is also a pilot with advanced instrument and commercial ratings and flies for the Civil Air Patrol
as a search and rescue pilot.
Serrie's third album, "Tingri", was based on a remote village in Tibet
. It was his way of infusing more spiritual and romantic emotion into his music. In so doing, he strayed a bit from his space music roots, but without sacrificing his trademark sound. In 1992 and 1994, he made two albums in which he put his earlier planetarium work from the 1980s on CD, on "Planetary Chronicles, Volume 1" and "Planetary Chronicles, Volume 2". In between, in 1993 and 1995, Serrie composed his own musical science fiction story based on a fictional Century Princess in "Midsummer Century" and "Ixlandia". In 1993, he submitted a song from his planetarium collection called "Soft Landing" to a Various Artists album sponsored largely by Steve Roach, another prominent new age musician. This song is only available on this recording. In 1997, Serrie's first Christmas album "Upon a Midnight Clear" was released, in which he rearranged known and less known Christmas songs from around the world in his own unique style. Due to its popularity, Serrie released two more Christmas albums, "Yuletides" in 2001 and "Merrily on High" in 2004.
In 1998, Serrie collaborated with David Carradine
on his Tai Chi video series and released a CD soundtrack based on the videos, called "Dream Journeys". Also in 1998, he took a trip to shamanic America, which resulted in his musical collaboration with several Native American elders on "Spirit Keepers".
In 1999, Serrie appeared as a special guest of honor at the 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing mission, which was held in Cape Canaveral
. As the final act of the after-dinner entertainment, he played a specially composed song "Out of the Blue", which has not been officially released to date.
The year 2000 brought Serrie's "best of" space music compilation, "Century Seasons". On this album two new songs appeared, although "Deep Mystery" reappeared on "Lumia Nights" two years later in a slightly shorter version. The other bonus track,"Andromeda Dream", also appeared on this album. In 2000 Serrie collaborated with flutist Gary Stroutsos
on the Narada label, on an album called "Hidden World".
Since 2000, several of Serrie's albums have appeared on various independent labels. 2002 brought "Lumia Nights", a space romance release on Valley Entertainment
, composed in the style of Ixlandia and Midsummer Century. In 2003, he signed a contract with New World Music, a major label in England, which included the reissue of his earlier Miramar releases. 2003 also brought "The Stargazer's Journey" with liner notes from famed astronomer David H. Levy
. This was a return to form in Serrie's more traditional space music style for which he is known.
Serrie took an interesting musical turn in 2005 with "Epiphany, Meditations on Sacred Hymns", featuring his arrangement of traditional hymns and psalms, which he dedicated to his grandmother, his primary church organ and piano teacher as a child. He followed this up in 2006 with "Sunday Morning", an independent release for autistic children and their parents. A portion of the profits from this CD goes to support for autism organizations in the United States.
Also in 2006, music from one of his albums was used in the hit Hollywood movie "What the Bleep Do We Know!?
". Serrie also scored the award winning IMAX short film "Hubble: Galaxies Across Space and Time" as well as the popular astronomy software program "Starry Nights" and Space.com's "Eyes on Mars" DVD.
In 2009, Serrie released the album "Thousand Star".
In 2011 the album "Sunday Morning" was expected be released, available worldwide.
Jonn Serrie founded the Galaxy Music Scholarship in 2001, a US$
1000 annual scholarship for graduating high school seniors desiring a career in new age and space music composition. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia
.
Other projects:
Space music
Space music, also called spacemusic, is an umbrella term, synonymous with a segment of New Age Music and Ambient Music, used to describe music that evokes a feeling of contemplative spaciousness. Space music can be found within a wide range of genres. It is particularly associated with ambient, New...
, a genre of ambient electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, and New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
music. He has recorded at least eighteen albums and worked on various projects for Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
, IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is a Canadian theatre company which designs and manufactures IMAX cameras and projection systems as well as film development, production, post production and distribution to IMAX affiliated theatres worldwide. It was founded in 1968 as a result of Expo 67 in Montreal...
, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Hayden Planetarium
Hayden Planetarium
The Hayden Planetarium is a public planetarium, part of the Rose Center for Earth and Space of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, currently directed by astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson....
, Expo Seville, and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
.
Musical career
Serrie has been composing and performing music for planetariums since the early 1980s. His first album, "And the Stars Go With You", was in memory of the astronauts lost in the Space Shuttle Challenger disasterSpace Shuttle Challenger disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 am EST...
in 1986. His second album, "Flightpath", contains six songs that commemorate the pre-space age test pilots of Edwards Air Force Base in the 1950s. Jonn is also a pilot with advanced instrument and commercial ratings and flies for the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
as a search and rescue pilot.
Serrie's third album, "Tingri", was based on a remote village in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. It was his way of infusing more spiritual and romantic emotion into his music. In so doing, he strayed a bit from his space music roots, but without sacrificing his trademark sound. In 1992 and 1994, he made two albums in which he put his earlier planetarium work from the 1980s on CD, on "Planetary Chronicles, Volume 1" and "Planetary Chronicles, Volume 2". In between, in 1993 and 1995, Serrie composed his own musical science fiction story based on a fictional Century Princess in "Midsummer Century" and "Ixlandia". In 1993, he submitted a song from his planetarium collection called "Soft Landing" to a Various Artists album sponsored largely by Steve Roach, another prominent new age musician. This song is only available on this recording. In 1997, Serrie's first Christmas album "Upon a Midnight Clear" was released, in which he rearranged known and less known Christmas songs from around the world in his own unique style. Due to its popularity, Serrie released two more Christmas albums, "Yuletides" in 2001 and "Merrily on High" in 2004.
In 1998, Serrie collaborated with David Carradine
David Carradine
David Carradine was an American actor and martial artist, best known for his role as a warrior monk, Kwai Chang Caine, in the 1970s television series, Kung Fu, which later had a 1990s sequel series, Kung Fu: The Legend Continues...
on his Tai Chi video series and released a CD soundtrack based on the videos, called "Dream Journeys". Also in 1998, he took a trip to shamanic America, which resulted in his musical collaboration with several Native American elders on "Spirit Keepers".
In 1999, Serrie appeared as a special guest of honor at the 30th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing mission, which was held in Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
. As the final act of the after-dinner entertainment, he played a specially composed song "Out of the Blue", which has not been officially released to date.
The year 2000 brought Serrie's "best of" space music compilation, "Century Seasons". On this album two new songs appeared, although "Deep Mystery" reappeared on "Lumia Nights" two years later in a slightly shorter version. The other bonus track,"Andromeda Dream", also appeared on this album. In 2000 Serrie collaborated with flutist Gary Stroutsos
Gary Stroutsos
Gary Stroutsos is a flute player based in Seattle who plays a variety of genres of music. He has made his mark by tapping into the Native American canon, and has brought several forgotten songs to life. He plays a variety of different flutes from all around the world, and in unusual settings.Gary...
on the Narada label, on an album called "Hidden World".
Since 2000, several of Serrie's albums have appeared on various independent labels. 2002 brought "Lumia Nights", a space romance release on Valley Entertainment
Valley Entertainment
Valley Entertainment is a United States music distributor and independent record label based in New York City. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space, ambient, and New Age music from Hearts of Space Records...
, composed in the style of Ixlandia and Midsummer Century. In 2003, he signed a contract with New World Music, a major label in England, which included the reissue of his earlier Miramar releases. 2003 also brought "The Stargazer's Journey" with liner notes from famed astronomer David H. Levy
David H. Levy
David H. Levy is a Canadian astronomer and science writer most famous for his co-discovery in 1993 of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9, which collided with the planet Jupiter in 1994.-Biography:...
. This was a return to form in Serrie's more traditional space music style for which he is known.
Serrie took an interesting musical turn in 2005 with "Epiphany, Meditations on Sacred Hymns", featuring his arrangement of traditional hymns and psalms, which he dedicated to his grandmother, his primary church organ and piano teacher as a child. He followed this up in 2006 with "Sunday Morning", an independent release for autistic children and their parents. A portion of the profits from this CD goes to support for autism organizations in the United States.
Also in 2006, music from one of his albums was used in the hit Hollywood movie "What the Bleep Do We Know!?
What the Bleep Do We Know!?
What the Bleep Do We Know!? is a 2004 film that combines documentary-style interviews, computer-animated graphics, and a narrative that describes the spiritual connection between quantum physics and consciousness...
". Serrie also scored the award winning IMAX short film "Hubble: Galaxies Across Space and Time" as well as the popular astronomy software program "Starry Nights" and Space.com's "Eyes on Mars" DVD.
In 2009, Serrie released the album "Thousand Star".
In 2011 the album "Sunday Morning" was expected be released, available worldwide.
Jonn Serrie founded the Galaxy Music Scholarship in 2001, a US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1000 annual scholarship for graduating high school seniors desiring a career in new age and space music composition. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Discography
- 1987 — And the Stars Go with You
- 1989 — Flightpath
- 1990 — Tingri
- 1992 — Planetary Chronicles, Volume 1
- 1993 — Midsummer Century
- 1994 — Planetary Chronicles, Volume 2
- 1995 — Ixlandia
- 1997 — Upon a Midnight Clear
- 1998 — Spirit Keepers
- 1998 — Dream Journeys
- 2000 — Century Seasons: The Space Music of Jonn Serrie
- 2000 — Hidden World (with Gary StroutsosGary StroutsosGary Stroutsos is a flute player based in Seattle who plays a variety of genres of music. He has made his mark by tapping into the Native American canon, and has brought several forgotten songs to life. He plays a variety of different flutes from all around the world, and in unusual settings.Gary...
) - 2001 — Lumia Nights (Valley EntertainmentValley EntertainmentValley Entertainment is a United States music distributor and independent record label based in New York City. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space, ambient, and New Age music from Hearts of Space Records...
) - 2001 — Yuletides
- 2003 — The Stargazer's Journey
- 2004 — Merrily on High
- 2005 — Epiphany: Meditations on Sacred Hymns (Valley EntertainmentValley EntertainmentValley Entertainment is a United States music distributor and independent record label based in New York City. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space, ambient, and New Age music from Hearts of Space Records...
) - 2006 — Sunday Morning
- 2009 — Hidden World Beyond (with Gary StroutsosGary StroutsosGary Stroutsos is a flute player based in Seattle who plays a variety of genres of music. He has made his mark by tapping into the Native American canon, and has brought several forgotten songs to life. He plays a variety of different flutes from all around the world, and in unusual settings.Gary...
) (Valley EntertainmentValley EntertainmentValley Entertainment is a United States music distributor and independent record label based in New York City. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space, ambient, and New Age music from Hearts of Space Records...
) - 2009 — Thousand Star
- 2010 — Christmas PrayersChristmas PrayersChristmas Prayers is an album by Jonn Serrie which was released on August 31, 2010 by Valley Entertainment.From Serrie’s website: “Christmas Prayers, released on Valley Entertainment Hearts of Space Records, is a heartfelt arrangement of my favorite compositions coming from my previous Christmas...
(Valley EntertainmentValley EntertainmentValley Entertainment is a United States music distributor and independent record label based in New York City. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space, ambient, and New Age music from Hearts of Space Records...
) - 2011 — Sunday Morning Peace (Valley EntertainmentValley EntertainmentValley Entertainment is a United States music distributor and independent record label based in New York City. The company was founded in 1996 by Barney Cohen, president and CEO. In 2001, they acquired the prestigious back catalogue of space, ambient, and New Age music from Hearts of Space Records...
)
Other projects:
- 2000 — Tai Chi Meditation, Vol. 1: Life Force Breathing (by Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson)
- 2000 — Tai Chi Meditation, Vol. 2: Eight Direction Perception (by Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson)
External links
- http://www.thousandstar.com/index2.html – Official site