Neoclassical (New Age)
Encyclopedia
Within the broad movement of New Age music
, neoclassical New Age music is influenced by and sometimes also based upon early
, baroque
or classical music
, especially in terms of melody and composition. The artist may offer a modern arrangement of a work by an established composer or combine elements from classical styles with modern elements to produce original compositions. Many artists within this sub-genre are classically trained musicians. Although there is a wide variety of individual styles, Neoclassical New Age music is generally melodic, harmonic, and instrumental, using both traditional musical instruments as well as electronic instruments. Similar neoclassical elements can often be found within other genres besides New Age music, including electronic music
, minimalist music
, post-rock
music and Neoclassical Dark Wave
music.
The neoclassical new age genre can be traced back to the origins of new age music in 1970s. In particular, Mannheim Steamroller
's Fresh Aire
(1975) is the earliest known example of this genre. While new age music gradually came more and more to emphasize inspiration, relaxation, spirituality, and positive feelings, neoclassical new age has tended to emphasize artistic and aesthetic expression.
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
, neoclassical New Age music is influenced by and sometimes also based upon early
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
, baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
or classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, especially in terms of melody and composition. The artist may offer a modern arrangement of a work by an established composer or combine elements from classical styles with modern elements to produce original compositions. Many artists within this sub-genre are classically trained musicians. Although there is a wide variety of individual styles, Neoclassical New Age music is generally melodic, harmonic, and instrumental, using both traditional musical instruments as well as electronic instruments. Similar neoclassical elements can often be found within other genres besides New Age music, including 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...
, minimalist music
Minimalist music
Minimal music is a style of music associated with the work of American composers La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. It originated in the New York Downtown scene of the 1960s and was initially viewed as a form of experimental music called the New York Hypnotic School....
, post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
music and Neoclassical Dark Wave
Neoclassical (Dark Wave)
Neoclassical Dark Wave refers to a music genre within the Dark Wave movement. It is characterized by the use of ethereal atmosphere and angelic female voices but also adds strong influences from classical music. Neoclassical Dark Wave is distinct from the academic art music form known as...
music.
The neoclassical new age genre can be traced back to the origins of new age music in 1970s. In particular, Mannheim Steamroller
Mannheim Steamroller
Mannheim Steamroller is an American music group founded by Chip Davis and Jackson Berkey, known primarily for its modern recordings of Christmas music. The group has sold 28 million albums in the U.S. alone.-Beginnings:...
's Fresh Aire
Fresh Aire
Fresh Aire was the first album released by new age musical group Mannheim Steamroller. The album was originally released in 1975. It is also the title of one track on the album. It was followed by seven additional albums in the Fresh Aire series. Each of the first four Fresh Aire albums is based...
(1975) is the earliest known example of this genre. While new age music gradually came more and more to emphasize inspiration, relaxation, spirituality, and positive feelings, neoclassical new age has tended to emphasize artistic and aesthetic expression.
Notable artists and composers
- BalmorheaBalmorhea (band)Balmorhea is a minimalist instrumental ensemble from Austin, Texas that was formed in 2006 by Rob Lowe and Michael Muller. Balmorhea were influenced by Ludovico Einaudi, The Six Parts Seven, Claude Debussy, Ludwig van Beethoven, Rachel's, Gillian Welch, Max Richter, Arvo Pärt and John Cage.The band...
- Blackmore's NightBlackmore's NightBlackmore's Night is an English-American traditional folk rock duo led by Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night .-Early:...
- Sarah BrightmanSarah BrightmanSarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register...
- Harold BuddHarold BuddHarold Budd is an American ambient/avant-garde composer and poet. Born in Los Angeles, he was raised in the Mojave Desert, and was inspired at an early age by the humming tone caused by wind blown across telephone wires....
- ClogsClogs (band)Clogs are a mostly instrumental project led by Bryce Dessner and Australia's Padma Newsome. Their existence predates Dessner's other band The National...
- Suzanne CianiSuzanne CianiSuzanne Ciani is an Italian American pianist and music composer who found early success with innovative electronic music.-Education:...
- Heather DaleHeather DaleHeather Dale is a Canadian Celtic recording artist and touring musician. She records and performs primarily her own original songs, which draw their inspiration from the mythology, folklore and history of various Celtic and non-Celtic cultures...
- Mychael DannaMychael DannaMychael Danna is a Canadian film composer.-Life and career:Mychael Danna is the brother of fellow composer Jeff Danna. He has been scoring films since his 1987 feature debut for Atom Egoyan's Family Viewing, a score which earned Danna the first of his thirteen Genie Award nominations. He has won...
- Bill DouglasBill Douglas (musician)Bill Douglas is a Canadian musician, composer, pianist, and bassoonist whose works received influence from classical music, jazz, African, Brazilian and Indian music, 1970s funk and many other genres....
- Kyle Bobby DunnKyle Bobby DunnKyle Bobby Dunn is a composer, arranger, and live performer of modern and neo-classical based drone music. He has performed in live and exclusive outdoor settings, including Banff National Park, since 2000 and has released music on various international recording labels.His work has been described...
- Michael HoppéMichael HoppéMichael Hoppé is a composer, record producer and recording artist from the United Kingdom who now lives in the U.S.A. For many years he was head of A&R for the PolyGram record label. He signed New Age acts such as Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre and Kitaro to the label as well as resigning ABBA and...
- Jóhann JóhannssonJóhann JóhannssonJóhann Jóhannsson is an Icelandic musician, composer and producer. He is a co-founder of Kitchen Motors in Reykjavík, the art organization/think tank/record label which specializes in initiating collaborations, promoting concerts and exhibitions, performances, chamber operas, producing films,...
- Michael JonesMichael Jones (new age pianist)Michael Jones is a New Age pianist, author, and lecturer.- Biography :Jones is a native of Ontario, Canada. His first album, Pianoscapes, was the first album released on the Narada record label.- Original discography :...
- Bradley JosephBradley JosephBradley Joseph is an American composer, arranger, and producer of contemporary instrumental music. His compositions include works for orchestra, quartet, and solo piano, while his musical style ranges from "quietly pensive mood music to a rich orchestration of classical depth and breadth".Active...
- Peter KaterPeter KaterPeter Kater is an American composer, songwriter-singer and pianist who has several times nominated for Grammy awards.He is of German ancestry.-Filmography:-References:* * * * at Internet Movie Database...
- Kevin KernKevin KernKevin Kern is an American pianist, composer and recording artist of New Age music. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. He is now generally recognized as a representative of the New Age style...
- Sandeep KhuranaSandeep KhuranaSandeep Khurana is a Film Maker, Music Composer and Producer living in California.He has produced and directed short films and documentaries, and released more than 50 music albums in the genres of New Age Music, Neo Classical, Yoga, Healing, Dance and World Music...
- Fariborz LachiniFariborz LachiniFariborz Lachini is a film score composer originally from Iran based in Canada.-Career:He started his career in Iran writing music for children, creating "Avaz Faslha va Rangha" at the age of 18 which caught the attention of royal family of the time. The title of national Iranian TV's children...
- Mannheim SteamrollerMannheim SteamrollerMannheim Steamroller is an American music group founded by Chip Davis and Jackson Berkey, known primarily for its modern recordings of Christmas music. The group has sold 28 million albums in the U.S. alone.-Beginnings:...
- Ingram MarshallIngram MarshallIngram Marshall is an American composer and a former student of Vladimir Ussachevsky and Morton Subotnick. Son of Bernice Douglas and Harry Reinhard Marshall, Sr. He was a talented soprano in the Boy's Choir at the Mt. Vernon Community Church, and was influenced early by noted music instructor,...
- Mike OldfieldMike OldfieldMichael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
- Leo Perez
- Jorge Nunez (Pixelated Skylines)
- E.S. PosthumusE.S. PosthumusUnearthed, the first album composed by E.S. Posthumus, was originally made available for purchase online through the CD Baby website in January 2001. It became the third-biggest selling album in CDBaby's history...
- Rachel'sRachel'sRachel's is an American chamber music group that formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 1991. Former Rodan guitarist, Jason Noble, played music individually and referred to himself as Rachel's but then began collaborating with now core members, violist Christian Frederickson, and pianist Rachel Grimes...
- Max RichterMax RichterMax Richter is a German-born British composer.-Biography:Richter studied composition and piano at University of Edinburgh, the Royal Academy of Music and with Luciano Berio in Florence. After finishing his studies, Richter co-founded the contemporary classical ensemble Piano Circus...
- Rondò Veneziano (G.P. Reverberi)Rondò VenezianoRondò Veneziano is an Italian chamber orchestra, specializing in Baroque music, playing original instruments, but incorporating a rock-style rhythm section of synthesizer, bass guitar and drums, led by Maestro Gian Piero Reverberi, who is also the principal composer of all of the original Rondo...
- Nox ArcanaNox ArcanaNox Arcana is an American dark ambient musical group, formed in 2003 by Joseph Vargo and William Piotrowski. Nox Arcana specializes in concept albums based on gothic fiction and classic horror literature. Such literary references include: H. P. Lovecraft, The Brothers Grimm, Ray Bradbury, and Edgar...
- Paul SchwartzPaul SchwartzPaul Schwartz is a music producer, composer, arranger, conductor and pianist. His music can be classified as a mixture of chill-out and neo-classical. Basic elements are vocals, piano, violins, and electronic samples...
- Secret GardenSecret Garden (duo)Secret Garden is an award-winning Irish-Norwegian duo playing New Instrumental Music, also sometimes erroneously known as Neo-classical music.Secret Garden features the Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry and the Norwegian composer/pianist Rolf Løvland...
- Øystein SevågØystein SevågØystein Sevåg is a Norwegian classical and world music composer and musician.-Biography:Øystein Sevåg was born near Oslo, Norway in 1957, beginning piano lessons at age five...
- Jami SieberJami SieberJami Sieber is an English acoustic and electric cellist, vocalist and composer, recognized internationally for her "unique style". She has received several positive reviews for her work.-History:...
- David TempletonDavid TempletonDavid Cooper Templeton is a Scottish professional association footballer. A tricky and skilful attacking player, he currently plays for Hearts in the Scottish Premier League.-Stenhousemuir:...
- VangelisVangelisEvangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
- Andreas VollenweiderAndreas VollenweiderAndreas Vollenweider is a Swiss musician. His music has been categorized as World Music, Jazz, New Age and even Classical; two of his albums were number 1 on the Billboard charts simultaneously in the categories Classical, Jazz, Pop and Crossover for more than 11 weeks. His music could be...
- George WinstonGeorge WinstonGeorge Winston is an American pianist who was born in Michigan, and grew up mainly in Miles City, Montana as well as Mississippi and Florida. He attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida and lives in Santa Cruz, California.-Background:...
- Danny WrightDanny WrightDanny Wright is a Seattle, Washington-based radio personality,The majority of his career and success was in the Cleveland, Ohio market, most notably at WGCL, where he was a Top-40 disc jockey known as "Dancin' Danny Wright." He departed WGCL when the station was sold by GCC Communications to...
- Ralph ZurmühleRalph ZurmühleRalph Zurmühle is a solo piano composer and a pianist. He studied classical music and jazz until the age of twenty.In 1986 he started composing music for film, theater and multimedia...
- Ólafur ArnaldsÓlafur ArnaldsÓlafur Arnalds is a multi-instrumentalist and producer from Mosfellsbær, Iceland. Ólafur Arnalds mixes strings and piano with loops and edgy beats crossing-over from classical to pop....