Soul of the Esraj

John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga
"'Soul of the Esraj' is a must-have CD for all yoga practitioners."

Product Description
"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.

Soul of the Esraj

Soul of the Esraj,Benjy Wertheimer

Average customer rating: Unbelievably Soothing Foothills of the Himalaya Something Special

Soul of the Esraj Benjy Wertheimer Manufacturer: Ancient Future ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD India | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music Similar Items: Anjali Voice of the Esraj The Love Window Circle of Fire Nataraja ASIN: B00009Y3VL Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

1. Dawning
2. Zenith
3. Come the Darkness
4. Threshold Between Worlds
5. Meditation of the Night

Album Description

"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.

Customer Reviews:

Unbelievably Soothing.......2007-01-05

Wow! I bought this without ever hearing any of it before, and now it is my fav CD. It is perfect for background music for anything you are doing. Great for reading, artwork, sleeping, housework, etc. So glad I tried it! It isn't too "out there", but just so free-flowing and pleasing to listen to.

Foothills of the Himalaya.......2001-12-09

This is meditative music with the haunting, healing sounds of the esraj, a bowed string instrument from India. I had the CD on as background the first three times I listened to it. Periodically, when I would stop whatever I was doing, I'd realize how deeply contented and mellow I'd become. Five stars for its type. The man's a meditator for sure. Mellow it is, and not bland. The tonal quality of the esraj, and Wertheimer's familiarity with Indian music completely save it from being 'new age'.

Something Special.......2001-11-28

There is indeed some beautiful, and quite unique, music on this cd. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the interface between Hindustani classical and contempory western musics. The entire cd maintains a very slow and mellow tempo, with a haunting and meditative quality. The principal instrument is Wertheimer's esraj - a bowed instrument from northern India. He is backed (usually quite subtly) by acoustic guitar, harp, flute, voice and keyboard. Most of the "fusion" work out there using Indian music tends to come along with electronic instrumentation and eventually uptempo percussion. Two of the nice things for me on this record is how it is mostly acoustic, and it stays with its slow tempo feel. (Though others might find the lack of percussion and change in tempo a bit boring.) The first track ("Dawning") in particular is striking in its transcendent quality. It has become a favorite piece of music for me. I don't think the rest of the cd quite holds this piece's magic, as some of the other tracks get somewhat repetitive, and in places the keyboard and other backup gets a bit too new age-ish for my taste. Still this is very cool music. I reckon that there are heaps of hatha yogis and massage practitioners out there using this cd. Personally I like to listen to it as the night slows down and sleep beckons. . . .

Average customer rating: Unbelievably Soothing Foothills of the Himalaya Something Special

Soul of the Esraj ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Anjali Voice of the Esraj The Love Window Circle of Fire Nataraja ASIN: B00005TRYG Release Date: 2000-07-01

Tracks:

1. Dawning
2. Zenith
3. Come The Darkness
4. Threshold Between Worlds
5. Meditation of the Night

Album Description

"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.

Customer Reviews:

Unbelievably Soothing.......2007-01-05

Wow! I bought this without ever hearing any of it before, and now it is my fav CD. It is perfect for background music for anything you are doing. Great for reading, artwork, sleeping, housework, etc. So glad I tried it! It isn't too "out there", but just so free-flowing and pleasing to listen to.

Foothills of the Himalaya.......2001-12-09

This is meditative music with the haunting, healing sounds of the esraj, a bowed string instrument from India. I had the CD on as background the first three times I listened to it. Periodically, when I would stop whatever I was doing, I'd realize how deeply contented and mellow I'd become. Five stars for its type. The man's a meditator for sure. Mellow it is, and not bland. The tonal quality of the esraj, and Wertheimer's familiarity with Indian music completely save it from being 'new age'.

Something Special.......2001-11-28

There is indeed some beautiful, and quite unique, music on this cd. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the interface between Hindustani classical and contempory western musics. The entire cd maintains a very slow and mellow tempo, with a haunting and meditative quality. The principal instrument is Wertheimer's esraj - a bowed instrument from northern India. He is backed (usually quite subtly) by acoustic guitar, harp, flute, voice and keyboard. Most of the "fusion" work out there using Indian music tends to come along with electronic instrumentation and eventually uptempo percussion. Two of the nice things for me on this record is how it is mostly acoustic, and it stays with its slow tempo feel. (Though others might find the lack of percussion and change in tempo a bit boring.) The first track ("Dawning") in particular is striking in its transcendent quality. It has become a favorite piece of music for me. I don't think the rest of the cd quite holds this piece's magic, as some of the other tracks get somewhat repetitive, and in places the keyboard and other backup gets a bit too new age-ish for my taste. Still this is very cool music. I reckon that there are heaps of hatha yogis and massage practitioners out there using this cd. Personally I like to listen to it as the night slows down and sleep beckons. . . .

Average customer rating:

Soul of the Esraj Benjy Wertheimer Manufacturer: Ancient Future ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0002B9SRS Release Date: 2003-07-08

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