New Age

Sometimes I just wanna tell new age pianists that they are allowed to hit notes below that middle C...then again maybe their synth doesn't have the full 88 keys..?

I also want to tell them it's ok to hit notes that aren't in the scale sometimes.

George Winston is often cited as a new age pianist. And sometimes, Keith Jarrett is blamed for starting the whole new age piano craze---yet if you listen to his music it is WAY more creative than george winston and new age in general---the melodies say so much more. he uses notes below middle C....he makes the piano scream with passion and whisper secrets.

That's really it isn't it. New Age composers can write gorgeous melodies---Yanni definitely has...but it just seems like they don't STRIVE as much for depth and breadth of expression. Nothing wrong with that---they have a specific purpose in mind and some of them do it very well. I wouldn't say it takes minimal talent to write ANY kind of music---writing a simple melody takes talent. Writing a simple melody that is really really good takes even more.

So its all about what you want. Do you want music to tell stories and have a huge range of colors and dynamics and rhythms like you're exploring all the exotic lands of the world? Or do you just want green meadows and fluffy bunnies?

Generally, I like new age and ambient. Ambient music is among my favourites. When it comes to new age, Vangelis and Kitaro are among my favorite composers.
Yanni is little boring to me. Enya bores me even more.

Originally Posted by Derek

And sometimes, Keith Jarrett is blamed for starting the whole new age piano craze

are you serious? that's a really bad generalization (not aimed at you Derek, but those who claim that)...Keith Jarrett is the man, genius on a whole other level

Enya bores me even more.

I almost think that Enya engineers her music that way. Well, maybe not to be soporific; but anyway, it's almost the only music I can turn on specifically to make me sleep. Ordinarily, music cannot be passive for me - it can't be in the background - I'm always actively listening, so music distracts me from whatever I may be doing, except maybe driving. But I can put on Enya's "Shepherd Moons" CD and fall asleep happily.

Strangely, some Ars Nova has the same effect on me. Go figure.