New Age Music - How It's Made

Different styles of music have different "sounds." Wesaying that this can'thappen in Jazz, but, just watch a
canall pretty much agree on that point. For example,Jazz performer and you'll seewhat I mean.
Jazz usesseventh chords almost exclusively. This, andLast but not least is rhythm. Let's do a comparison
the kind of chordprogressions used in Jazz gives it itscontrastbetween Jazz and New Age music. Jazz has
unique flavor. But whatabout new age music? Does ita definite discerniblerhythm. It is what makes Jazz
have it's own special ingredients?Jazz. New age music can have apattern or an
Yes it does.underlying rhythm to the music. It can be used tocreate
Now, there are no hard and fast rules here but for thetrance like states in the listener. Drums are usuallya
mostpart, new age music is a consonant music. Thatpart of Jazz music. Percussion is mostly absent from
is, there islittle or noharshness going on in the music. Nothe New
Saxes wailingand what not. Having said that we canAge sound simply because it would not add to the
eliminate most of thetense jazz chords and theiratmosphere most New Age musicians create. Timing
voicing. So what are we left with?is very important to the Jazz musician. The soloist has
Mostly Major and minor chords based on the regularthe freedom to play whatever he wants as long as he
scales andthe modes. The chord progressions aremaintains the meter and stays in time. New Age music
simpler and usually starton the l chord. No ll-V-lis more elastic in that timing is there, but is not a
progressions here.master of the player. The New Age player can
What about melody? In jazz, we have a soloist whodisregard time altogether.
usually playsa lot of chromatic notes. This is rare inJust listen to Zen flute music as a good example of
new age music becauseit would create dissonance.this.
New age melodies tend to be softerand more on theNow, what does all this mean for the aspiring New
spiritual side. Solos, if there are any, are notso muchAge musician? A couple of good things. It means that
concerned with the expression of the self than theythere is a definite new age
arewith letting the music express itself. A subtle but"sound" out there. That it is here to stay and that
very importantdistinction. Jazz players may have somepeople likeand need to hear it. And it means that there
ego invested in theirperformance. New age musiciansare some guidelinesout there for what defines the
learn to let the music play them.meaning of New Age music.
They learn to become a channel for the music itselfArticle written by Edward Weiss.
allowing itto speak through them. Of course, I'm not