Foregather in the Name - David Hykes, Hill, Timothy [1]
Track Listings (4) - Disc #2
Kyrie Fragments - David Hykes, Hill, Timothy [1]
Eleison Closing - David Hykes, Hill, Timothy [1]
Brotherhood - David Hykes, Hill, Timothy [1]
Hallelujah - David Hykes, Hill, Timothy [1]
A single low note resonates. A second gradually becomes perceptible, then another, slowly swirling sounds that shift and pulsate from some unknown force, chords so ethereal they might be supernatural, or perhaps the vib... more »rations of the universe. They are the voices of David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir. Hykes performs in architectural spaces as inspiring as his music. Harmonic Meetings was recorded in Le Thoronet Abbey, whose remarkable features grace the cover of the release. The music itself; however, sprang from a traveling art exhibition called The Tent of Meetings. Hykes composed the music for this project, which was based on the sacred art of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. And for the first time, Hykes incorporated actual words into his harmonic chanting, sacred words common to those three religions, words like Hallelujah and Kyrie Fragments. Hykes says, "It is the harmonic content of the words which interests me. The harmonic content in a word can be brought to life; it comes from the same place as a pure vibration."« less
A single low note resonates. A second gradually becomes perceptible, then another, slowly swirling sounds that shift and pulsate from some unknown force, chords so ethereal they might be supernatural, or perhaps the vibrations of the universe. They are the voices of David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir. Hykes performs in architectural spaces as inspiring as his music. Harmonic Meetings was recorded in Le Thoronet Abbey, whose remarkable features grace the cover of the release. The music itself; however, sprang from a traveling art exhibition called The Tent of Meetings. Hykes composed the music for this project, which was based on the sacred art of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. And for the first time, Hykes incorporated actual words into his harmonic chanting, sacred words common to those three religions, words like Hallelujah and Kyrie Fragments. Hykes says, "It is the harmonic content of the words which interests me. The harmonic content in a word can be brought to life; it comes from the same place as a pure vibration."
"David Hykes has mastered Overtone singing and showcases it here with the members of the Harmonic Choir (a group assembled by Hykes). This Double CD has been a wonderful source of otherworldly transport for us and after the initial curiosity of the Harmonic Chant we found ourselves returning over and over again to these CDs. "The text consists of a few sacred words from the Abrahamic religions with most sections involving vocalizing on vowel sounds. In this abbey, two voices sound like ten. When the harmonics focus, it sounds like ten voices more. The overall effect is one of startling majesty. It is earthy and other-wordly at the same time... I can't help but think how the world would change if five minutes of this were played on Top Forty radio several times a day." -Andrew Fischer, 1/1"
Powerful & sublime
Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 11/25/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the most extraordinary recordings I've ever heard, this is chanting with overtones, like one can hear sung by Tibetan monks. Recorded in 1986 at the abbey of Le Thoronet, France, the first two selections use the accompaniment of tambura, and the final piece on each CD includes a drum, otherwise these pieces are for 1, 2, or 3 voices, and the enormity of the sound will amaze you.This sound achieved by David Hykes is unearthly. Peaceful, moving, magical. Great to meditate to. Perhaps one could describe it as a hybrid between Gregorian chant and Middle Eastern Sufi music, but in reality, this is an entirely new musical animal, one of a kind and almost impossible to duplicate."Foregather in the Name" is a 15 minute piece for three voices and drum that's spectacular, as is the short solo by Timothy Hill, "Eleison Closing". This two CD set is the original one tape cassette (which had approximately 40 minutes on each side) and it does have the annoying flap that lifts from the center holding both CDs, but in this case, the flap is worth lifting. This is music that might levitate your soul to a place of great joy."
Superb beyond words.
Lujan Matus | 04/01/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD takes you on an exquisite journey into yourself... A master with overtones and chants... A unique blend of Tibetan sounds and Sacred Chants... awesome."
Pure Intent
Lujan Matus | 03/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To this very day I find it difficult to explain what this music does in terms of shifting my consciousness. David Hykes' resonant chanting shifts one's cognitive system into virtual silence that allows one's awareness to move smoothly and progressively toward the sublime indescribable states that correspond to the purest intent."