Music for Quiet Inspiration

Being a musician, I rarely am able to listen to music “while I’m working” (either because it conflicts with the writing I’m doing, or I get distracted listening and can’t focus on other things!). But I do often have soft music playing in the background while studying or reading, and I have discovered some great music for this purpose—not wallpaper, but more ‘inspirational’ in the sense that it puts me in a creative space. Here are my top 3 “reflective” CDs (with more to follow):

Nomad by Paul Savaunet. The best way to describe this CD is mystical nomadic world music. Replete with atmospheric synth layers, tambourines and finger cymbals, chimes, and lush string writing, the CD is a journey through several other-worldly venues. The titles of the cuts are:

Oasis
Nomad
Madurai Temple
Bolero Excelcis
Land of the Angel

Riven Soundtrack by Robyn Miller. This very atmospheric soundtrack was written by one of the very talented and creative Miller brothers who created the Myst series of computer games. Robyn wrote the music for the first Myst as well as for Riven, the sequel; other composers handled the duties in later entries while Robyn went on to other creative ventures. Having been a fan of all the Myst games, I have always been intrigued with Miller’s choices of textures and colors in this soundtrack. Though there are only subtle differences between the tracks (in line with the very consistent immersive experience of the game), it is nonetheless an enjoyable sonic journey into the alternate worlds of caves, temples, islands, maglev cable bars, strange creatures, and, of course, the all-important linking books that allow travel between the worlds.

Crystal Silence by Chick Corea and Gary Burton. This is a classic recording, and one that has never ceased to amaze me in its energy, creativity, and sheer sonic delight. The eminent composers (Corea on piano and Burton on vibes) combine to create a rich palette much larger than their two instruments would normally dictate. The interplay between the players is fantastic, and the improvisational aspect of their musical interplay successfully blurs the line between improvisation and composition.

Desert Island Orchestral Works

I am in the last stage of completing a new orchestral commission for the Virginia Beach Symphony. It's a 10-minute fantasy on old Sea Shanties (think "Blow the Man Down" and "What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor"). While working on this piece I have come to realize that a handful of major Orchestral works have deeply influenced my composition (and orchestration) over the past few years. Here are the 6 Orchestral Works I couldn't bear to be without on a desert island!

Concerto for Orchestra - Bela Bartok
The Planets - Gustav Holst
Pictures at an Exhibition - Modest Moussorgsky (orch. Ravel)
Also Sprach Zarathustra - Richard Strauss
The Nutcracker (Complete Ballet) - Peter Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 2 - Johannes Brahms

In addition to inspiring the creative muse, these works provide indepth composition and orchestration training for any composer. The sheer volume of rich sonorites, unusual doublings and scoring techniques, and other-worldly sounds are some of the most inventive I've ever heard.

It's not a stretch to conclude that many modern composers (particularly in film music) have taken inspiration from these great masters as well. Though these works are 50-100 years old, they sound as fresh and compelling as any modern film music.