Due to an dissatisfaction with the directions in which modern classical music had been going since the beginning of the 20th century, the 1980ies and 1990ies saw many serious musicians starting to search for alternatives. This is why our Special Music School started offering special lessons with composition teacher SN Evtushenko, in which we aimed at redefining the future of musical expression. We rethought the rules which constitute the basis of Western music and probed to compose music in entirely different ways. Through this work, it became obvious to me that, if we want to create something entirely new which is suitable for listening, we have to change more than just a few rules; it's the fundamentals of the Western approach to music and its entire philosophy that need to be revised and changed.

ANCIENT VOICE OF HELP

The solution came from an unexpected direction. In 1988, we listened to some records of the great Indian musician, Ravi Shankar. His music was unusual but at the same time incredibly attractive. Wanting to know more, I began to explore this realm and found an intriguing world, which harmoniously combines a philosophical understanding of reality with a completely new musical system. What particularly inspired me was how this system allowed the performer to express himself (or herself) in the most confidential language I've ever seen. My soul was ready for the journey.

JOURNEY IN THE UNKNOWN WORLD

As I read more and more about the Indian culture and philosophy, I started to feel that theoretical knowledge is not enough. This is why, in 1992, I decided to try and go dive deep into this culture. I spent the next 3 years living in authentic Indian Asramas (monasteris), visiting India, and hearing hours and hours of ancient vedic sounds, which mostly consist of incantations of the holy names of the Supreme. In 1995, my learnings led me to Germany, where I tried to find ways to transmit my new understanding of music to the broader public. Experiments consisted of performances of meditative piano concerts, sometimes as a soloist, sometimes in the form of musical therapy with fairy tales narrated live by expert psychologists. In 2002, I participated as a musical director in an experimental theater project in Berlin, in which two groups of demented persons were engaged in scenes of different levels of complexity. Although the theater was a success, I felt that something was lacking and that the treasure I had received from the ancient masters of sound was still undiscovered by the public. I had to find something simple to help transmit that knowledge. I was looking for a new language of music.

"NOW I WILL PLAY RAGAS"

Then, all of the sudden, I had an Aha moment. Eureka! I realized that looking for new dimensions was itself the fundamental idea of Indian Ragas! For me, the only new thing about it was that I returned to those origins. Yes,to just play Ragas as they are, as the tradition prescribes, not adding any modern New Age attitude or something the like. It meant that I had to learn the rules, find out if piano playing would imitate the classical Indian instruments, and go ahead. And that's exactly what I did. And it worked! People were inspired, I was inspired, and therefore, I have been playing Piano Raga ever since. But that was just the beginning of my journey, which has no end. I feel that I found the place where all our modern music and art can find their future, shelter and refuge. At least I hope so.

1. Raga Shivranjani
2. Raga Desh
3. Raga Yaman
4. Raga Bhimpalasi

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 4/28/2017
Boris Moskvitin lives in Moscow Russia

Tagged as: New Age, Instrumental New Age, Inspirational, Contemporary Piano, Daydreaming, Indian Influenced, Massage, Spa and relaxation

1. Lines Build Walls by Ehren Starks: piano and cello/jazzy new age
2. Celocity by Claire Fitch: ambient cellist
3. The Early Sessions by Ray Montford: Evocative, melodic and haunting instrumental guitar music
4. Sancta Camisia by Hans Christian: new age meets Indian cello
5. Telemann Trios on Guitar by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
6. Bach Keyboard Works on Guitar by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
7. Baroque Concertos on 8 String Guitar by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
8. Edvard Grieg by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
9. Colors of Spain by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
10. Wars of the Dark Worlds by Phil Rey: high impact dramatic film score music
11. Heavenly Angels (Spiritual Healing) by Angelight: New Age/World Music for mankind from Russia
12. Enchanten by Margaret Maria Tobolowska: Sweeping new age cello
13. Waiting by Benji Goodrich: Solo piano to relax with
14. Rare, the Kafi Kanada Sessions by thirty3: Music in a gravity-free environment
15. Seven Waves of Knowing by Sambodhi Prem: reflections of the moon in music
16. Lucid Dreams by Jasmine Brunch: a secret garden of lucid musical dreams
17. Majestic by Kim Ribeiro: brazilian contemporary and traditional flute
18. Apple Howling by Mundi: Early music meets global folk at the Penguin Café
19. Metafonik by The Stroj: retrofuturistic, DIY instruments, industrial, electronic, tribal and steampunk
20. Patrons of the Lute by Daniel Shoskes: A feast of Baroque lute

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