Artist: Sonia Slany

Date of Release: 01/01/2000

Catalogue no: 588

Label: Village Life

Price: £16

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Track Listing

"Village Life, the label for alternative music, is proud to release a recording of the healing music of the Monochord, recorded by Sonia Slany, composer, musician and healer. An unprecented musical event and the first time this instrument has been heard on disc, it has been likened to an ocean of sound, lying on top of a giant loudspeaker, and the experience of being in the womb. Unlike anything you will have heard before, this sublime musical experience is an evocative trance mix of western improvisation, eastern European violin and voice floating on an ocean of monochord sound waves and African percussion grooves.

Known for appearances with her quartet on "Later with Jools Holland", Sonia has studied sound therapy for 11 years. This recording is a unique expression of her musicianship combined with healing knowledge. It was recorded with the aim of duplicating the experience of lying on top of the Monochord table, enabling this rare instrument to be accessed by a much wider audience. The monochord was developed by Pythagoras to demonstrate sound principles, used by Hildegaard Von Bingen to sing her heavenly inspirations with, and expanded by Joachim Marz for therapy purposes as a seven foot long table with strings underneath; here it is taken into a new musical dimension by Sonia Slany. "Monochord Music" is a 2 CD set.

The first disc features some of the finest musicians playing today, and is a musical exploration of and interaction with the monochord sound. It is an eclectic mix of western style improvisation on saxophones and flute, and eastern European / Arabic violin and voice, over African percussion grooves. Integrated by the monochord music of Sonia, it flows in and out of different trance states. The second disc for healing comprises pure monochord sound waves for therapeutic purposes. It is intended to support, heal and integrate the many aspects of ourselves, balancing our energies. It calms down those with too much energy or tension, regenerates those who are tired and is especially good for pregnant women and babies. Effective in all treatment or workshop environments, it creates an immediate shift to alpha brain waves. Not to be used in situations requiring survival responses such as in a car!

Reviews

01/01/2000 the Independent

Like floating on an ocean of sound"

01/01/2000 Michael Church

"Beguiling, cocooned in sound"