SILK
During a writing retreat in a traditional Japanese Inn close to the country’s ancient capital, Kyoto, Richard composed the music for Silk - surrounded by bamboo forests, mist covered mountains, sacred shrines and ancient temples.Perfect spa music for massage and relaxation, Silk is a serene, touching and emotionally moving journey designed to calm the mind and massage the soul – somewhat reflecting the Japanese “Zen” philosophies of simplicity, beauty and space, in over one hour of tranquil music for solo piano.
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 "Thank you very much for the wonderful CDs we purchased from you at Eumundi markets last Wednesday. We are now back "home" in Tokyo and have relaxed with your music already....at home, and with my iPod on the Tokyo subway!!! It has even helped send our little one to sleep - perfect lullaby music. She has been difficult to get to sleep over the past couple of months, but your Silk CD has done the trick. Your music is perfect to facilitate either deep relaxation or deep concentration. The wonderful sound is always there....yet it is not there." - Iain Rodger, Tokyo, Japan" |
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Composer's NotesDuring 2004 and 2005 I was given the opportunity to live and work as a musician in Japan for several months. I immediately felt a deep connection with the ancient culture, traditions and spirituality of “Old Japan”. I spent much of my spare time visiting Japanese Gardens, Buddhist Temples, Sacred Shrines, attending traditional spiritual ceremonies and hiking through rugged mountains and forests of bamboo.In the temples and traditional “Zen” style Japanese gardens I experienced a profound feeling of peace. While spending time in these lovely places I realized that I particularly connected with the Japanese “Zen” philosophy of beauty, space and simplicity of form - the idea that what is not there is just as important as what is. I then used these elements to try to transfer the same feeling of peace into the music composed for Silk – maintaining beauty, simplicity and plenty of space between the notes. Making a traditional Ryokan (Japanese Inn) in the mountains on the edge of Kyoto my home for several weeks to create the music for Silk was truly one of the most special experiences of my life. I would wake each morning to a view over pointed Japanese roofs to misty forests and mountains and most often with music already in my head. After working on each piece as much as I could in that moment, I would take a break and visit a temple, go for a hike in the mountains or a swim in a waterfall, visit my favorite Sento (Japanese bath house) or have a soaking massage in an outdoor hot spring surrounded by forest. Then I’d come back and complete the music. I named this album Silk partly to honor the Japanese connection with the music, but also because I wanted to create music that felt like a piece of silk touching your skin – music that calms the mind and massages the soul. |
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