With the recording Nanda Devi, Hans Christian — one of the modern masters of new age music — has created a musical ode to the sacred mountain Nanda Devi in Northern India; and, as one of the tallest peaks in the world, it symbolizes nature’s beauty, spiritual power and a place of quiet serenity outside the reach of modern civilization.
Now with Nanda Devi, Christian says, “The music on this CD is intended to create a space of serenity, room to breathe in, an expanded perspective on life that might allow us to relax for a moment. It was my intention to compose music, expressed through my own musical language, that would be suitable for different kinds of listening environments including meditation, yoga, balancing and deep listening. At the same time I also wanted to highlight an interesting combination of string instruments in an ever-changing dialogue weaving a tapestry of melodies, colors and patterns. So Nanda Devi is also a CD of musical and sonic experimentation.”
Additionally Christian uses the music to explore the theme of the sacredness of nature and the inspirational quality of the tallest points on our planet. “The music on this CD is like a soundtrack to a majestic mountain,” explains Christian, “such as the sacred mountain Nanda Devi in Northern India. May we absorb the strength and serenity and beauty of this mountain as we listen to this music.”
Hans Christian captures the breath-taking sight of the mountain and the spiritual feelings that Nanda Devi inspires. He specifically spotlights various aspects of Nanda Devi and the surrounding area on tracks titled “Majestic Mountain,” “Sunanda,” “She Who Brings Bliss” and “Valley of the Gori Ganga.” He sets the mood of a day at the foot of the massif with the tunes “First Light” and “Between Dusk and Dawn.” Christian gets more personal with tunes characterized as “My Inner Ascent” and “Eternal Spring.” Musically the long drawn-out bowed notes from his cello create a meditative reverie in sound, but the many world-flavored instruments, especially those associated with India, give the music the flavor of a trek (physically or mentally) to the top of the world.
