Over the last month Peaceful Being the debut album from Richard Noll has been he soundtrack for many of my morning yoga routines and meditations. Overall, it has become one of my favorite albums. And listening to it has led to some of the most relaxing and calming meditations I have ever had.
About Richard Noll’s Music
Richard Noll is one of the few recording artists who plays primarily recorder and he is amazing! On Peaceful Being he plays both tenor and alto recorders. He also plays an electronic wind instrument, the EWI 4000s. But he doesn’t stop there. He also plays electronic keyboards. He uses the keyboards to create piano, percussion gamelan-like tones and other instrumental sounds.
Noll explains “Even though I play transverse flutes from time to time. I concentrated on using the recorder on this album since many of the pieces were composed on that instrument. Of course recorders are a type of flute, an internal duct flute, and I generally play them in the style of a native or indigenous wooden flute”
Nature is a primary inspiration for Noll’s music. He relates” Most of my early music came to me as I sat with my wooden recorder in the mountains or along rivers and streams of Northern New Mexico”
About Peaceful Being
He explains “ I collected eight of my songs for Peaceful Being that I felt were soothing meditative songs that could inspire, uplift and nourish a listener.” “ I believe these songs can be supportive during times of reflection and inner process, as background for yoga, meditation or other daily practice, during massage or other bodywork sessions, to create meditative energy for groups, or offered wherever calm and spacious music would be appropriate”
I have experienced Noll’s music as both background for yoga and meditation. So,I can attest to the fact, it is perfect for both!!
The title of the album Peaceful Being can be understood in two ways: feeling peaceful, or as a peaceful person. Noll explains, “ The meaning that emerges depends on whether “being” is understood as a noun or a verb. ”Either way peacefulness is the end result of listening to Noll’s relaxing yet invigorating music
Final Thoughts and an Experiment
Peaceful Being is a pleasure to listen to. One of the most calming and relaxing to which I have ever listened.. I know it’s going to be in my music rotation for a long time. So check it out!
Finally let’s try a little experiment. Noll relates the following, “ I was sitting by a waterfall along a small stream in the mountains in New Mexico when I wrote “Peaceful Being”. It evokes for me the lush, specious and nurturing presence of the pristine earth and the quality of being alive, nourished and supported by nature.”
The song “Nightfall” celebrates twilight, the transition from the light of day to the dark of night when the diminished light softens the edges of all things as the shadows take over, and I feel a sense of mystery and wonder. I composed this as dusk fell while camping at a river in the Gila Wilderness in Southern New Mexico.”
Ok so now I want you to re-read the above. Then listen to the appropriate track below and see where the music takes you! Then listen to and enjoy the whole album here.