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Thusday March 24, 2005 By Barbara Rose Shuler The rains are pouring down today, reminding me of a blustery spring in the Pacific Northwest. The music of the rains accompanies a new CD produced by tenor, vocal coach, workshop leader and Carmel Bach Festival educator-director David Gordon. Gordon frequently appears in this column for the simple reason that he is a remarkably prolific man of music. So, during this week of Easter, when the concert halls are quiet, we can take time to check out this latest from Gordon's musical work shop. As many of you know, Gordon has developed an impressive international reputation in the realm of vocal "art music," as he puts it. He lends his golden tones to music of various genres but his fame springs from his contributions in the classical repertoire. Throughout his career, he has been interested in the healing powers of sound, in particular the healing potential in the human voice. He has integrated practices from yoga and meditation disciplines into his own professional singing experience to great effect. In the 1990s he teamed up with sound health pioneer Don Campbell, author of The Mozart Effect, to explore the "transformational and therapeutic uses of sound, voice and music." The CD I am listening to as the rain beats its melody on my rooftop is Gordon's newest offering called "Healing with Sound and Spirit: The Gentle Art of Meditative Toning." It is full of gems from his collaborative work with Campbell. He actually takes the listener through a 70-minute workshop. Gordon explains and demonstrates the nature and efficacy of toning, which he describes as "the creation of prolonged vocal sounds on a single vowel for the purpose of experiencing the results elsewhere in the body." This CD is designed for anyone interested in the healing properties of sound. No vocal mastery is required, nor is it important to have a background in singing of any kind. In fact, letting go of expectations, judgments and preconceptions is highly encouraged in this journey to learn more about the "ultimate healing instrument" the human voice. He says, "Since the beginning of time, voices have been used for entertainment, for worship and for healing. Somewhere along the line, the last couple of centuries, we have lost that healing part." The CD is designed to help people restore this lost element. You can order the CD on Gordon's Web site www.spiritsound.com. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Monterey County Herald and wire service sources. |
