Ambient music is an emerging genre, pushing the boundaries of traditional music genres. From rain to piano music, ambient music artists push the envelopes of sound and texture. Their music helps to beautify the background of the world. In fact, ambient music has become a popular genre for a variety of reasons.
Laraaji
Laraaji is an ambient music pioneer who blends spirituality and music in his music. Laraaji’s music includes “Laughter Meditation” and Vision Songs. He has collaborated with many top musicians. Laraaji is based in New York City. His albums are infused with Eastern spirituality.
Born in Philadelphia in 1943, Edward Larry Gordon studied composition at Howard University and moved to New York City in the early ’70s. He took inspiration from Eastern spirituality and Western music and started composing music. His early works were influenced by Eastern spiritualism, which was also prevalent in Jazz and rock music of the day.
Laraaji’s debut album led to a flurry of cassette releases. His recordings, produced with his twinkling zither, pull in various directions. From spectral noise rock to weirdo trip-hop, from tapes laid in bedrooms to music made in caves, Laraaji’s music transcends genre boundaries. Today, he divides his time between making music and running comedy workshops.
Erik Satie
Erik Satie is considered one of the greatest composers of ambient music, with his pieces being used in films, television shows, video games, and more. Although his music was initially considered strange and off-putting when he was a student, it has since gained popularity. Here’s a look at Satie’s oeuvre:
The concept of repetition underlies much of Satie’s work. His “Vexations” is an example, a piece that consists of 36 chords and is played repeatedly, for two or three minutes. Satie intended to have the piece performed 840 times. As a result, he wrote instructions for performers to practice the piece with serious immobility.
Satie’s music is often categorized as “furniture music.” The composer himself designated three sets of pieces as “furniture music”: “The Furniture,” “The Art of Noises,” and “The Garden,” “End of a Day.” Although the pieces may not be particularly enjoyable, Satie’s music is a fascinating example of ‘ambient’ music.
Pierre Schaeffer
In the 1940s, Pierre Schaeffer worked as an engineer for Radio France, where he had complete access to the sound effects department. His journal reveals his process for imprinting sounds onto shellac grooves and other debris. Eventually, Schaeffer began experimenting with sound as an aesthetic object, and began to experiment with the use of sound as a medium.
In the early 1970s, Schaeffer began exploring the concept of ambient music. His work was not yet widespread, and was only produced in small numbers. But Schaeffer hoped that his music would inspire other artists and become a popular form of art. He also wrote essays, short stories, biographies, and theoretical works about music theory and philosophy.
After leaving the GRMC, Schaeffer was actively involved in other fields. He co-founded a music label called Ocora, which specialized in recording rural soundscapes from Africa. Through this label, he pioneered techniques for preserving traditional sounds and conducting field recordings. He also trained people to work with African national broadcasting services. Toward the end of his life, Schaeffer began working on his final electronic noise etude.
Brian Eno
Brian Eno is one of the most influential composers of ambient music. His recordings have influenced many artists from Genesis to David Bowie. He has also collaborated with artists such as John Cale and Nico. He has also remixed tracks by artists such as Massive Attack and Depeche Mode.
In addition to his music, Brian Eno has created several pieces of visual art. His works have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, the Marble Palace in St. Petersburg, the Ritan Park in Beijing, the Arcos de Lapa in Rio de Janeiro, and the Sydney Opera House. He is also a founding member of the Long Now Foundation, a trustee of Client Earth, and patron of Videre est Credere, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the human condition.
Brian Eno’s career was not without controversy. He once revealed that he was influenced by pornography. His work was occasionally menacing, but his louder rock ‘n’ roll records were often playful.
