Our whole universe is composed of vibrations, be it sound, colors and even thoughts. The Bible often refers to the inner Heavenly Sound as the “sound of thunder,” the “sound of many waters,” or the Word. Yogis in deep meditation can hear the Word, the Sacred Sounds of the universe. “In the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was with God… full of grace and truth.” Perhaps this is why many great enlightened Masters have naturally been talented musicians as well. For instance, Supreme Master Ching Hai has gifted us with a diverse array of celestial musical creations. Master has implemented many kinds of instruments in Her music, including, the harp, piano, electric keyboard, mandolin, dulcimer, zither, and percussion instruments, among others. She plays spontaneously and effortlessly, yet She skillfully conveys the subtle nuances of musical expression very precisely. Let us now delight in this precious recording of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s heartfelt musical compositions in Japan from October 1991.
Indeed, in the worldly realm, musical instruments are the source of God’s beautiful melodies and songs. The instruments’ sounds are inspired from higher realms within. Artists are often viewed as half-saints, because they bring celestial music to this Earth for us to enjoy. They share with the world the beauty of the heavenly realms. Musical instruments are vast and varied, and have greatly evolved through time. Today, we’ll explore one of the most popular of group of instruments, the keyboard. We will also explore the world of musical prodigies and composers who used the keyboard to grace our world with celestial music.
Piano music as we know it has its beginnings in the Baroque period between 1600 and 1750. Baroque music is characterized by an energetic rhythm based on the regular beat that drives the music, dance rhythms, continuous expansion, increasing expression, terraced dynamics that jump from loud to soft, and the dominance of the Binary Form, or two principal musical themes that are usually repeated. One of the most important composers of the Baroque period is Johann Sebastian Bach. We invite you now to listen to “Prelude and Fugue No. 5 in D major, BWV 850,” from Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier Vol. 1,” composed by Johann Sebastian Bach.
