Inside the Taj Mahal I & II

Paul Horn

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 27, 2001)
• Original Release Date: March 20, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Transparent Music
• ASIN: B00005A9B2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #101,324 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Five-time Grammy-nominated jazz flutist/saxophonist Paul Horn is a founding father of world and New Age music, and this disc features two of the most popular titles in the genres. Inside the Taj Mahal I was recorded inside the impressive and enigmatic world wonder in 1968, and Horn's fluid flute and snaky soprano sax lines resonate with a spectral spiritual reverb and echo that reaches right into the human soul. Horn's tantric tones are augmented by ancient Hindu-inspired chants on "Jumna," "Mumtaz Mahal," and "Vibrations." His follow-up, Inside the Taj Mahal II, was recorded in 1988 and expands the sonic spirituality of the first recording. The "Taj Mahal Suite," a 17-part work, features more jazz-like improvisations bathed in India's millennia-old traditions. With these projects, Horn put Indian music out of the realm of the musical anthropologist and into the minds and hearts of millions of music lovers around the world. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure and Stunning. It will transport you., April 9, 2001

By A Customer

I had heard of Paul Horn but was unaware of his focus, his seminal works recorded some ten years before I stumbled on improvisational 'New Age' music. This recording, to me, bewitches; one is swept into the mystery of this Indian shrine by a single note that pierces the silence and ascends,carrying one with it. Yes, this is deeply mediative music. This is not New Age quazi-jazz aural wallpaper. Horn weaves an exquisite sense of place and history with a creation of pure, playful and reverent sound. His flute and sax, with the prayer songs interspersed, tell a wordless story that, to me, feeds a place I didn't know was empty. This music is singular, powerful, transporting. Ahem! Rather than babble on: think of how different Keith Jarrett is from George Winston, cognac from zinfandel. I heard cuts of this on NPR while driving and had to pull over. This music is not kid stuff. Listen to any cuts of it posted here and let it seep in. Is this how Orpheus sounded? The next step in journey?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing short of amazing, December 27, 2002

By	BENJAMIN MILER (Eugene, OR United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I'm the type of person who usually doesn't go for New Age or world music. Especially the fact New Age music had became really tacky in the 1980s and 1990s, and the likes of John Tesh and Yanni became big names in that field of music. But Paul Horn's Inside the Taj Mahal isn't like that. Paul Horn had a really drastic change in musical styles by the late 1960s. Prior to circa 1967, he was playing conventional jazz since the 1950s. By the end of 1966, he was in India studying meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (same guy the Beatles studied meditation with). He was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with western conventions, so he decided get inspiration from Eastern philosphy, religion, and meditation. A couple of trips to India later, in the middle of making a documentary that never finished, Paul Horn stopped by the Taj Mahal in April 1968 and recorded the original Inside the Taj Mahal. The album first surfaced on Epic Records, entitled simply Inside. The results is some really stunning flute music recorded in the famous Indian monument. The music has the relaxing, meditative mood, helped on by the sustained echo the Taj Mahal provided. And while it's mostly flute being used, vocals are provided from time to time. As for Inside the Taj Mahal II, well this was a 1988 recording to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the original recording, only this time around, he was able to get a hold of digital equipment (technology that was common knowledge in 1988, but did not exist in 1968) as well as several different flutes and saxes. Inside the Taj Mahal II is not the album he released in 1972 called Inside II (that was a totally different album). Regardless, Inside the Taj Mahal is quite an interesting album if like meditative flute music.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece, June 3, 2001

By	AmethystRosee "amethystrosee" (chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

I first heard this (#I) in my "learning meditation" days back in the late 70s. I have bought this piece 3 times since then. Horn is a master flutist. The blend of his flute with chant in the Taj Mahal has a deep mystical quality and easily takes us deep within. Reverence and authenticity of the sacred exude here.

I have several of Horns' CDs, among those, one which he did with native american flutist Carlos Nakai. They are all wonderful. "Inside the Taj Mahal" is Golden. It brings me to center every time I hear it. This one will always be on my shelf among the all time favorites.