Customer Reviews

Inside the Taj Mahal I & II

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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?

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.

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.

As a spiritual teacher of study and meditation practices, I have reviewed almost every "tool" available to me as a teacher. In my professional opinion, Paul Horn produces the finest meditation music to be found anywhere. Tone and sound is very important to my practice. His Inside series, particularly "Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza", is the best I have heard thus far. There are none finer than Paul. My highest recommendation. Dr. James L. Fabert, DD, PhD

I can't even remember how I discovered the original Inside LP. I never heard it on a radio and no friends had it.It just seemed to be in my life at the time I could savor it the most. It lead me to India to experience the inner dome myself. Almost 40 years later and the notes still erase time and space for me.I can't tell anyone this will change them to the fiber of their being,or even how well it holds up against other flute classics.All I will say is if you go into it deep enough you will be happy to stay.

I am forever a fan of Paul Horn and this is just another of his great interpretations of life.This album is well worth the time and investment.

There was a time in my life when I was travelling light - I had stripped my life to the bones to find out for myself what was really important to me and had discarded or given away the rest. I carried what I needed on my back, like the Hopi mahu when they entered the fourth world. Except - the original Paul Horn Inside the Taj Mahal LP which I carried under my arm. I had no way to play it - but I knew it was with me, to be heard when the time came.

I have a copy of the original "Inside the Taj Mahal" on vinyl. I ordered "Inside the Taj Mahal" I & II and found it to be even more enjoyable than the original. This CD is some of Paul Horn's all time best work.