One

Mark Ciaburri | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Real Music
• ASIN: B0007GADWM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,554 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As a title, One principally represents the body-mind-spirit cohesion aspired to in keyboardist Mark Ciaburri's slowly unfolding journey toward a state of sublime relaxation. It may also serve as a small pun, indicating the number of tracks found on this disc (and the number of recordings in this newcomer's discography). One is a nearly 67-minute, multi-instrumental bliss-out that also could have been appropriately titled Meditation Jam. First, Ciaburri electronically establishes the recording's underpinnings, a warm, gently glowing soundscape that hovers near the fringes of deep space. He then allows a host of accompanists--most prominently Bruce BecVar on acoustic guitar, plus others on cello, harp, oboe, English horn, flute, tabla, and voice--to add contemporary textures and benign, slow-motion abstractions, all with the intent of creating a sanctuary of sustained restfulness. It succeeds on most counts, though at times the disc seems busy, with instruments too often overlapping or crowding one another for prominence. Offering a little more openness, by extending spaces between notes or taking a more spare approach to instrumentation, might have turned a very good recording into a great one. Ciaburri's subtle use of voices (created by "The Angels Choir of Maui," a nod to where the disc was recorded) is particularly attractive. Massage and yoga enthusiasts, take note. --Terry Wood

Product Description

Music for meditation, massage, yoga or just being...

Remember when you’ve heard music so beautiful that it captured you, lifted you up, opened your heart and mind? Perhaps you were having a massage, doing yoga or just being silent but whatever you were doing, you wanted that music to continue. This is the music of One. Music to keep you there.

Over an hour of guitars, tablas, oboe, cello, tamboura, harp, English horn, voice and many other soft sounds woven together with no abrupt changes, the timing set to the gentle rhythm of the ocean.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Presentation of Real Music Artists Together, June 10, 2005

By 

medievalcrusadesbabe "ebabsedasurclaveidem" (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One (Audio CD)

A very interesting presentation, One is one track, put together by various artists on the Real Music label. The talents of Bruce Becvar on acoustic guitar, Daniel Paul on tablas and tamboura, Ginny Morgan on cello and harp, Jazlyn Woods on oboe and English horn, John Zangrando on alto/bass flutes, Mark Ciaburri on keyboards and percussion and The Angeles Choir of Maui providing the vocals all blend together to produce one long piece of ambient streams.

The combination of instruments is unique, creating a crossroad somewhere between East and West, going back and forth, and sometimes blending perfectly. There does not appear to be an obvious melody, but rather the melodies vary, each progressing on the last, never sounding out of place but never sounding contrived.

The CD booklet carries the message the composition intends to convey: Don't just do something, sit there. - Osho

However, in listening to the piece, while intended for meditation, massage, yoga or other such pastime, I felt the composition should be listened to for the quality of the work, the blending of the styles and the beauty of the melodies and their progression. There is a calling in the piece, asking you to also consider the emotion that is conveyed. Yes, there is energy in this composition. It is restrained in some places, but allowed to surface and be felt in others.

There is a remarkable blending of different instruments in this composition. Guitar and cello, flute and oboe, harp and horn all against a background of tablas and tamboura and percussion. Each instrument has a chance to be heard, expertly played by each of the artists, and then they blend with another, coming together as one as a complete orchestra" to emerge again and be heard individually or with another instrument. It is a wall of sound softening to a single voice coming back to wrap you in the total experience again.

Softly, this could play in the background to whatever work you are doing. However, in a pair of headphones, this music can be a powerful experience. Turned up on your stereo this will fill a room with energy. It can sooth, it can distract. The soft harmonies lull you into a quiet place, only to have your ear pick up on a momentary melody or a poignant beat.

The artists are well known in the ambient community. Mark Ciaburri is the composer of this piece. His time spent with Indian teachers and the various musical influences of the 60s are evident in this composition. His own musical background flavors the work, with touches of jazz and classical mixed into the hour of music.

But without the varied talents of Bruce Becvar, Ginny Morgan, Jazlyn Woods, John Zangrando or Daniel Paul, this could have come out sounding like so much blended noise. This is a tribute to their remarkable talents to interpret the piece so expertly and not end up with so much mush which it could easily have digressed to. And The Angles Choir of Maui blends so well with the composition that they emerge quietly, allowing you to suddenly notice them and then they vanish, to resurface again to the delight of the listener.

While intended for quiet work, this piece contains more energy than that and deserves to be placed up front to be appreciated rather than take for granted. While it may be meditative in nature, it is more so for the artist than the listener. This is more a piece to be listened to and enjoyed.

But whatever you do with it, it will be happily added to your collection of ambient/world music to be enjoyed again and again. This is a very lovely presentation of the composition skills of Mark Ciaburri and the talents of some very remarkable artists. maf

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Happiness, April 21, 2005

By 

Rebecca Miller (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One (Audio CD)

This CD is simply amazing. You can't help but to be happy and at peace with the world while listening to it. I would have to say that this CD is by far the best new age CD currently on the market. Relaxing and yet motivating at the same time.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smoothe soul sounds, March 5, 2005

By 

Linda Howard (usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One (Audio CD)

I love this CD! It is music I wake up to in the morning, or relax with in the afternoon or bring to my massage therapist. Paint a picture, meditate, do yoga or share a moment. It is very multi-dimensional. The excellent choice of very talented musicians and the great varity of Eastern and Western instruments creates a soothing sound without ever being boring. Take the journey with this very creative artist.