Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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69 of 71 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hauntingly beautiful in its simplicity., October 6, 1998
By A Customer
Richardson's compilation echoes the ancient, haunting melodies of the zen masters with such clarity the result is an unparalleled masterpiece of modern meditation music. His compositions display understanding of the nuances of meditative arts, blending distinctive sound and silences that would lead any listener to a calmer state of mind.This reviewer is grateful for meditation music that is what it says it is--uncluttered and calming. Perfect for t'ai chi, meditation practice, or peaceful relaxation.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
absolutely sublime..., February 28, 2005
...and to my thinking, perfect either for meditation or for just relaxing. Given the objections offered by one reviewer below, that the pieces on this recording are too much alike, I would respectfully and gently suggest that meditation and relaxation are two very different things -- if the music one uses for meditation draws too much of one's attention, then real meditation is difficult to achieve. If, on the other hand, the purpose of the music is for relaxation, then more attention may be paid to it without sacrificing the result.
For either purpose, this recording is excellent. Richardson's playing is warm and flowing, coming from a place deep within the performer -- this never sounds like some Westerner dipping his toe into the pool of Eastern methods and techniques. Rather, it resonates completely with the total immersion of the performer in the musical traditions. The melodies are transporting, offering images of crystalline beauty like the birds depicted in the cover painting -- and like so many things associated with Zen, and with Buddhism in general, less is truly more.
This two-disc set is a treasure at a single-disc price -- there are over 140 minutes of music here. Not a single note is wasted, nor offered without the simplicity and honesty that makes our hearts and souls echo in peaceful reply.
Highly recommended.
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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best in my colllection, May 19, 2001
By A Customer
This is by far the best Zen music disc I've purchased. Most Shakuhachi music is made up of short, sharp bursts from the flute and gasps for air from the flutist, and most of those bursts don't add up to a good tune (in my opinion). In contrast, all the tunes in this album flow like water, without being at all Yanni-like. I especially like the second disc, and I listen to it at work to calm me down, especially when I'm doing some problem solving.
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is Stan Richardson's 
