Different styles of music have different "sounds." We can



all pretty much agree on that point. For example, Jazz uses

seventh chords almost exclusively. This, and the kind of chord

progressions used in Jazz gives it its unique flavor. But what

about new age music? Does it have it's own special ingredients?

Yes it does.

Now, there are no hard and fast rules here but for the most

part, new age music is a consonant music. That is, there is

little or noharshness going on in the music. No Saxes wailing

and what not. Having said that we can eliminate most of the

tense jazz chords and their voicing. So what are we left with?

Mostly Major and minor chords based on the regular scales and

the modes. The chord progressions are simpler and usually start

on the l chord. No ll-V-l progressions here.

What about melody? In jazz, we have a soloist who usually plays

a lot of chromatic notes. This is rare in new age music because

it would create dissonance. New age melodies tend to be softer

and more on the spiritual side. Solos, if there are any, are not

so much concerned with the expression of the self than they are

with letting the music express itself. A subtle but very important

distinction. Jazz players may have some ego invested in their

performance. New age musicians learn to let the music play them.

They learn to become a channel for the music itself allowing it

to speak through them. Of course, I'm not saying that this can't

happen in Jazz, but, just watch a Jazz performer and you'll see

what I mean.

Last but not least is rhythm. Let's do a comparison/contrast

between Jazz and New Age music. Jazz has a definite discernible

rhythm. It is what makes Jazz Jazz. New age music can have a

pattern or an underlying rhythm to the music. It can be used to

create trance like states in the listener. Drums are usually

a part of Jazz music. Percussion is mostly absent from the New

Age sound simply because it would not add to the atmosphere most

New Age musicians create. Timing is very important to the Jazz

musician. The soloist has the freedom to play whatever he wants

as long as he maintains the meter and stays in time. New Age music

is more elastic in that timing is there, but is not a master of

the player. The New Age player can disregard time altogether.

Just listen to Zen flute music as a good example of this.

Now, what does all this mean for the aspiring New Age musician? A

couple of good things. It means that there is a definite new age

"sound" out there. That it is here to stay and that people like

and need to hear it. And it means that there are some guidelines

out there for what defines the meaning of New Age music.

Article written by Edward Weiss.