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 By Patty-Lynne Herlevi
Nawang Khechog - (The Tibetan Healing Music Collection) &
Universal Love (Sounds True)
Tibetan nomad
Nawang Khechog's bamboo flute music has been soaring through my
apartment for the past couple of weeks. This boxed-set includes 3 recordings,
Rhythms of Peace, 1989,
Quiet Mind, 1991 and
Sounds of Peace, 1996.
Khechog
doesn't only play peaceful original music, he embodies peace in his own life.
Here is a man, whose family fled Tibet in 1959 due to the Chinese invasion.
Anyone who has read about the treatment of Tibetan people, especially monks
thrown in prison, or having to live in exile will understand the significance of
forgiveness and compassion. In fact, when it comes to Tibetan lamas and the
Dalai Lama, I don't even think the word, "enemy" exists. It's one thing to
forgive one's enemy and another to see enemies as delusions since we are all One
and the Same Being. To entertain the idea of an enemy of any kind, is to
entertain an illusion of separation and to live in fear. As long as we walk that
path, we will not encounter long-lasting peace.
"Born in Tibet to nomads,
Nawang Khechog discovered in childhood a deep affinity
with the traditional bamboo flute. In 1959, he fled to India and spent 11 years
as a Buddhist monk there, before bringing his music to the West. Despite
worldwide praise for his work, Nawang resolved in 1991 to return to mountain
seclusion--until the Dalai Lama himself encouraged Nawang to continue to share
his music with the world."
Similar to the Tibetan vocalist and peace ambassador,
Yungchen Lhamo,
Khechog is
humble, despite his incredible musical talent. He has been called the
"Jean-Pierre Rampal of Tibetan flute," and he has worked with such diverse
musicians as R. Carlos Nakai, Philip Glass, Kitaro, Laurie Anderson, Paul Simon,
Natalie Merchant, (something he shares in common with Yungchen), Paul Winter and
others. He was nominated for a GRAMMY, and he served as a Tibetan Assistant
Director for the film, Seven Years in Tibet. But beyond on those physical
achievements, his music has been used 100's of times by hospitals to soothe
women during
childbirth. This healing and meditative music also clears tension away from the
body and the home. Imagine what it could do for the world.
The 1989 recording,
Rhythms of Peace reflects on the Dalai Lama who was a Nobel
Peace Laureate in 1989. This CD speaks about a path of non-violence and sports
titles such as, Being Kind to All and The Human Heart is for Kindness. These are
not just new age titles, but a way of life embodied by a man and musician in
exile. Even Joan Baez was so moved by one of Nawang's performances that she
wrote the following poem, included on the back cover of this recording.
"Up above the thunderclouds beyond the wildflowers, up where the air is thin, Nawang sat silently in a cave for seven years, occasionally playing his flute at
sunset. Before the notes evaporated and were transformed into an evening mist,
they were heard by the mountain goats, which stopped chewing and turned their
heads to listen because the god-like melodies filled them with wonderment and
made them want to dance." (Joan Baez)
 Quiet Mind is less hopeful and filled with haunting sadness, a home sickness,
yet,
Khechog's soaring flute ascends over the musician's breaking heart. This CD
features Tibetan bamboo flute, didgeridoo, ocarina, Incan pan pipes and silver
flute. As you can tell from
Khechog's recordings, he performs not just Tibetan
traditional music, but universal music that would appeal to anyone seeking peace
in their hearts and lives. Although this recording does feature all the above
instruments, its main focus is on breath and tranquility. When
Khechog does bring
in chants and the drone of the didgeridoo on any of his recordings, he reminds
me of Saami yoiker Wimme's early recordings--both artists present us with primal
music that seems to hail from cavernous areas of the world or sends us back to
prehistoric times. It is music that touches the soul gently, but leaves a deep
impression, nonetheless. However, The Power of Morality and Patience will even
leave a deeper groove and certainly the texture of this track contrasts with the first few tracks on the CD. He
is an artist not afraid of using dissonance or lyrical beauty and he applies
both in large amounts to his repertoire.
That brings us to the final CD in the set,
Sounds of Peace. Here is a quote from
the CD's liner notes. "He brings a rare, meditative awareness to each note the
moment it is played. Time seems to stand still, and the listener is invited to
experience the profound inner calm that cultivates a loving spirit."
Universal Love (2003), features a collection of 9 prayer-songs, with flute,
singing bowls, bells and whistles covering the high end, and didgeridoo,
traditional Tibetan chants and throat-singing covering the low end with
keyboards and polyphonic percussion filling in the space in between. Tracks, 2
(
Universal Love), track 7 (Four Immeasurable Kindnesses) and track 9 (Tibetan
Freedom Chant), features prayers, all reflective of Tibetan Buddhism and freeing
Tibet from oppression, but through compassionate means. This remarkable
recording is another kissing cousin to Saami yoiker
Wimme, (they both compose
soundscapes with heavy drone and primal rhythms). It hails from humble heart of
a man and musician on a quest for inner peace. And if someone who can create
such soulful music still hasn't achieved inner transcendence, I wonder about the
rest of us. It is some comfort that we can take
Nawang Khechog's recordings
along on the journey. And what a fabulous and primal journey!
Pick up one of Khechog's recordings and feel the results for yourself. His music
is truly peaceful and a powerful tool for healing. These CDs are a must in my
home.
Compliments of Cranky Crow Whole Music
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