New Age Music: How Different Is It?

Most people love music. They have their own preferences. Some want classical music while others listen to rock music. Some love jazz and others love disco.

As with all other things, music changes and evolves. Today, there are many other types of music. For example, there is now hip-hop, synthesized, and alternative rock. One of these recent types of music is new age music.

New age music is a style that initially connected with new age beliefs. By new age, we mean a broad movement of contemporary Western culture during the late twentieth century. This era is portrayed by assorted and individual approach to spiritual exploration and references the astrological Age of Aquarius.

New age music is based on the music of several European and American electronic and acoustic musicians in the 1960s. Typically, new age music is instrumental and melodic in nature. Sometimes, recorded sounds of nature are introduced into a track or scene.

New age music is quite relaxing and inspiring. It is often used as an accompaniment to activities such as yoga, meditation, massage, or reading. Or for most new age music lovers, this type of music gives a peaceful atmosphere to their rooms, homes, and other environments.

New age music is characterized by modal or constant harmonies and melodies. It can include electronic forms such as sequencers and instrumental forms which feature the sounds of traditional instruments such as flutes, piano, acoustic guitar and other non-western instruments such as bagpipes.

Initially, new age music was instrumental in kind; however, later compositions included vocal solos and arrangements. Such music with vocal inclusion features Sanskrit, Tibetian, or Native American-influenced chants. Some new age songs with vocals have lyrics about Celtic legends or about the realm of the faeries and angels. Such music has an ethereal or dreamy quality to it.

New age songs can sometimes be quite long. In fact, there are some songs that have a playing duration of fifteen to twenty minutes.

It was in the 1980s when new age music was widely introduced to the public and thus became popular. Some radio stations, particularly KLRS in Santa Cruz, California, began to play exclusively new age music.

Then recently, cable television channels began to play this kind of music. These channels, such as the Soundscape Channel, for example, play music without visuals.

If you want to listen to music as a relaxation tool, then new age music is the way to go.