Celestial Medicine Album by Bill Leyden

About the Celestial Medicine Album by Bill Leyden

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Seda Baghdasarian

Special thanks to Seda Baghdasarian for original artwork: "Orion."

Bill Leyden uses the Native American style flute in a series of haunting musical textures and solo improvisations. The result is a compelling healing journey that deepens with each listening.

The flutes are magical instruments, full of mystery and expression. The combination of wood and breath and atmospheres come together on this album to guide you on inner journeys of contemplation, healing and wonder.

Let the music lift you to a higher level of feeling -- a level where the sounds act like . . . Celestial Medicine.

"Traveling to the Yucatán changed me. When I returned to Northern Arizona, the experience seemed to have unlocked an unrequited artistic urge that has not yet been quenched. It was the first time that I had heard the term ‘celestial’ when talking about one’s quest to lead a meaningful and balanced life. At the time, I did not appreciate its meaning, thinking it was only part of the rich and mysterious Mayan lore.

I was curious about the ‘secrets of the Maya,’ but nobody that I met was talking very much. But nonetheless I felt magic in the Yucatán, albeit both invisible and unspoken. Sometimes it returns to me when I play the Native American flute. I felt it when recording this album.

I was about half way through the recordings for this album when I went to the closet a pulled out a Fender Stratocaster guitar that I had not played in many years. I went immediately to the studio and started to record. The result was the track “Gone But Not Forgotten.” I continued to pepper the orchestrated tracks with some guitar here and there. I hope you like the results.

For this album, I relaxed and let the music come at its own pace. I would start an orchestration and let it marinate for a while and return with a fresh perspective. Most of the solo flute work I kept in the lower keys, including mostly Low G through mid C. I think this is a reflection of the stillness that I was seeking from the flutes. Many thanks for allowing me to share this work with you!"

Tracks:

1. Celestial Medicine 2:45
2. Pillars of Light 4:04
3. Invisible Knights 4:21
4. Dragon’s Tail 3:00
5. Slide Rock 3:08
6. Wolf Moon 3:25
7. Celtic Thunder 3:03
8. Echoes from Altair 2:46
9. Gone But Not Forgotten 2:43
10. Spent Wishes 2:04
11. Lusantay Lullaby 2:39
12. Un Par de Estrellas 3:35
13. Suspiros de Salkantay 2:44
14. Cascade 3:24
15. Monomyth 2:47
16. Retrospect 3:23

Liner Notes:

Celestial Medicine CD Booklet (Outside)

Celestial Medicine CD Booklet (Inside)

Celestial Medicine CD Tray (Outside)

Celestial Medicine CD Tray (Inside)

Released Feb, 2011