Stephen Halpern

It’s science: chill out music music is good for you

According to research presented at the American Society of Hypertension’s Twenty Third Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2008), listening to just 30 minutes of rhythmically homogeneous music every day can significantly reduce high blood pressure.

By rhythmically homogeneous, they mean music with little or no variation in rhythm; they tested with classical music and Indian raga music, but the research offers some medical validation to Stephen Halpern’s pioneering new age music, Brian Eno’s ambient music (which he conceived while bed-ridden) and more recent chill out music.

Researchers found that patients with mild hypertension who listened to just half an hour rhythmically homogeneous music a day for four weeks experienced significant reductions in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP)

“Listening to music is soothing and has often been associated with controlling patient-reported pain or anxiety and acutely reducing blood pressure,” said study investigator, Prof. Pietro A. Modesti, MD, PhD. “But for the first time, today’s results clearly illustrate the impact daily music listening has on ABP. We …. can now confidently explore music listening as a safe, effective, non-pharmacological treatment option or a complement to therapy.”

Unfortunately, the research was limited to  testing the positive benefits of “soothing” music, so we can’t tell if listening to techno is just as beneficial, or if it’s likely to send your heart into a hypertensive spasm. Read more…

New age music is a category for music that tends to be spiritual and contemplative in nature. It is as much a functional category as a stylistic one. New age music is music for reflection, contemplation, stretching, resting, reading and thinking. Unlike “lite” or “easy listening” music, new age music is composed specifically for these meditative tasks.

New age music tends to avoid heavy rhythms, harsh sounds, complex harmonies, and virtuosic display. The focus of new age music is not on the musician or composer, but on creating music that will meet your psychological needs.

New age music grew out of experimentation by a variety of composers in the 60’s and 70’s. Jazz and rock musicians reacted to the free-form virtuosic music that was popular at the time, and explored more meditative styles of music.

The most important artist of early new age music is probably Stephen Halpern. Halpern began to make music that was intended specifically for meditation and reflection in the early seventies. He couldn’t find a record company that was interested in his music, so he published it himself, and marketed through “new age” stores. These were yoga gyms, health food stores, and places that sold world clothing, incense, and spiritual items. Halpern’s music is based around a very long pulse; his phrases tend to be about the length of a slow breath, making his music very relaxing.

Because new age music covers a lot of stylistic territory, both electronic and acoustic musicians have created music that could be called “new age”. A lot of new age music is unexceptional; it works as background music because it waters down music, stripping away anything thoughtful or challenging. The best new age music, on the other hand, has expanded the range of musical style. Halpern’s work, for example, challenges many assumptions listeners often have about music.

Many other artists have created music that falls into the new age category. Brian Eno’s ambient music, especially Ambient 2, is very contemplative. Many electronic musicians have created new age music, including John Serrie, Kitaro, Aeoliah, Steve Roach and Michael Stearns. Some of the music of Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, and Klaus Schulze could be considered new age, also. Paul Horn has created acoustic new age music for 30 years.

The music of Stephen Halpern has lived outside of the electronica mainstream for 30 years, yet it’s been very influential, especially in the world of New Age music.

Most of Halpern’s music is peaceful and calm, and is free of the rhythmic pulse of most music. Instead, it uses a longer pulse, based on the rhythm of breathing. He uses long relaxed phrases to communicate the meditative goal of his music.

Halpern’s music is often meant to be functional music. It may be for meditation, massage, or yoga. The peaceful facade of the music makes it easy to miss the fact that the music challenges many assumptions we have about music. While the sound of the music is peaceful, it’s music without traditional melody, structure or motion. The music is also built on the idea that sound can change the rhythms of your body, and that it can healing properties.

The site is primarily a promotional site. It has sections that cover each of the main functional purposes that he makes music for, and samples are provided for each CD. The site also has biographical and tour information.