New Percussion Composition
for Upcoming CD -
Grooves for Odd Times

Seventeen Eights (3.5 MB - ©Guerguerian)
Hypnotic Groove in 17 with Frame Drums,
Cajon, Talking Drum, Tabla, Doumbek,
Dun Dun, Bongos, Gongs...

Gong Lab (mp3)

Gong Lab (Sheet Music)

Ten For You (mp3)

Ten For You (Sheet Music)

 

BUY THE TRANCE (2002) CD NOW
with
CD BABY! 
CLICK HERE


You can also download the CD or buy individual songs through iTunes
and other online Digital Distribution stores.

River on MySpace
www.myspace.com/riverguerguerian 



Click on song titles to hear samples from Trance CD.

1. MOTHER’S TRANCE (1 MB) Two large frame drums set the hypnotic tone of this piece by playing the bellydance rhythm shiftatelli. It is embellished with doumbek and riq tambourine. The expressive sarod (Indian stringed instrument related to the sitar) sings along, and is joined by bamboo flutes and tambura.

2. NHMAMUSASA (2 MB) Traditional Shona mbira music from Zimbabwe. It is arranged here for six marimbas, bass, shakers, and voice.

3. THE COURTING (1.8 MB) Layers of water provide the soundscape. Two large water gongs (struck and bowed gongs played in a container of water to manipulate pitch and add resonance) and a friction drum create a drone. A set of Chinese gongs and Indian bells add rhythm and color as two Native American courting flutes sing out:

4. MOONLIGHT (.8MB) This piece for large frame drum, Egyptian tar drum, and bamboo flute was inspired by playing a drum under the moonlight while my child was asleep.

5. THIS FIRE BURNS American drumset, West African dundun bass drum, congas, cowbell, Nigerian cocoon shell rattles, guitar, bass, vocals.

6. LULLABY FOR THE MOUNTAIN Six Himalayan singing bowls and three Chinese temple bowls create the drone-like soundscape. Gongs, bells, a large bass drum, and voices add texture to the harmony.

 

"There are albums and then there are albums. River Guerguerian made an album. Popping the disc into a disc-player reveals something startling. He is a master of percussion and a collector of found sounds. The first song is gold with about eighteen arms and this long twang. Then there’s one near the middle that goes gurgle, and these nuns or something start singing. These songs will make you drift off and think about stuff, owing largely to this dreamy quality thing that’s going on in the album. Then, you feel like you’re being ushered off up to one of those rotating sky restaurants. And then when you get there, River Guerguerian is waiting; he’s reserved his favorite table. And you and me and River Guerguerian and my grandmother all sit at the table and eat our simple food, drink the wine, and laugh until the tears stream down our faces."

—LAWRENCE BRENNER, Asheville Disclaimer

 

“I just finished listening to TRANCE. It’s extremely beautiful. The music and the playing are so honest, unpretentious and just plain gorgeous. Thanks for making the CD. I will listen to it often.”

    —JAN WILLIAMS, Director of Percussion, State University of New York, Buffalo


CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO NEW RELEASE BY 
FREE PLANET RADIO

Musicians are:
Chris Rosser - Indian dotar, Turkish cumbus oud, guitars, pianos, melodica, harmonium
River Guerguerian - Middle Eastern frame drums & doumbek, cajon, drumset, congas, gongs, tabla...
Eliot Wadopian - string and electric basses

 

Includes Percussion Solo:
Holly's Groove
(1.6 MB - ©Guerguerian, BMI)
In 18/8 time signature
also in 7/8, 5/8,12/8
Cajon, Riq, Shakers, Voice

 

Links for Tibetan Meditation CD Tracks

Composition 1 - Immerse
http://www.mediafire.com/?jpaindncmmj

Composition 2 - Deepen
http://www.mediafire.com/?ybz9mnodyxj

Composition 3 - Release
http://www.mediafire.com/?ttldxijsay7