Massage Music for Relaxation

The term 'New Age Music' is now very overused as it is generally applied to a selection of different styles. Basically it is relaxing music which is intended to stimulate inspiration, positive feelings and relaxation.

The genre appeared first in the 1970's in Asia with performers such as Kitaro producing what was then futuristic sounding spacey creations achieved by using banks of synthesizers. Kitaro also rendered some particularly beautiful renditions of Debussy's impressionist music.

Today, a typical new age sound might be composed of sustained synth chords with sequenced runs repeating in the background, this is usually accompanied with an underlying pedal or bass drone and simple melodies on top. This combines giving a slightly hypnotic and relaxing sound.

This is the sort of music that is generally used for healing sessions, massage or other therapies.

There are however a lot of different styles that are bundled together in the New Age genre. There is a lot of melodic music, some piano based and some based around other solo instruments. There is an increasing trend of using classical instruments combined with the dreamy synthesized sounds. This is on occasions (incorrectly) referred to as neo-classical.

The New Age genre however has now become a genre group of its own which can encompass some of the following sub genres;

# Alternative
# Ambient
# Celtic New Age
# Contemporary Instrumental
# Energy Healing
# Environmental
# Ethnic Fusion
# Healing
# Meditation
# Nature
# Neo-Classical
# New Age
# Progressive Alternative
# Progressive Electronic
# Relaxation
# Self-Help
# Shamanic
# Solo Instrumental
# Space
# Spiritual
# Techno-Tribal
# Yoga


As you can see, the term 'New Age Music is a little overworked and now the style encompasses much more than just the typical 'wallpaper' music that springs to mind when the term is mentioned.