February 02/17/23, 2023
Heaven is sometimes symbolically depicted as populated by angels playing harps, giving the instrument associations of the sacred and heavenly. The way we understand ourselves and our world is always evolving, harps have been known since antiquity in Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt, later in India and China. Distinct designs also emerged from the African continent, some resembling the form of harps in ancient Egypt with a hollow or vaulted body of wood, with a parchment face, and a neck, upon which the strings are wound. The strings are normally plucked with the fingers, and can be played standing or sitting, sometimes alone, sometimes accompanied by a friend or three, and sometimes harps are played with huge full orchestras. The classical harp's most common form is triangular in shape and made of wood. The oldest depictions of harps in Africa date back to the 4th Dynasty of Egypt. By medieval times harps had become familiar all across Europe.
The feeling of the new album Geodepédie - Hidden Light is based on the distinct sounds of the harp, as played by Christina Tourin, sometimes accompanied by vocals, sometimes with minimal percussion and synthesizers, and always celebrating harps, solo or in layers, powerful, soothing, sparkling, magically lyrical, eloquent, multi-faceted expressions, infused with the wisdom that comes from personal inquiry and a deep understanding of the universe. The feeling is very calming and relaxing, I would say positive and uplifting, sometimes crafted with traditional Gaelic styles, and sometimes blended with Cosmic seasonings, a comforting soundtrack to life’s ups and downs, illuminations, lamentations, revelations, full of significance and importance. Good for any and all forms of relaxation for most any occasion, for a wee listen.
Geodepédie - Hidden Light - Christina Tourin
https://christinatourin.hearnow.com/
As a Therapeutic Musician and Music Therapist, one of her main focuses is Convergence – finding facets of interest in spiritual enlightenment and in pursuit of mending body and spirit. Trained in performance both at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and at McGill University in Montreal, Christina’s fascinating musical life has taken her around the world from Japan to Ireland, where she’s brought the National Instrument of the harp to blind children; she also served as a trained music therapist at the Blind Institute of San Diego. In addition, she performed for 17 years for the Von Trapp Family at their Austrian Chalet Lodge in Vermont, and has accompanied chorales, performed with symphonies and been part of ensembles in off Broadway theaters.
“With a twist on Erik Satie's Gymnopedie,” Tourin says, “I present Geodepédie! May we open ourselves to let light shine forth as with a beautiful geode!” The new album is a journey of peace and wonder, reflecting the boundless immensity of the earth and sky. The album releases worldwide today; listen on Spotify now at https://open.spotify.com/album/17eBvbTGbbl4Zk5TgHuv3d?si=mgCMZv-kRd6cNZag1_MWAg
The opening notes of Tourin’s self-produced album establish a warm sense of joy for life, ushering the listener into an uplifted state of being. Her music is based on the distinct sounds of the harp, sometimes accompanied by vocals, other times with minimal percussion, or just a hint of synthesizer. The musicians on the album include Christina Tourin (harp), Peter Sprague (guitar/synth), David Eastoe (synth), Suzanne Doucet (synth), Buvana Gerlach (vocals), Lies Joosten (Harp, Track 1).
With each track, Tourin strives for a sound that can transform lives, emotionally and spiritually. Listeners may imagine the shining inside of a newly-opened geode, while also picturing a crystalline night sky filled with glittering stars, planets and galaxies. The music, she says, creates a place to find the center of one’s being, allowing each listener to let go of tension and rise into the cumulus of their own imagination.
Healing with sound, performing, composing, teaching, and writing books round out Tourin’s full life. She is a Therapeutic Musician (TMus) and Music Therapist (MT), and one of the foremost leading educators of the harp, whose International Harp Therapy Program currently has training centers and Therapeutic Harp Practitioners from 32 countries serving on five continents.
Tourin's mission is bringing together all those who use music, sound and the arts for healing, enrichment and well-being. Living a life “as above so below,” she experiences the magnificent and transcendent in small but significant ways. As she says, “Expressing through music is not what I do, it’s who I am.”
The album was produced by Christina Tourin for her own Emerald Harp Productions, LLC, and recorded at SpragueLand Studios, Encinitas, CA; sound engineer was Peter Sprague. Cover design by Jaime Tourin, with liner notes by Jonathan Widran. Suzanne Doucet served as Creative Consultant. Physical CD distribution is being handled by CPI Distribution, and by New Leaf Distributing for specialty and gift stores.
See Christina perform live at a new album release concert in Phoenix, AZ. This will be a special duo performance with Ludwig Conistabile, a musician and Harp Therapist from Italy. Event details are as follows:
What: A Journey Into The Starry Skies - As Above So Below: World Renowned Harpist Christina Tourin debuts her new album "Geodepedie-Hidden Light"
When: Saturday, March 4, 7:30pm
Where: Phoenix Harp Center, 2700 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85004 (https://phoenixharpcenter.com/)
How: For details about joining online or in person, contact Jocelyn Obermeyer at 602.565.0522 or on Facebook messenger for more information.
TRACKS
01 Geodepédie Hidden Light (4:50)
02 Music Is Love (2:10)
03 Passacaglia - Handel's Healing Harp (5:00)
04 Brigid's Green Mantle (3:02)
05 Land O' The Leal (3:20)
06 Early One Morning (2:01)
07 Walk Through The Sunflowers (2:54)
08 Reminisce (3:57)
09 Sommarpsalm (1:37)
10 Icelandic Northern Lights (6:57)
11 Grieg's Morning Mood (1:46)
12 Largo - Vivaldi's Vision (3:38)
13 Arigatou, I For You (3:23)
14 Amethyst Of Avalon (3:28)
15 As Above So Below (8:39)
16 Colors Of The Season (2:56)
Buy/Stream Christina Tourin
GEODEPEDIE - HIDDEN LIGHT: https://christinatourin.hearnow.com/
Spotify: https://www.youtube.com/user/CTourin
Amazon CD Link: https://a.co/d/7SJmYRr
WEBSITE https://www.playharp.com/christinatourin/
INSTAGRAM http://instagram.com/christinatourin
YOUTUBE https://youtube.com/@ctourin
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ctourin
The feeling of the new album Geodepédie - Hidden Light is based on the distinct sounds of the harp, as played by Christina Tourin, sometimes accompanied by vocals, sometimes with minimal percussion and synthesizers, and always celebrating harps, solo or in layers, powerful, soothing, sparkling, magically lyrical, eloquent, multi-faceted expressions, infused with the wisdom that comes from personal inquiry and a deep understanding of the universe. The feeling is very calming and relaxing, I would say positive and uplifting, sometimes crafted with traditional Gaelic styles, and sometimes blended with Cosmic seasonings, a comforting soundtrack to life’s ups and downs, illuminations, lamentations, revelations, full of significance and importance. Good for any and all forms of relaxation for most any occasion, for a wee listen.
Geodepédie - Hidden Light - Christina Tourin
https://christinatourin.hearnow.com/
As a Therapeutic Musician and Music Therapist, one of her main focuses is Convergence – finding facets of interest in spiritual enlightenment and in pursuit of mending body and spirit. Trained in performance both at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and at McGill University in Montreal, Christina’s fascinating musical life has taken her around the world from Japan to Ireland, where she’s brought the National Instrument of the harp to blind children; she also served as a trained music therapist at the Blind Institute of San Diego. In addition, she performed for 17 years for the Von Trapp Family at their Austrian Chalet Lodge in Vermont, and has accompanied chorales, performed with symphonies and been part of ensembles in off Broadway theaters.
“With a twist on Erik Satie's Gymnopedie,” Tourin says, “I present Geodepédie! May we open ourselves to let light shine forth as with a beautiful geode!” The new album is a journey of peace and wonder, reflecting the boundless immensity of the earth and sky. The album releases worldwide today; listen on Spotify now at https://open.spotify.com/album/17eBvbTGbbl4Zk5TgHuv3d?si=mgCMZv-kRd6cNZag1_MWAg
The opening notes of Tourin’s self-produced album establish a warm sense of joy for life, ushering the listener into an uplifted state of being. Her music is based on the distinct sounds of the harp, sometimes accompanied by vocals, other times with minimal percussion, or just a hint of synthesizer. The musicians on the album include Christina Tourin (harp), Peter Sprague (guitar/synth), David Eastoe (synth), Suzanne Doucet (synth), Buvana Gerlach (vocals), Lies Joosten (Harp, Track 1).
With each track, Tourin strives for a sound that can transform lives, emotionally and spiritually. Listeners may imagine the shining inside of a newly-opened geode, while also picturing a crystalline night sky filled with glittering stars, planets and galaxies. The music, she says, creates a place to find the center of one’s being, allowing each listener to let go of tension and rise into the cumulus of their own imagination.
Healing with sound, performing, composing, teaching, and writing books round out Tourin’s full life. She is a Therapeutic Musician (TMus) and Music Therapist (MT), and one of the foremost leading educators of the harp, whose International Harp Therapy Program currently has training centers and Therapeutic Harp Practitioners from 32 countries serving on five continents.
Tourin's mission is bringing together all those who use music, sound and the arts for healing, enrichment and well-being. Living a life “as above so below,” she experiences the magnificent and transcendent in small but significant ways. As she says, “Expressing through music is not what I do, it’s who I am.”
The album was produced by Christina Tourin for her own Emerald Harp Productions, LLC, and recorded at SpragueLand Studios, Encinitas, CA; sound engineer was Peter Sprague. Cover design by Jaime Tourin, with liner notes by Jonathan Widran. Suzanne Doucet served as Creative Consultant. Physical CD distribution is being handled by CPI Distribution, and by New Leaf Distributing for specialty and gift stores.
See Christina perform live at a new album release concert in Phoenix, AZ. This will be a special duo performance with Ludwig Conistabile, a musician and Harp Therapist from Italy. Event details are as follows:
What: A Journey Into The Starry Skies - As Above So Below: World Renowned Harpist Christina Tourin debuts her new album "Geodepedie-Hidden Light"
When: Saturday, March 4, 7:30pm
Where: Phoenix Harp Center, 2700 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85004 (https://phoenixharpcenter.com/)
How: For details about joining online or in person, contact Jocelyn Obermeyer at 602.565.0522 or on Facebook messenger for more information.
TRACKS
01 Geodepédie Hidden Light (4:50)
02 Music Is Love (2:10)
03 Passacaglia - Handel's Healing Harp (5:00)
04 Brigid's Green Mantle (3:02)
05 Land O' The Leal (3:20)
06 Early One Morning (2:01)
07 Walk Through The Sunflowers (2:54)
08 Reminisce (3:57)
09 Sommarpsalm (1:37)
10 Icelandic Northern Lights (6:57)
11 Grieg's Morning Mood (1:46)
12 Largo - Vivaldi's Vision (3:38)
13 Arigatou, I For You (3:23)
14 Amethyst Of Avalon (3:28)
15 As Above So Below (8:39)
16 Colors Of The Season (2:56)
Buy/Stream Christina Tourin
GEODEPEDIE - HIDDEN LIGHT: https://christinatourin.hearnow.com/
Spotify: https://www.youtube.com/user/CTourin
Amazon CD Link: https://a.co/d/7SJmYRr
WEBSITE https://www.playharp.com/christinatourin/
INSTAGRAM http://instagram.com/christinatourin
YOUTUBE https://youtube.com/@ctourin
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ctourin
