Amazing, driving cinematic world music on acoustic instruments (hammered dulcimer, percussion, & cello). You won’t believe how epic this sounds with only 4 musicians! Woodland Dance was composed by Joshua Messick and inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC. Listen with headphones. Please comment, like, and share.
–Musicians–
Joshua Messick (https://www.joshuamessick.com) ~ Hammmered Dulcimer
JOSHUA, based in Asheville, NC, is a National Hammered Dulcimer Champion and breathes new life into an ancient, enchanting instrument. Creativity flows with dynamic passion as he weaves progressive, cinematic stylings & modern techniques into traditional melodies, original compositions, & powerful improvisations. You will be inspired as Joshua plays World Fusion, New Acoustic, Folk, & Traditional Favorites. Joshua has released 5 albums: Hammered Dulcimer Christmas, Honest: Songs of Hope, The Entrance of Sound, Desire for Departure, and Stillness.
River Guerguerian (http://www.guerguerian.com) ~ Frame Drum, Drum Kit,
RIVER has been inspiring audiences with his ecstatic and versatile percussion for over 30 years. Whether collaborating with world-class artists, supporting symphonies or creating his own dynamic explorations of rhythm, River’s devotion and attention to the vibrant life of the drum reverberate through the mind and soul of the listener. In 1988, just before graduating, he began working with Grammy and Oscar-winning composer, Tan Dun. Over the next several years he continued performing with several artists, which placed him in the prestigious concert halls of most major cities of the world, including Carnegie Hall, The Sydney Opera House and Lincoln Center. As a highly regarded studio musician, River has recorded on over 200 albums and film soundtracks, including the John Cage documentary film, “I Have Nothing to Say and I Am Saying It.” Over the span of his prolific career, he has performed and/ or recorded with such groups as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, New Music Consort, Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, Paul Winter Consort, Talujon Percussion Ensemble, Lizz Wright, Chuck Berry, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Ziggy Marley and The Gipsy Kings. He often engineers his own percussion tracks for artists at his studio.
James Kylen ~ Percussion
JAMES, based in Asheville, NC, is a gifted composer, improviser, and is a groove machine. A current member of the BJ Leiderman (NPR Theme Composer) band, James brings an intuitive, creative approach that allows him to play in diverse settings ranging from classical, jazz, world and folk. James is a session musician in Asheville, and has recorded on dozens of albums including BJ Leiderman’s new release.
Max Dyer ~ Cello
MAX plays cello in every context from opera and chamber music to folk, jazz, and world music. He looks forward to playing with Cantiga each year at the Texas Renaissance Festival, as well as at various concerts. He works behind the scenes producing Cantiga’s recordings. As a classical cellist, he performed for three years with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and has played with Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Ballet Orchestra since 1984. During the summer of 2004, he was solo cellist with the Broadway musical “The Lion King” and has also been selected to join the performer’s roster for Cirque du Soleil. As a studio musician, he has recorded for many major labels as an orchestral player and as an improvising cello soloist on Grammy nominated albums. Max holds a Masters Degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he studied with Shirley Trepel. Max has recorded on over 400 albums in the following categories: Classical, Early Music, Folk, Rock, Alternative Rock, Jazz, Contemporary Christian, Children’s Music, New Age, Country, Latino, R&B, International, commercial scores and film scores. – See more at: https://www.joshuamessick.com/acoustic…
–Production–
Composed and Produced by Joshua Messick in Asheville, NC
Video by Tony Lee Glenn and Joshua Messick
–Special Thanks–
Tony Lee Glenn, Randy Wills, Katie Moritz, Song of the Wood, and all the good folks of Asheville and Black Mountain.