Refuge is based on the voice of Terry Tempest Williams, reading selections to the composer from her book of the same name.  Phillip Bimstein chose essential words and phrases and recombined them into the text for his string quartet.  Employing a technique he calls “voice organics,” Phillip simultaneously composed music for strings which flows organically from the author’s voice, based on its pitch, rhythm, shape and patterns of speech.   His score also supports and expresses the emotional tone of her voice and book.

Refuge was commissioned by New Residencies, a national program of Meet The Composer supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, The James Irvine Foundation, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., AT&T, and the National Endowment for the Arts.


Refuge String Quartet, 2nd movement: "Silence"

Recorded in 1966 by the Chicago rock group the Dharma Bums* at Chess Studios, for Parrot Records (a division of London Records). Song written by Will Musham. (Hear also on Soundcloud: the flip side "Father Death.")

The Dharma Bums on this recording: Phillip "Flip" Bimstein (vocal , rhythm guitar & feedback machine), Steve "Hoyt" Austin (lead guitar and bass), Eric Long (drums and vibes).

The Dharma Bums was first formed in 1964 by high school mates Bimstein (vocal, harmonica, feedback machine), Austin (lead guitar), Will Musham (rhythm guitar, songwriter), John "J.K." Kovencz (drums) and Chris Hixon (bass). After an all-too-brief first attempt at attending college, the band reformed, performed at Chicago area concerts and teen night clubs, and was signed by Parrot Records. Still, because of the draft and college, the band at various times had shifting members, including Rich Matthews (bass), Tom Peck (bass) Eric Long (drums) and Don Kuhli (drums).

*Note: On the record label the recording artist should have been simply and correctly listed as The Dharma Bums. Hieronymus (a nickname briefly adopted by Bimstein) was added by the record company only because there were some questions regarding the future viability of the group at that time, due to college and the draft.

900 Mice (recorded by The Dharma Bums)

Live recording of the premiere concert of The Brahma Viharas by the Salt Lake Symphony featuring Charlotte Bell on English horn, September 26, 2015, at Libby Gardner Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The brahma viharas are four ancient Buddhist/Yogic contemplative practices that were developed over centuries to cultivate the qualities of lovingkindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity in the human heart. The Brahma Viharas has four movements that express each of these spiritual practices and qualities in music:

I.   Metta (Lovingkindness)
II.  Karuna (Compassion)
III. Mudita (Empathetic Joy)
IV. Upekkha (Equanimity)

Bell has practiced and taught these meditative practices since 1986 and embodies them in her musical performances. Bimstein has practiced them for 15 years. 

Bell teaches yoga and meditation at her Mindful Yoga Collective in Salt Lake City and writes about these subjects for Catalyst Magazine and several national yoga blogs. She has been published in Yoga Journal and Yoga International. She is the author of two books about yoga published by Rodmell Press, Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life and Yoga for Meditators.
 
Bimstein’s classical compositions have been performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Spoleto and Aspen Music Festivals, and at London’s Royal Opera House. His music has been reviewed in The New York Times, Washington Post, Stereo Review, Billboard, Stereophile, Wired, London Independent, American Record Guide, and the Journal of the Society of American Music.


The Brahma Viharas, A Meditation for English Horn & Orchestra (Entire piece in one track)

Refuge, performed by the Abramyan String Quartet, is based on the voice of Terry Tempest Williams, reading selections to the composer from her book of the same name. Phillip Bimstein chose essential words and phrases and recombined them into the text for his string quartet. Employing a technique he calls “voice organics,” Phillip simultaneously composed music for strings which flows organically from the author’s voice, based on its pitch, rhythm, shape and patterns of speech. His score also supports and expresses the emotional tone of her voice and book.

Refuge was commissioned by New Residencies, a national program of Meet The Composer supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts, The James Irvine Foundation, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., AT&T, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Refuge - Rabbits (WAV)

DIGGA'S DEBUT ON KALEIDOSCOPE MUSIC available exclusively on BEATPORT
https://www.beatport.com/track/the-wind-up-original-mix/8510954

Diggabeatz - The Wind Up - Kaleidoscope Music - Beatport exclusive

Put this together on a trip to Baja. Still need to adjust the mix.

Refuge String Quartet, 2nd movement: "Silence"

Phillip Bimstein

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