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"
The River of Life - gives life to the people
"
Native American, Chinese, Silver and Alto Flutes are provided by world flutist and sound traveler Gary Stroutsos. Gary
invites viewers on a journey of meditative music inspired by a sense of place and nature.
PRODUCTION CREDIT:
This LandscapeHD production was made by LandscapeHD featuring film material from
HDenvironments.com
based in California, synchronised by LandscapeHD to music from the artist Gary Stroutsos.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY:
Gary's musical and cultural explorations have taken him across this land and around the globe, as a composer, ethnomusicologist, international recording artist, performer and educator. Gary's performances and presentations transport the audience across time and vast distances, as
he shares songs and stories from his journey.
Although he is best known for his playing of traditional American Indian
flutes, Gary also performs on Altus Alto silver flute, contemporary clay
aerophones, and Chinese bamboo Xiao and Dize flutes that are seldom
heard outside of China. His repertoire is deeply respectful of ethnic
cultures, and their reverence for the Earth.
Influenced by American Jazz, Afro Cuban and Native American styles, his
multimedia performances of original compositions and traditional music
weave delicate melodies into a global landscape with improvisation,
world percussion and the sounds of nature. Gary's music comes from the
heart, his travels, and friendships made along the way.
Gary's work was showcased in the Ken Burns PBS documentary “Lewis and
Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery” which led to a command
performance at the White House for President Bill Clinton in 1997.
Gary's music has also been featured on the PRI syndicated program
“Echoes”, NPR's “Evening at the Pops”, and KUOW's “The Beat” and “Hearts
of Space”.
He has recorded and produced over 12 sound recordings, many receiving
national acclaim for being benchmark recordings of American Indian based
music. Two of Gary’s recordings, Hidden World on Narada records, and
Pacific Moon on Paras records, were Billboard's Critic’s Choice. His
three Makoche recordings The Elders Speak, Winds of Honor, and People of
the Willows highlight Gary’s unique connection with the American Indian
people and their traditions, and his ability to compose American Indian
traditional flute music. Gary’s CD Echoes of Canyon de Chelly was
recorded in the echo chamber of the canyon itself, bringing to life
ancestral spirits through traditional American Indian songs. This CD was
recorded with American Indian flutes that were made by his good friend,
Paul Thompson, who is also an outstanding musician and craftsman of
Navajo flutes. Gary has expanded his world music reach through the CD
Oru -The Natural Order which was an exploration of mystical Nigerian
religious chants. Collectively, Gary’s music demonstrates his unique and
innovative flute voice, and his commitment to share world music that
honors the divine in nature.
Although Gary does most of his composing alone, usually "outside, with
the wind", he loves to study and collaborate with many of today's
important musical influences. His work with American Indian flute maker
and player, Paul Thompson, has been particularly rewarding. The latest
CD release, Quiet Fire, marks the first meeting of 3 remarkable artists:
Gary Stroutsos, William Eaton and Will Clipman, each distinguished for
their role in shaping contemporary World Music.
To Gary, “Music creates unity among peoples and touches our souls. Music
is a universal means of communication. In my performances I want the
listener to hear the land, or a river move through them.”
Gary Stroutsos is of Greek/Italian descent, and lives in Seattle with
his wife and two children.
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