(AUDIO INTERVIEW + MUSIC MIX)
“David Hykes has opened a new dimension, bringing us the music of the spheres – the music of overtones which hold sway throughout the universe and govern all spatial and mathematical relationships. These wondrous sounds retain an extraordinary mystery and make every listener feel part of the great Whole.” ~ Lord Yehudi Menuhin
David Hykes has pioneered the Western vocal overtone movement since 1975 when he founded The Harmonic Choir in New York. His main contribution is the Harmonic Chant, a new sacred vocal music that offers a complete spectrum of techniques and principles spiritually rooted in the contemplative practices of Tantric Buddhism and Gurdjieff's work. In the beginning, he was inspired by the `throat singing` styles from Tibet, Tuva, and Mongolia, and the Just Intonation explorations of La Monte Young and Terry Riley, among other music traditions. However, he was in search of the DNA of all music, a journey that lead him to a perspective that embraces and transcends the West meets East dialogue. Hykes used the overtones to link the Innerspace with the Outerspace/ the Cosmos in a harmonic expression of unified awareness. `Hearing Solar Winds`, `Harmonic Meetings`, and `Harmonic Meditations` are a few extraordinary recordings that capture and make audible the vibrational reality of the physical and metaphysical universe. Also, his music can be heard in movies, Hykes working with great directors like Terrence Malick, Peter Brook, Ron Fricke, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, and John Bush.
He was Artist-in-Residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York and moved to France in 1987. His merit in developing the global contemplative music of our time was awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts, UNESCO, the Edwards Foundation Arts Fund, and the Rockefeller Foundation, among others. David Hykes is a Dharma student who received refuge from Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and is one of the first Western musicians who has collaborated with the Dalai Lama and the Gyuto Tibetan monks from Dharamsala.
In this interview, we will explore David Hykes' life and work and we'll travel through music where silent listening meets breathing and the light of awareness can almost be heard.
(audio interview 45 min. + music mix 54 min.)
LINKS:
DAVID HYKES official site: https://www.harmonicworld.com/
DAVID HYKES on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0962745/