The Winding Path
Encyclopedia
The Winding Path is the sixth studio album
from American
New Age
pianist Kevin Kern
. As with his preceding and succeeding albums, it is an album of instrumental songs. It was released on June 3, 2003, his first after his best-of album
More Than Words: The Best of Kevin Kern
.
The album's liner notes feature a guide to healing visualization based around the songs on the album. Kern is joined here by Randy and Pamela Copus, the duo that makes up the new age
band 2002
.
has become a universal name for beautiful, relaxing music. This intimate, piano
-led path through nature creates a resonance of tranquility and peace for pure listening pleasure. Also ideal for massage
, meditation
, or relieving stress.
The combination of songs on The Winding Path creates a vivid journey easily followed. Detailed instructions for a self-guided healing visualization are included in the booklet.
Gently close your eyes and at the count of five, find yourself in a small field, a very safe grassy field, where you will be sitting upon a grassy mound or in a low, comfortable chair. There is a hedge and there are trees around the field and nearby stands a large, strong tree.
Counting slowly down from five to one...5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, imagine yourself sitting safely in this beautiful field. Look around using your senses and see the shapes and colors, hear the sounds of this safe place...a breath of wind rustles the tree leaves. Sense the fragrance of nature, the pungent earth, even the taste of safety. Lastly, touch the soft grass where you sit ("The Touch of Love").
A section of the hedge catches your attention and rising from where you are seated, you go to explore. To your surprise the hedge conceals a wall in which there is a very old wooden gate... partially concealed by ivy and with a brick arch above it. With a gentle push, the gate swings easily open and you step through to see ahead a path leading through many magnificent trees. Walk through this forest with its brilliant shafts of light... then across a meadow... and along by a stream ("The Way of the Stream") where water splashes and gurgles over rocks. Take your time... let the path lead. Enjoy the meandering walk, noticing twig, leaf, and petal along the way. As the sun gets low in the sky begin a gentle climb on a grassy foothill scattered with clusters of rocks. After climbing for a while, notice that one rock attracts your attention. Walk over to it and find a place to sit and rest. It is very comfortable there and looking around, realize that you are high above a valley ("High Above the Valley"). As the sun sets, drink in the splendor of this wonderful setting. Before long, the watchful gaze of "A Million Stars" fill the sky and in your own time, slip into a gentle sleep.
Comes the dawn, lazily opening your eyes, a particular cloud drifting by catches your interest. In an instant you become the cloud, floating effortlessly. Cautiously turn and gaze back to the place where your body still sits against a rock while your light body floats in the cloud and then begins to gently descend. With a soft bump, find yourself on the floor of the valley, the valley of the sacred.
A stream can be heard nearby. Walk over to the stream. The water has a fragrance, the fragrance of the leaves and petals that have fallen in. Ahead, a finger of mist beckons like that of the dragon's breath. With a few steps, you are engulfed by the mist, stepping from stone to stone in the shallow water, walking amidst "Ancient Guardians", crossing over to the other side. This mist must have a source that can be found. Ahead are large rocks. Is this where the water and mist are coming from? But then to your surprise, you discover a huge cauldron sitting upon coals. Without hesitation, you step up to this "Cauldron of Healing", placing your hands upon the rim, which is not hot, and peering in. Begin inhaling the mist, allowing it to seep deeply into your entire being and as it does, it cleanses and heals every aspect of you... every sickness, every hurt, every sorrow, sadness or regret, every destructive thought or memory that has held you trapped... washed away, healed by the mist from the cauldron.
When ready, begin the journey back through the valley, cleansed and healed, filled with newness... filled with hope... "Filled with Light", seeing, sensing, and understanding everything with crystal clear vision. Sit down next to the stream and lean against a large, smooth rock. Resting your head back, look up to see puffy white clouds. Feel that you are now slowly drifting up and up, as though through a veil, soon to be floating high in the sky... safely and securely caressed by a familiar cloud ("Through the Veil").
"Softly Falling", with a gentle bump, find yourself back upon your high perch, leaning against another comfortable rock, looking down deep into the valley, the valley with a thread of stream and a tiny finger of mist. Closing your mental eyes, remember the safe field with the ivy-covered gate where your journey of healing began. Walk back through the gate. Hear the sounds, smell the fragrance... touch... and in an instant find yourself there, back in safety, sitting on a grassy mound or a low, comfortable chair in the beautiful field, next to a large, strong tree.
At the count of five be willing to open your eyes and return... 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5... open your eyes, refreshed, renewed, ready to continue your own special journey, "The Winding Path" of life.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
from American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
New Age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
pianist Kevin Kern
Kevin Kern
Kevin Kern is an American pianist, composer and recording artist of New Age music. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. He is now generally recognized as a representative of the New Age style...
. As with his preceding and succeeding albums, it is an album of instrumental songs. It was released on June 3, 2003, his first after his best-of album
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
More Than Words: The Best of Kevin Kern
More Than Words: The Best of Kevin Kern
More Than Words: The Best of Kevin Kern, or simply More Than Words, is the first compilation album from American new age pianist Kevin Kern. As with his preceding and succeeding albums, it is an album of instrumental songs. The compilation contains two new compositions, plus songs from all five of...
.
The album's liner notes feature a guide to healing visualization based around the songs on the album. Kern is joined here by Randy and Pamela Copus, the duo that makes up the new age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
band 2002
2002 (band)
2002 is a New Age music group composed of Randy and Pamela Copus. 2002 has charted nine albums on the Billboard New Age Charts. This Moment Now won the COVR award for Best New Age Album in 2004...
.
Track listing
- "The Touch of Love" – 4:21
- "The Way of the Stream" – 4:21
- "A Million Stars" – 4:06
- "High Above the Valley" – 5:40
- "Ancient Guardians" – 5:03
- "Cauldron of Healing" – 5:29
- "Filled With Light" – 2:27
- "Through the Veil" – 4:49
- "Softly Falling" – 4:22
- "The Winding Path" – 3:58
Liner Notes
Kevin KernKevin Kern
Kevin Kern is an American pianist, composer and recording artist of New Age music. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. He is now generally recognized as a representative of the New Age style...
has become a universal name for beautiful, relaxing music. This intimate, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
-led path through nature creates a resonance of tranquility and peace for pure listening pleasure. Also ideal for massage
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
, meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
, or relieving stress.
The combination of songs on The Winding Path creates a vivid journey easily followed. Detailed instructions for a self-guided healing visualization are included in the booklet.
Guided Visualization
Taken from the liner notes of The Winding Path. Song titles are placed in quotation marks.Gently close your eyes and at the count of five, find yourself in a small field, a very safe grassy field, where you will be sitting upon a grassy mound or in a low, comfortable chair. There is a hedge and there are trees around the field and nearby stands a large, strong tree.
Counting slowly down from five to one...5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, imagine yourself sitting safely in this beautiful field. Look around using your senses and see the shapes and colors, hear the sounds of this safe place...a breath of wind rustles the tree leaves. Sense the fragrance of nature, the pungent earth, even the taste of safety. Lastly, touch the soft grass where you sit ("The Touch of Love").
A section of the hedge catches your attention and rising from where you are seated, you go to explore. To your surprise the hedge conceals a wall in which there is a very old wooden gate... partially concealed by ivy and with a brick arch above it. With a gentle push, the gate swings easily open and you step through to see ahead a path leading through many magnificent trees. Walk through this forest with its brilliant shafts of light... then across a meadow... and along by a stream ("The Way of the Stream") where water splashes and gurgles over rocks. Take your time... let the path lead. Enjoy the meandering walk, noticing twig, leaf, and petal along the way. As the sun gets low in the sky begin a gentle climb on a grassy foothill scattered with clusters of rocks. After climbing for a while, notice that one rock attracts your attention. Walk over to it and find a place to sit and rest. It is very comfortable there and looking around, realize that you are high above a valley ("High Above the Valley"). As the sun sets, drink in the splendor of this wonderful setting. Before long, the watchful gaze of "A Million Stars" fill the sky and in your own time, slip into a gentle sleep.
Comes the dawn, lazily opening your eyes, a particular cloud drifting by catches your interest. In an instant you become the cloud, floating effortlessly. Cautiously turn and gaze back to the place where your body still sits against a rock while your light body floats in the cloud and then begins to gently descend. With a soft bump, find yourself on the floor of the valley, the valley of the sacred.
A stream can be heard nearby. Walk over to the stream. The water has a fragrance, the fragrance of the leaves and petals that have fallen in. Ahead, a finger of mist beckons like that of the dragon's breath. With a few steps, you are engulfed by the mist, stepping from stone to stone in the shallow water, walking amidst "Ancient Guardians", crossing over to the other side. This mist must have a source that can be found. Ahead are large rocks. Is this where the water and mist are coming from? But then to your surprise, you discover a huge cauldron sitting upon coals. Without hesitation, you step up to this "Cauldron of Healing", placing your hands upon the rim, which is not hot, and peering in. Begin inhaling the mist, allowing it to seep deeply into your entire being and as it does, it cleanses and heals every aspect of you... every sickness, every hurt, every sorrow, sadness or regret, every destructive thought or memory that has held you trapped... washed away, healed by the mist from the cauldron.
When ready, begin the journey back through the valley, cleansed and healed, filled with newness... filled with hope... "Filled with Light", seeing, sensing, and understanding everything with crystal clear vision. Sit down next to the stream and lean against a large, smooth rock. Resting your head back, look up to see puffy white clouds. Feel that you are now slowly drifting up and up, as though through a veil, soon to be floating high in the sky... safely and securely caressed by a familiar cloud ("Through the Veil").
"Softly Falling", with a gentle bump, find yourself back upon your high perch, leaning against another comfortable rock, looking down deep into the valley, the valley with a thread of stream and a tiny finger of mist. Closing your mental eyes, remember the safe field with the ivy-covered gate where your journey of healing began. Walk back through the gate. Hear the sounds, smell the fragrance... touch... and in an instant find yourself there, back in safety, sitting on a grassy mound or a low, comfortable chair in the beautiful field, next to a large, strong tree.
At the count of five be willing to open your eyes and return... 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5... open your eyes, refreshed, renewed, ready to continue your own special journey, "The Winding Path" of life.
Personnel
- Kevin KernKevin KernKevin Kern is an American pianist, composer and recording artist of New Age music. He was born in Detroit, Michigan. He is now generally recognized as a representative of the New Age style...
– PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Pamela Gibbs – Rainstick
- Jeff Linsky – GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Jeremy Cohen – ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Randy Copus – PercussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Pamela Copus – FluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings... - Terry Miller – Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- David Earl – DrumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
programming - Terence Yallop – Bell treeBell treeA bell tree is a percussion instrument, consisting of vertically nested inverted metal bowls. The bowls, placed on a vertical rod, are arranged in order of pitch . The number of bowls can vary between approximately 14 and 28...
, Executive Producer