Have you ever heard of a musician with the strange name Govi?
Who is behind this short name? What music does he play? I'd like
to tell you, in short, about this wonderful person, which one
can surely include in a list of the most distinguished musicians
of our time, and within that, among the best of the new age artists.
Govi was born in Germany. He was fascinated by the guitar at a
young age. Once the boy passed by a little shop which displayed
a guitar in the window. Having seen the guitar, Govi decided that
he surely must learn to play it. So, here it all began, and once
he had a guitar of his own, the instrument did not leave his side.
As Govi grew older, he gained a lot of experience performing as
a lead guitarist in various youth bands. The repertoire was the
usual mix for his time: songs from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and
so on. And then, Govi won a national musical competition and began
a successful tour across Germany.
And so he would be a perfect musician (though not an original
one), about which one would tell only with delight and admiration,
if not a one little thing - his spiritual quest. Govi traveled
to India where he spent eight years and where his life and creative
work have really blossomed. While in India, Govi met many musicians
who came from all around the world to the town of Poona, to Indian
spiritual teacher Bhagavan Shree Rajneesh. "My approach comes
from the meditative and creative environment I experienced while
living in India as well as playing with musicians from many different
cultures and backgrounds," said Govi.
In India, Govi learned to play the mandolin, mandola cello, sitar,
bouzouki, charango and the 8-string ukulele. While there he met
Deuter who is considered to be one of the founders of New Age
music. Deuter was so impressed by Govi's music, that he decided
to produce as well as perform (flute and synthesizer pieces) on
Govi's debut album entitled "Sky High" which was released
in 1988. This CD, having a rather simple design, was released
by the very young and small (at that time) Real Music company.
Real Music has since become one of the most recognized record
companies releasing new age music.
At first glance Govi's music is rather simple, though if one listens
more attentively, his sound has the lightness of a perfect guitarist.
The musical arrangements are actually quite complex and saturated.
Here are many instruments, which are perfectly played by Govi,
all with a delicate electronic framing. Govi's compositions are
unusually beautiful, his music is amazingly brilliant in its purity,
transparency, and clarity. But, the most important aspect of Govi's
music is the taste and aroma of bliss and not-motivated celebration.
His music celebrates life itself and the moment which is right
now and right here, where there are no past or future and where
there is only a deepest enjoyment of life and acceptance of everything
that exists. Behind this music is a silence from which harmony
appears. Govi is a conduit of this Divine - the voices of the
higher, better world, which suddenly becomes so real! Govi's music
is beyond time, it brings into our world the aesthetics of the
future.
Some time later Govi has released his second album "Heart
Of A Gypsy". These compositions are light and airy. Govi's
music has an amazing tranquility and ease. A listener can rest
his soul with this music.
His third CD entitled "Cuchama" was released in 1993.
This is the name of a mountain in the USA to the south-east of
San-Diego. There, the famous researcher of Tibet, Evans-Wentz
was often meditating, imagining a future in which the descendants
of the conquerors from Europe and the descendants of native peoples
of the American continent, who were banished from their lands
would become one equal and spiritually mighty nation. "Cuchama,"
as well as Govi's other works, are very daring and full of unexpected
things. The experimentalist has mixed flamenco rhythms and melodies
from Hawaii, Latin America, the Caribbean, and India. As a result
he has an unusually bright cocktail of music, which raises and
freshens the soul, like a warm summer rain. Other New Age musicians
who took part in the recording of this CD were: Karunesh (keyboards),
Anugama (traditional and electronic drums), and Daniel Paul, (percussion).
These musicians, who became good friends in India, continued their
joint work further on, helping each other record new albums. On
every Govi album you can surely hear at least one of these marvelous
friends: Karunesh, Anugama, and of course Deuter!
Govi's fourth CD "Passion & Grace" was released
in 1995. This is my favorite Govi album and my favorite composition
is "Embrace" from this CD. In this composition, the
smoothly flowing music with soft little bells seems to call us
to recall our happiest memories - to look at the world through
the eyes of a child, opened wide with surprise and wonder at the
beauty of life. While listening to the music, one can see a sandy
seashore, on which slowly come foamy waves. A crystal clear blue
sky, on which wandering, snow-white clouds float.
In 1995 a fifth album "Guitar Odyssey" was released.
With this CD, Govi has mixed Caribbean rhythms, flamenco and Indian
melodies, having added in the mix some oriental contemplation
and meditative bliss. The music sounds closer to American Indian
music: during the recording of "Guitar Odyssey" he used
South American flutes which have a characteristic, pure sound.
Govi's friends Karunesh and Anugama, added their touch to this
recording. The success of this album was impressive: "Guitar
Odyssey" was included in the top ten of the best new age
albums of 1997 and it took third place on the Billboard Hit Parade.
It is interesting to note that of these top ten albums, seven
albums were released by Real Music.
Recently Govi recorded a new CD (his sixth), named "Andalusian
Nights". The CD was released on the Higher Octave Music label.
His new album can be compared with a breath of fresh sea wind.
The concept of this project came from Govi, Karunesh, and Anugama.
Govi appears not only as a musician, but also as his own recording
engineer.
Currently, Govi resides in Hawaii, where he creates his music.
He receives many letters from people all over the world who express
their love of his work. "I'm out here on this island, and
suddenly I get these letters, and say, wow! people from all walks
of life love my music", said Govi. He describes his philosophy
of composing as: "This is the natural and inevitable result
of moving deeply into the wellsprings of my creativity. My music
is a reflection of my vision of life rather than mere notes on
a sheet."
"I don't like to repeat myself," says Govi. "And
I don't know what I'm going to do next. People tell me they are
touched by my music. To get that in the studio, you have to go
into a "no mind" space. Then, you get magic on tape,
otherwise you just get notes."
At least part of the credit for the ever increasing popularity
of the new age music is due to this already not very young and
a little bit Gypsy-like looking man. Simply this music is a music
of freedom - it is really spiritual. The main thing in it is a
spontaneous joy to everything that exists; it has no reason, and
nobody can spoil or take away this joy. Govi's music speaks to
the very roots of what it is to be human. To own one of Govi's
CDs is to possess a great treasure!
P.S. I would like to express my gratitude to Alexander Petrov
for his translation of this article.
