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Compiled for a journey I experienced on Easter Sunday, 2011, this is a musical tribute to the World Trade Center. The music expresses the overwhelming sense of loss, love and resurrection I felt when I went to pay my respects. Adding music and its therapeutic aspects to any situation, can bring together the power of heighten awareness, moving the healing process to another level.

I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to share some of my most favorite musical inspirations. These melodies cross several eras, styles and themes and ring true for me through their message, rhythms and tempo. Discover how pain and redemption can be expressed in song. I call this list:

Andrew's Sacred Memorium Playlist

1. A Night On Bald Mountain
2. Ave Maria, Op. 52 No. 6
3. The Immortal Fountain of Light...
4. Slipping Into The Light
5. Voices of Light
6. Light Out of Darkness
7. Sarabanda in Memoriam
8. On the Transmigration of Souls
9. Come Sunday
10. Adagio For Strings
11. Symphony No. 3
12. Hudson River Suite: The River
13. Quiet City
14. Four Last Songs: III. Going to Sleep
15. Symphony No. 3, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs: Lento e Largo
16. Metamorphosen For 23 Solo Strings
17. The Lark Ascending
18. Rachmaninov. Vespers.
19. Mozart: Requiem
20. Shall We Gather at the River, Santa Fe Desert Chorale
21. God Be With You Till We Meet Again, Mormon Tabernacle Choir
22. A Hymn for the Lost and the Living (In Memorium 9/11/01)

Patriotic Songs For The 4th of July

Compiled for a journey I experienced on the Fourth of July, 2011, you will find some of the most patriotic and empowering music created for the celebration of our country's birthday! I am always enamored by the way music can change a situation by adding its color, power and reverence. Music creates an additional layer of emotion and spirit to an otherwise, different experience! As the musical tempo and crescendo built with the fireworks, I could feel the enthusiasm from the crowd. I also found it incredible that as certain songs would transition into the next, people would react, as the song was familiar to them. They may not have known it was the 1812 Overture or that a song was by John Philip Sousa, yet it was a familiar and recognizable tune that everyone, collectively seemed to relate to! I have gathered together some of the most beloved music for the Fourth of July. I hope you add them to the playlist of your life! I call this playlist, Patriotic Songs For The 4th of July!

1. Star Spangled Banner, Charlie Daniels Band.
2. America the Beautiful, Frank Sinatra.
3. Hail Columbia, 119th NYSV Field Music.
4. Dixie - Civil War Fife And Drum March, Patriotic Fathers.
5. Battle Hymn Of The Republic, Patriotic Fathers.
6. You're A Grand Old Flag, Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
7. Yankee Doodle, Broadway Quartet.
8. When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, Sun Harbor Chorus.
9. This Land is Your Land, Woody Guthrie.
10. God Bless The U.S.A., Lee Greenwood.
11. Born In The U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen
12. The Stars And Stripes Forever, Boston Pops Orchestra.
13. The Armed Forces Medley, United States Marine Band.
14. The Caissons Go Rolling Along, The Band Of The Grenadier Guards.
15. The Official West Point March, United States Army Band.
16. God Bless America, Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
17. Ragged Old Flag, Johnny Cash.
18. Only In America, Brooks & Dunn
19. American Soldier, Toby Keith
20. Firework, Katy Perry
21. Semper Fidelis, New York Philharmonic·
22. Colonel Bogey March, New York Philharmonic
23. Ode to Joy Symphony No 9, London Symphony Orchestra
24. George M. Cohan Medley, The Vocal Majority Chorus
25. 1812 Overture, Op. 49, New York Philharmonic

The Magic of John Williams

One of my most all time favorite modern day composers is John Williams. This gifted genius of the musical landscape has given us some of the most magical and awe- inspiring melodies from dozens of movie soundtracks to incredible, classical masterpieces.

What seems to speak to me most are his movie themes that are undoubtly recognizable within the first few bars of each song. He has the ability to make us feel as if we are flying with his Flying Theme from E.T. and the overture from Superman to his ominous presence of a predator in Jaws. John Williams set the tone with the turn of a wizard's wand in Harry Potter to the dancing of witches in the Witches of Eastwick. He made disaster movies infamous with Irwin Allen's The Poseiden Adventure and The Towering Inferno. Who could forget the precious lilt of Princess Leia's theme or the choral powerhouse of Duel of Fates from Star Wars.

John Williams has been in our lives and collective consciousness for decades giving us his exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, and originality, to such a degree, that he is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight as a musical genius.

My Magical Playlist of John Williams

1. Main Title, Jaws
2. Raiders March, From Raiders of the Lost Ark
3. Indiana Jones Suite, Raiders of the Lost Ark
4. Flying Theme, E.T. The Extra- Terrestrial
5. Main Theme, Superman
6. Main Theme, Jurassic Park
7. Opening Title, Catch Me If You Can
8. Main Title, The Towering Inferno
9. Main Title, Earthquake
10. Prelude, Main Title, The Poseidon Adventure
11. Hedwig's Theme, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone
12. Harry's Wondrous World, Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
13. Dance Of The Witches, Witches Of Eastwick
14. Instrumental Theme, Chariots of Fire
15. American Version, Summon the Heroes
16. Bugler's Dream and Olympic Fanfare, Olympic Fanfare Medley
17. Main Theme, Star Wars
18. The Imperial March, Star Wars
19. Princess Leia's Theme, Star Wars
20. Duel Of The Fates, Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

The Inspiration of Aaron Copland

One of my most favorite inspirational modern day composers is Aaron Copland. This incredible master was an American classical composer, composition teacher, writer and conductor. Aaron wrote music in many different styles depending on his experiences and the certain periods in his life. He is probably most famous for what many people consider to be the sound of American music, evoking the vast American landscape and the open pioneering spirit. He was often called the Dean of American Composers.

I had the honor and priviledge to meet Arron Copeland twice. I was able to see the last concert he conducted on December 7th, 1982 for the New Haven Symphony and then again at my college graduation were he briefly spoke at The State University at New Paltz in 1983. Several years earlier, I was introduced to his proud, musical bravato as a dancer with Martha Graham. The pairing of these two creative geniuses, Martha Graham with composer Aaron Copland, took my career as a dancer and choreographer to a whole new level!

My Inspirational Playlist of Arron Copeland

1. Fanfare For The Common Man
2. Appalachian Spring: Ballet for Martha
3. Our Town
4. Tender Land: Suite and Love Music
5. El Salon Mexico
6. Letter From Home
7. An Outdoor Overture
8. The Red Pony: I. Morning On The Ranch
9. Aaron Copland: Billy the Kid
10. Quiet City (Instrumental)
11. Down a Country Lane
12. Simple Gifts
13. Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes: IV. Hoedown
14. Copland Conducts Copland - Expanded Complete Edition
15. Copland: Our Town, The Red Pony, El Salon Mexico

Fairy Tale Wedding Music

June is one of the most popular months for weddings! Music is one of the most important elements within this celebration. I have attended many weddings and the magic of the music is truly what makes it such a memorable ceremony! I have gathered some of the most beautiful and infamous music for the union of two people. I have found the classical genre of music to be the most awe inspiring.

1. Bridal Chorus, Wagner (Processional)
2. The Wedding March , Felix Mendelssohn (Recessional)
3. Lullaby for String Orchestra, Gershwin (Prelude)
4. Make Our Garden Grow from Candide, John Williams
5. Gloria: I. Allegro vivace,St Albans Cathedral Choirs
6. Rustic Wedding Symphony / In The Spring, Goldmark
7. Ave Maria, Op. 52 No. 6, Leopold Stokowski
8. Homage March - 'Sigurd Jorsalfar, Edvard Grieg (Processional)
9. L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2Hungarian Orchestra (Offertory)
10. Fantasie und Fuge über den Chorale , Joseph Nolan (Processional)
11. Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op 39, No. 15, Johannes Brahms
12. Gloria, Antonio Vivaldi (Recessional)
13. Canon In D, Pachelbel
14. Air on a G String, Johann Sebastian Bach
15. Butterfly Waltz - Piano and Cello, Brian Crain
16. Wedding Processional, "The Sound Of Music"
17. Finale (from Water Music Suite), George Frederick Handel
18. Minuet in G Major (The Lovers Concerto), Johann Sebastian Bach
19. 99 Most Essential Wedding Classics
20. Ode To Joy - Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Beethoven (Recessional)
Special mention: Wedding Song (There Is Love), Captain And Tennille

In The Footsteps of Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is considered classical musics' wunderkind of all time! It was always a dream of mine to visit some of the places Mozart lived, worked and made his mark. I made my dream a reality and booked a flight to Vienna. The celebrated composer was born in Salzburg on January 27, 1756 and this is where the journey began.

From 1781 - 1791 was considered Mozart's "Vienna Period". It was during this time that the composer created the masterworks that ensured his immortality! These would include his Sonata in D Major for Two Pianos, the Singspiel, The Abduction from Seraglio, the Haydn Quartets, the Dissonance Quartet,; the Hoffmeister Quartet; the Sonata No. 4 in F major for Piano 4 Hands, the Symphony in E flat, Symphony No.41 in C major, Jupiter, his great operas including The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Mozart: Cosa-Fan Tutte, The Magic Flute, La Clemenza di Tito and the Requiem.

During Mozart's very short life, he produced more than 600 published works including 15 masses, 49 symphonies, 20 operas, 17 organ sonatas, 26 quartets, 17 piano concertos, and dozens of other compositions for various combinations of instruments. Picking my top 20 was far from easy, but below is some of the most popular music he is recognized by.

My Top 20 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

1.Symphony No.25 In G Minor, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
2. The Marriage of Figaro - Overture, Bonn Classical Philharmonic
3. Serenade No. 13 in G Major, Camerata Salzburg and Francesco Macci
4. Symphony No. 40 In G Minor, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
5. Concerto No. 21 in C Major, Stockholm Sinfonietta
6. Serenade No. 10 in B-Flat Major, Tapiola Sinfonietta
7. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, Pachelbel Ensemble
8. Requiem Mass in D Minor, Budapest Concert Chorus and Orchestra
9. Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, Berlin Symphony Orchestra
10. Don Giovanni - Overture, St. Petersburg Orchestra
11. Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, Mozart Festival Orchestra
12. The Magic Flute, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
13. Symphony No.31 In D Major "Paris", Orchestra Di Padova
14. Symphony No. 41 in C Major - "Jupiter", NBC Symphony Orchestra
15. Minuet and Trio , Helen Marlais
16. Sonata No. 8 D major, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
17. Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major, Boston Symphony Orchestra
18. Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra (No.10) in E flat, Alfred Brendel
19. Die Zauberflöte, "Ach,ich fuhl's", Margaret Price
20. Requiem in D minor, Introitus: Requiem, Amadeus

Music Therapy: Desert Melodies

Desert climates around the world have a powerful and charismatic persona! My allure towards the desert has grown over the years as I discover more and more their illustrious beauty, as well as their treasures. The desert expresses its beauty through the rising and setting sun, painting the desert floor and sky with a multitude of fascinating colors. The air is dry, yet crisp and gives me a sense of empowerment as I associate it through music. I have had the opportunity to visit some of the world's greatest deserts and through these travels I have found music that tells the stories the natural surroundings can offer. These melodies cross different times and genres in music, yet ring so true in their accuracy. I call this playlist:

Andrew's Desert Melodies

1. Desert Symphony, Del Rio
2. Overture (From "The Desert Song"), Constantine Callinicos
3. Sunrise at Sindhu, Desert Dwellers
4. Crystal Desert, Fiona Joy Hawkins
5. Sahara Sunset, Karunesh
6. Walking Through the Desert Near Palpa, The Smiling Buddhas
7. Navajo Skip Dance Song, Fernando Cellicion
8. Painted Desert, Grand Canyon Suite
9. Palm Desert, Ray Kelley Band
10. Las Vegas, Underground Lovers
11. Midnight In The Desert, Crystal Gayle
12. Desert Sand, Inc. Palms Down
13. Praise To The Desert, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
14. Desert Air, Gary Burton
15. Sonoran Desert Holiday, US Air Force Air
16. Desert Serenity, Karim Azedia
17. Tunisia: Winds from the Desert), Layali de Tunis
18. Desert Grooves 2, Various Artists
19. Desert Wind, Radiophonic
20. Desert Rose, Sting

Create Your Entrainment Music

First, find several songs, about 10-15 minutes worth, which matches your "present" mood (anxiety, stress, depression).

Second, find several other musical selections, 10-15 minutes, which is between your present internal state and the state you wish to achieve.

Third, find several songs, about 10-15 minutes worth, which match the desired mood state you wish to finally achieve (joy, relaxation, communication...). Download these songs on to an MP3 player or CD. This tool can be used over and over as needed.

Andrew has made it easy for you to order the kind of music and create an "entrainment" tool that will benefit any situation or disorder!

New Age *Classical * World * Rock * Folk/Blues * Pop
Hip Hop * Dance * Jazz * Vocal/Theatrical * Country * Christian/Gospel
Soundtracks * Kids/Family

References

1. Aldridge, David. Music Therapy Research and Practice in Medicine from Out of the Silence. 1996
2. Aldridge David, Brandt G, Music therapy and Alzheimer�s Disease. British Journal Music Therapy. Vol 5. p.28-36 1991
3. Donaldson, F.O., Playing By Heart: The vision and practice of belonging. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc. 1993
4. Finnema E, Droes RM, Ribbe M, Van Tilburg W, The effects of emotion-oriented approaches in the care for persons suffering from dementia: a review of the literature. Internation journal geriatric pyschiatry. 15(2); 141-161 2000
5. Gaston, E.T. (1968). Man and music. In E.T. Gaston Music in therapy. London: Collier-Macmillan.
6. Gfeller, KE. (1990). Music as communication. In R.F.Unkefer (Ed.) Music therapy in the treatment of adults with mental disorders: Theoretical bases and clinical interventions. New York: Schirmer.
7. Gfeller, K.E. & Thaut, M.H. (1999). Music therapy in the treatment of mental disorders. In W.B. Davis, K.E. Gfeller & M.H. Thaut (Eds.) An introduction to music therapy theory and practice. Boston: Mc-Graw-Hill College.
8. Harish, John M and Eagle, Charles T. "Elements of Pain and music: The Aio Connection." Journal of the American Association for Music Therapists, 7:15-27. 1988
9. Jensen, B. (1999). Music therapy with psychiatric in-patients: A case study with a young schizophrenic man. In T. Wigram & J. De Backer (Eds.) Clinical applications of music therapy in psychiatry. London: Jessica Kingsley.
10. Mullooly, Virginia, Levin, Rona, F. & Feldman, Harriet R. "Music soothes post-op pain and anxiety." American Journal of Nursing, 1988.
11. Sears, W.W. (1968). Processes in music therapy. In E.T. Gaston Music in therapy. London: Collier-Macmillan.
12. Thaut, M.H. & Smeltekop, R.A. (1990). Psychosocial and neurophysiological aspects of music therapy interventions. In R.F.Unkefer (Ed.) Music therapy in the treatment of adults with mental disorders: Theoretical bases and clinical interventions. New York: Schirmer.
13. The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology. John M. Ortiz Ph.D, Samuel Weiser, Inc. (1997)
14. Thompson, J.F. "Music in the Operating Theatre." British Journal of Surgery, 82:12. 1586-1587. 1995: http://www.pain.com/painscripts/Pain Search.dll?2
15. The Cross Roads Institute: http://www.crossroadsinstitute.org/eeg.html

Further Reading

Cassity, M.D. & Casssity, J.E. (1998). Multimodal psychiatric music therapy for adults, adolescents and children: A clinical manual. St. Louis, MO: MMB, Music.

Tyson, F. (1981). Psychiatric music therapy: Origins and development. New York: Wiedner & Son.

Unkefer, R.F. (1990). Music therapy in the treatment of adults with mental disorders: Theoretical bases and clinical interventions. New York: Schirmer.

Wigram, T. & De Backer, J. (Eds.) (1999). Clinical applications of music therapy in psychiatry. London: Jessica Kingsley.