Martin Gregory, Sacred Land Music Instrumental Inspiration

Soundtracks and selections from Mystical Britain, Labyrinths of Spirit & Grace, and Southwest Spirit multimedia extravaganzas and intimate performances. Martin has performed at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco for Grace After Hours in March 2008 and July 2006 and on Winter Solstice for special candlelit labyrinth walks.

Grace Cathedral Concert, March 14, 2008
Golden Gate Dowsers Talk, March 15, 2008

Bishop's Palace

Labyrinth Walk

Refuge in Meditation

Available here and CD Baby, iTunes.

All music composed and performed by Martin Gregory
© 2001-2008 by Martin C. Gregory, all rights reserved.

Bishop's Palace
Music from Ancient Landscapes
Instrumental compositions by Martin Gregory

The landscape of Celtic Britain has long excited artists, poets and musicians and these places of legend inspired this collection of music. I feel the enduring spiritual potency of prehistoric stone circles like Stonehenge and Avebury as I walk amongst the mysterious megaliths. Their original purpose is lost, but I recognize in their structure and alignments the builders’ understanding of the land, the stars and of their place in the cosmos. Mysterious stone lined burial chambers in northern Europe are decorated deep inside with abstract, sinuous patterns. Sitting within, the cool air, the smell of earth and stone, the chamber's shape and texture whisper sounds in my mind.

Surrounded by the romantic ruins of the medieval Bishop’s Palace at Wells, I am moved to imagine the pomp of its more sumptuous days. Nearby Wells Cathedral is an expression in carved stone of the philosophy of the Middle Ages, its sacred geometry echoing the mathematical foundations of music itself. 

Since the first prehistoric wanderers marked sacred sites, tales and legends have been told and embellished by Roman, Celtic and Christian historians, bards and minstrels. Like those storytellers, I respond creatively by composing music, not to explain or describe, but to celebrate these precincts of mystery, memory and power. My inspiration comes from the stories, the buildings, the undulations of the land, and the impressions I have had during many journeys to ancient landscapes and sacred places in Britain and France, places whose names make up the list of songs in this collection.

Bishop’s Palace contains music originally written for Mystical Britain multimedia presentations by artist photographer Cindy Pavlinac. Selections also appear in the film soundtrack of Jo Carson’s Dancing with GAIA.

$18.00

Bishop's Palace Selections

1. Mist

2. Castlerigg

3. The Avenue

4. Hollow Hill

5. Celtic Knot

6. Stonehenge

7. Les Alignements de Carnac

8. Tombs of Armorique

9. Horses & Giants

10. Le Grand Menhir

11. Avebury

12. The Bishop's Palace

13. Wells

CD Baby

iTunes

Labyrinth Walk

Track 1: Labyrinth Walk
The title track features 55 minutes of uninterrupted improvisational piano music. Composed to accompany an actual labyrinth walk, the performance is a relaxing and transformative meditation which can also be enjoyed during any quiet activity. Extended chant-like sections suggest the simple focus of walking the path, while more lyrical and emotional passages encourage reflection and peace-filled moments. A sense of centered stillness is held in balance with the eternal movement of the labyrinth.

Track 2: Kokopelli
A 20 minute instrumental arrangement inspired by the ancient landscape of the American Southwest and Native American stories of Kokopelli, the flute player. This composition evokes a dream-walk, and provides a wonderful background ambience for labyrinth walking.

Labyrinth Walk Selections

Excerpt 1

Excerpt 2

Excerpt 3

Excerpt 4

Excerpt 5

Kokopelli excerpt

CD Baby

iTunes

$18.00

Refuge in Meditation

Debra Carroll gently talks the listener through the process of meditation over a beautiful background score composed by Martin Gregory. The CD has three tracks, 20 minutes each of spoken meditation.

Track 1: Getting Started
Focusing on the breath and its relationship to the body, because most shamanic and meditative practices start with the breath.

Track 2: Chakra Journey
A practice of bringing awareness of the source of all life and energy into each of the chakras, or energy centers, one at a time. This helps open and balance the centers, while also breaking through the illusions of the mind and the senses.

Track 3: Taking Refuge
This version is a non- denominational, cross-cultural synthesis of practices Ms. Carroll learned in Peru 20 years ago and the Buddhist practice of Taking Refuge in the Buddha. It is about surrender and allowing oneself to be protected and guided by beings more self-realized than oneself.

CD Baby

$15.00

All music CD prices in US dollars, plus shipping and California state sales tax where applicable.

Shipping charges chart (USA):

1 CD, $15 - $18: $2.00

5 CDs, up to $90: $5.00

10 CDs, up to $180: $10.00

11 CDs, $181+ : $15.00

British born Martin Gregory is a California based musician and artist. He visits ancient sacred sites for inspiration and has walked innumerable historic and modern labyrinths in Europe and North America. His compositions have been used for meditation, film and multimedia projects. He performs live at art galleries, conferences, festive gatherings and labyrinth walks internationally. His compositions deftly craft memory, passion, and spirit of place into music which is meditative yet lively, moving and transformative. Incorporating celtic, symphonic and jazz motifs, he layers sweeping harmonies and engaging melodies into a musical experience that transports the listener to places of mystery and power.

Contact Martin for commissions, comments, labyrinth walk accompaniment, event invitations, collaboration proposals, and wholesale CDs inquiries.

Labyrinth Walk is a best seller for Veriditas, the Shop at Grace Cathedral, Duncan Conference Center, London's Rosslyn Hill Chapel, and a favorite amongst Veriditas Facilitators and labyrinth walkers around the world.