Chris Conway - Zen Sky

background
I wanted to feature the low Irish whistle across a whole album, giving it lots of space. It is such an expressive instrument and it captures the subtlest emotions. Though I play a lot of Celtic music there are influences here from Indian bansuri, and Japanese shakuhachi flute music.
This is a meditative album so let the breath of the low whistle carry you along, and may it bring you clarity, understanding, a sense of belonging, and a memory of the quite space you have created.

influences
Davey Spillane, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Stephan Micus, Alan Stivell, Alio Die,

trivia
Zen Sky is Chris Conway's 150th album in his own name, or in bands and equal collaborations.

Zen Sky is the Chris Conway's first New Age album to have no rhythmic element.

The harmonic modes of the tracks are
1. E Dorian
2. B Aolian
3. D Ionian
4. E Dorian

The low Irish whistle CC uses on this album was given to him by a member of the audience on a German tour in the mid 1990's - it has no maker's name.

notes

1. Zen Sky - Clarity
This piece has long passages where the low whistle is on it’s own. It’s such a sensitive instrument I’m sure I can hear my heartbeat in some of the long notes. A few little islands of gentle chords appear, and a recurring zither motif. The low whistle on this symbolises for me the clarity of thought as one feels after meditation or yoga.

Chris Conway - low Irish whistle, keyboards, zithers, electric 9 string guitar, temple bells, singing bowl

2. Zen Rain - Understanding
Two echoing low whistles play slow themes left and right, while the rippling piano plays gently and introspectively. The guitar, kantele and high piano notes commingle together, joined by raindrops I recorded outside my studio window. The whistles here to me symbolise timeless wisdom and understanding soothing the emotional piano notes.

Chris Conway - low Irish whistle, piano, keyboards, kantele, acoustic 9 string guitar, theremin & effects, chimes, bells, rain field recording.

3. Zen Ocean - Belonging
The low whistle floats over waves of lush, warm chords from keyboards and acoustic 9 string guitar. I was imagining that feeling you get when you see the sea for the first time in a long time. The low whistle reflects the warm feeling of belonging to a greater whole.

Chris Conway - low Irish whistle, keyboards, acoustic 9 string guitar, zither, ocean field recording.
Mo Coulson - Celtic harp

4. Zen Cloud - Memory
The atmosphere of Zen Sky returns. I was thinking of the memory of clarity. The clarity that becomes a special place I can think of even when I’m not able to be there.

Chris Conway - low Irish whistle, keyboards, electric 9 string guitar, zithers, singing bowl, chimes.


all music composed and produced by Chris Conway