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SIGNIFICANCE Born in Oakland, California, Constance Demby is an internationally acclaimed, award winning, performing and recording artist, vocalist, instrument designer, painter, sculptor, and multi-media producer. Though her classically-based music is categorized in the New Age movement, she is considered “one of the few representatives of the New Age movement (in both her music and personal philosophies) who consistently creates artistic, highly expressive compositions.” -Carol Wright, allmusic.com. The music is also classified as ambient or space music. and as Cosmic Electronic Symphonic Spacemusic. As a multi-instrumentalist, she performs on hammered dulcimer, custom acoustic instruments, digital sampling keyboards, and the originally designed Sonic Steel Space Bass.

EARLY YEARS Trained in classical music starting at 8 yrs old, her first public performance was at the age of 12 in Burlingame, California, in the salon of her first music teacher, Mrs. Young. She performed double piano concertos, solfeggieto for the left hand alone http://datarealm.com/marbeth/one_hand.html and a host of classical piano works. Soon after, she formed a jazz group and taught herself how to improvise on the piano. At the University of Michigan, she studied painting, sculpture, and music.

THE SONIC STEEL INSTRUMENTS It was her early work as a sculptor that eventually led Demby to new dimensions of sound creations. As she was torching a sheet of metal, it roared thunderously, and thus was born the Sonic Steel Instruments: the Whale Sail and the Space Bass, enormous 10 ft long bowed instruments that transmit deep, primordial subsonic resonances. Eventually, Lucas SkyWalker Studios recorded and licensed the sounds of the Space Bass for use in their filmscores. (examples: “A.I.” - “Space Cowboys”) Later, when living in Spain, Discovery Channel traveled to Barcelona to film the Space Bass in Gaudi's "Parc Guell" for "The Power of Music." The Space Bass is also featured on Michael Stearns' soundtrack for “Chronos” an IMAX film produced by Ron Frick using long time-lapse shots.

photo of space bass

MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST As an innovator in the world of sound, Demby soon branched out and taught herself a number of ethnic stringed instruments such as the Koto, the Ch’eng, the Harpeleck, the Hammer Dulcimer, finding ways to use them inventively. In the early 70’s she co-founded a unique multimedia group, Central Maine Power Sound & Light, which toured the East Coast with their groundbreaking sound / light and planetarium shows. Venues included the Museum of Modern Art, the UN Sculpture Garden, Lincoln Center for the Arts, Fitchburg Planetarium, Strausbourg Planetarium, and the Greenwich Village Gallery, “A Fly can Bird but a Bird can’t Fly” where Demby’s massive "Space Mass" multi-media show was presented in March 1970.

THE HEALING POWER OF SOUND Dedicated to researching and exploring the power of sound and music to affect the mind-body-spirit, Constance has received accolades from luminaries and thousands of letters and emails from listeners reporting significant life-changing experiences from her albums, concerts and workshops.

“A realm of consciousness that words can only attempt to describe.” - Deepak Chopra

“One of the world's greatest living musicians, Constance Demby may well be the most important woman composer of classical and innovative music of our time.” - Jean Houston, Phd

“Constance Demby isn’t just a musician or a composer, she is something altogether different: a portal, a walking catalyst, an event.” - emusic magazine

INITIATION INTO THE SOUND CURRENT In 1977 Demby began to investigate the spiritual life, and was drawn into “Sant Mat,” a discipline based on “sinram and bhajan” and the yoga of listening to the eternal sound current. Once initiated by Sant Ajaib Singh Ji, she was opened up and the sound current began to pour through her. From that point on, she found her "prayers would turn into song" and with her affinity for the Hammered Dulcimer, these devotional songs formed the basis of her first album, Skies Above Skies released in 1978 on her Gandarva label.

Skies Above Skies - reviews "Demby draws from an international palette of musical mysticism... intoxicating." - AMG “Moves you beyond into inexpressible emotion." -Anna Turner, Hearts of Space

EARLY ALBUMS In 1980, Demby, a fifth generation Californian, returned to Marin County north of San Francisco, where she played concerts to overflow audiences. Here, she founded her own record label, Sound Currents, and released Sunborne, an ambitious five-part tone poem inspired by “The Emerald Tablets,” an ancient script by Hermes Trismegestus. The instrumentation featured synthesizers, world percussion, Ch’eng, Hammered Dulcimer, her Sonic Steel instruments and vocals.

Sunborne - reviews "Deep interior tunings, extraordinary sounds, a symphonic poem of majesty and power." - Heartsong Review

In 1982, after numerous requests by fans for a Hammered Dulcimer album, Demby composed the devotional Sacred Space Music, eventually released on the Hearts of Space label.

Sacred Space Music - reviews "Leading Mother figure and genuinely evolutionary composer, Constance Demby has made a piece of shimmering beauty. Demby’s music is sonic light by which to see.” -Paige La Grone, amazon.com

In 1983, Demby performed at the Alaron Center in Sausalito, CA. The evening was one to remember for all present, and resulted in the recording Constance Demby at Alaron

"Demby is a master at creating soul-stirring resonances and spacial vibrations ... This recording captures the breathtaking ambiance of her sonic spaces and represents a bridge recording of Demby's styles: the Eastern-inspired strings with the Western symphonic space synthesizer." - AMG "Captures the magic of a divinely inspired moment... a cosmic level of channeling .." - Yoga Journal

During this time, she formed the group “Gandarva,” which included among others, multi-instrumentalist Benjy Wertheimer of Ancient Future. The group toured to Boulder, Colorado double-billing with Paul Winter.

NOVUS MAGNIFICAT – Through the Stargate - Groundbreaking album The mid-eighties brought changes in recording technology with the advent of digital sampled sounds; Demby embraced this electronic revolution to compose contemporary classical electronic spacemusic using a full range of orchestral symphonic instruments, pipe organ, and choral voices. Tapping into her spiritual guidance, she brought through her groundbreaking Novus Magnificat – Through the Stargate, the album that critics call the most important New Age recording of all time. With sound textures added by Michael Stearns, it was released in 1986 on the Hearts of Space record label, and received awards and top reviews from critics. Submitted by Hearts of Space Records to the Grammies, and - though not one of the five finalists in the Grammy Awards - Novus sold over 200,000 copies worldwide making her one of the most successful New Age artists of the time and helping Stephen Hill to build his labels’ reputation.

AWARDS for NOVUS MAGNIFICAT VOTED --"One of the 10 best albums of the decade. " - Pulse! Magazine VOTED --One of the 25 most influential ambient albums of all time" - New Age Voice VOTED --"One of the 25 best gateway New Age albums" - NA Retailer VOTED --"Editor's Choice" - Third Annual Digital Audio VOTED --"Top 50 definitive CD New Age Library" - CD Review VOTED --“TOP 15 - Electronic New Age Albums List”

CLASSICAL COMPARISONS for NOVUS MAGNIFICAT With the release of award-winning Novus, critics and fans compared the music to Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Mahler, Wagner, Mendelssohn, Handel, Vivaldi, Palestrina, Puccini, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Ravel, Copland.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM for NOVUS MAGNIFICAT "The Mozart Requiem of the New Age ...an exciting and powerful musical experience." - Audio Amateur

"There is no other recording in the electronic genre rooted in the harmonies of Bach and the romantics that is so heartfelt, so devout...you will be moved "- USA Today

"A landmark recording... A powerful, emotive, uplifting symphony capable of moving the heart and soul, Novus Magnificat sets exceptionally high standards for the artistic use of electronics, space, and classical elements in contemporary music." - Digital Audio

"One of the finest pieces of contemporary sacred spacemusic we know." - NA Media

"One of the great works which will take us into the 21st century with power and grace."- New Dimensions

"The standard for the use of electronics against which future New Age albums should be judged. " - New Sounds (Harper & Row)

"Bach-like organ crescendos, Vivaldi-like string passages...." - Lee Underwood, Pulse Mag

"This listener was a times reminded of Palestrina, Debussy or Ravel, and even at one point of Copland. The opening passage is a tribute to Bach's monumental organ works..."- D. Johnson, Sunday Post

LIGHT of this WORLD In 1987, the compilation album Light of this World came out on Demby’s Sound Currents label

SET FREE In 1989 the celebratory Set Free was released by Hearts of Space.

"A masterful release by an established synthesizer artist." - Platter Chatter "The best music Constance Demby has ever written... a masterpiece." - Synthesis "One of the most inspiring works in all of new age music." - New Frontier

INTERNATIONAL TOURING Soon after Set Free ws released, Demby began touring internationally, first to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, then to Egypt, performing at the foot of the Great Pyramid and conducting ceremonies inside the Kings Chamber. Later, Demby was invited to Lanzarote, Canary Islands to perform a in an undergound volanic cave. Paul Horn and Pauline Oliveras were on the same billing

AETERNA In 1995 the emotionally cathartic album Aeterna, sequel to Novus Magnificat, was released on the Hearts of Space label, reviewers and listeners comparing her music to classical masters such as Bruckner, Vangelis, Rachminoff and Tchaikovsky (and even the Beatles...!)

AETERNA - reviews "AETERNA will remind some people of Vangelis at his best, at the same Time, expect a lot more than Vangelis offers in a single album." - Microsoft Network

"A remarkable tour de force, the lushly romantic sounds remind one of Rachminoff and Tchaikovsky." - Desert Sounds Review

"Arguably one of the greatest albums released, in any genre, during the last ten years. This is new-age Bruckner: sweeping, awesome, majestic, deeply spiritual music devoted to the care of the soul." - Dr Greenfield

LOS ANGELES In 1998, Arjuna Ardaugh of the Living Essence Foundation (get link) commissioned Demby to create music for his guided meditations, The Beloved and The Heart Meditation.

Soon after, Demby moved to Los Angeles where two new albums were released on her Sound Currents label:

Faces of the Christ, composed for the filmscore of the same name. “A profound sonic vista of love and caring...reaches to the foundations of the human spirit.” - ChaiWorks

Attunement – Live in LA, a recording of her final US concert before she left Southern California for Barcelona, Spain. "The very heart and soul of a master musician at work... A voyage through space and time that's as good as it gets." - CD Services

SPAIN – and two more new releses In 2000 Demby relocated to Spain, settling into the coastal town of Sitges outside of Barcelona, and touring the country for two 1/2 years while relishing the people, their art and music, and architectural wonders such as Gaudi.

Sanctum Sanctuorum was composed there and released by Valley Entertainment, with critics comparing the album to Gregorian chant and Requiems by Faure and Durufle. Released within weeks of 9/11, the sublime sacred energies inherent in the music appeared to be custom made for this traumatic event, the mystery being how the album, recorded months earlier, was released “seemingly at just the appropriate time.”

Sanctum Sanctuorum - reviews "Sanctum sets the standard for sacred symphonic space music for the new millennium.... We were reminded of the Requiems by Faure and Durufle... Constance Demby is the undisputed founder of sacred symphonic space music." - International Acclaim Reviews (NYC)

During this time period in Spain, Demby composed Spirit Trance on the Valley Entertainment label, an album which included selections from recent filmscores.

Spirit Trance - reviews "A masterful spiritual journey from one of the best of the genre, the first lady of e-music...’Trance’ contains strong holistic healing and psychoactive overtone properties. " - Jim Brenholts / ambientvisions.com

SONIC IMMERSION – Vibrational Sound Healing Returning to the US in 2003, Demby toured the west coast presenting concerts and her healing workshop “Sonic Immersion,” with participants reporting powerful healng results. Her Sound Currents label subsequently released the album Sonic Immersion, a vibrational sound healing attunement based on the workshop and featuring the Space Bass with it’s deep resonant sub-sonic frequencies.

"Deep, profound, passionate, spiritual... Demby's passion is to explore the nature of sound and sculpt a living soundscape that heals the soul." - Desert Sounds Reviews

SUB SONIC FREQUENCIES Sound and music can operate as a carrier wave to vibrate the human system through the principle of resonance. The Space Bass, operating as an oscillating, vibrating sound resonator, has demonstrated through the years that the low sub-sonic frequencies and long standing waves tend to break up long held encrustations in the embodiement.

Both Sonic Immersion participants and listeners of the CD reported changes and healings of conditions such as lower back problems, brain conditions, correction in irregular heartbeat conditions, chakra clearings, release of long held anquish, stuck energies and deep-rooted stresses, plus boosts in spiritual development.

Sonic Immersion fanletters: This CD treatment left me full of light and cosmically cleansed to a depth I have not felt before. Highest praises go to Ms. Demby for her incredible work!!" -David L. Paulsen (Keaau, HI)

"Sonic Immersion is a revelation. The first time I listened I experienced a sudden, massive clearing ... If you are looking for a way to clear deep-rooted stresses and boost your spiritual development then look no further." - Dave Tarr (Somerset, UK)

www.constancedemby.com/sonicimmersion.html

UK SACRED SITES TOUR In 2005, Constance was invited to England to present her music at a Sacred Sites UK Tour. The tour included sites such as Glastonbury, Avebury, Sunrise Ceremony at Stonehenge, etc. The English people gave her a warm reception, http://www.constancedemby.com/sacredsitestour.html

Following her return to the US, she toured to Phoenix, Sedona and Laserium Cyberstudios in Los Angeles. She presently resides in Santa Monica, CA.

• LUMINARIES (Collaborations / Double Bill Events)
• Deepok Chopra, Marianne Williamson / Ervin Lazlo / Satish Kuma - IONS Int Conference,

Arlington, VA

• George Lucas / Joseph Campbell / Gene Roddenberry, "The Inner Reaches of Outer Space" San Francisco, CA
• Author Jean Houston – “The Creative Leap” San Francisco, CA
• Author Andrew Harvey – “Walking the Path of the Labyrinth” Los Angeles, CA
• Paul Winter Consort – Boulder CO
• Paul Horn and Pauline Oliveras – Undergound volcanic cave, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
• Terence McKenna – Presentation at the Conference, Kona Coast, Hawaii
• Todd Rundgren – Opened for Todd at the Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
• Tom Kenyon – Presentation at the Sound Healing Conference, Seattle, WA
• Brugh Joy, David Spangler - Presentation at the Asilomar Year end Conference, Asilomar, CA
• Dalai Lama, Presentation at the Sacred Music Festival, Los Angeles CA, under the auspices of the Dalai Lama

CLASSICAL COMPARISONS from critics & listeners Through the years, The music of Constance Demby has been compared by critics and listeners to Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Puccini, Palestrina, Brahams, Mahler, Rachminoff, Tchaikovsky, Hildegard Von Bingen Bruckner, Vangelis, Fauré, Debussy, Ravel, Copland, Mozart's 'Requiem' Beethoven's 'Ninth' Handel's 'Messiah' Mahler's '8th Symphony' Debussy's 'Afternoon of a Faun' Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' Pachebel's 'Canon'.... etc.

"....Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Wagner, and Puccini, stand aside. And at the very pinnacle, Beethoven himself must share some space with you." - Schmidt Memorial Institute

"The final movements of Mahler's 8th Symphony, or Debussy's Afternoon of a Faun come close to comparison..." - G. Gryzb

"There is no other recording in the electronic genre rooted in the harmonies of Bach and the romantics that is so heartfelt, so devout...you will be moved "- USA Today

"This listener was a times reminded of Palestrina, Debussy or Ravel, and even at one point of Copland. The opening passage is a tribute to Bach's monumental organ works..."- D. Johnson, Sunday Post

"....The sheer scale, richness and depth of the piece is truly MAGNIFICENT. The first side brings to mind Brahams at the level of the divine, and the second, Bach-Handel-Mozart and the rest of the classicists in heaven." - D. Hallock

"...Belongs right up there with Beethoven's "Ninth,"Handel's "Messiah," Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and Mozart's "Requiem" as one of the great inspirational and spiritual compositions of all time!" -Jim Brenholts -"TRACKS ACROSS THE UNIVERSE: A CHRONOLOGY OF AMBIENT AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC"

"A remarkable tour de force, the lushly romantic sounds remind one of Rachminoff and Tchaikovsky." Desert Sounds Review

"This is new-age Bruckner: sweeping, awesome, majestic, deeply spiritual music devoted to the care of the soul."-Dr Greenfield

"....Your music helps to save me from myself. "Darkness of Space" ranks in depth, spiritual quality and sheer beauty with Bach, Mahler and Pachebel's Cannon." - P. Winston

"I believe your music will join and surpass the great clssics created by masters such as Beethoven and Wagner." - Mahuleia Kealualei

DISCOGRAPHY updates and corrections Studio Albums 1978: Skies Above Skies (CS, Sound Currents/Gandarva) 1980: Sunborne (CS, Sound Currents/Gandarva) 1982: Sacred Space Music (CS, Sound Currents/Gandarva; 1988 CD, Hearts of Space Records) 1986: Novus Magnificat: Through the Stargate (Hearts of Space Records) 1989: Set Free (Hearts of Space Records) 1995: Aeterna (Hearts of Space Records) 1998: The Beloved (Living Essence Foundation) 1998: The Heart Meditation (Living Essence Foundation) 2000: Faces of the Christ (Sound Currents) 2000: Attunement: Live in Concert (Sound Currents) 2001: Sanctum Sanctuorum ((Valley Entertainment) 2004: Spirit Trance (Valley Entertainment) 2004: Sonic Immersion (Sound Currents)

Live albums 1984: Constance Demby at Alaron (live, 1983)(CS, Sound Currents/Gandarva) 2000: Attunement: Live in Concert (live, 1999)(First Light Music; Sound Currents) 2004: Sonic Immersion (live, healing workshop) (Sound Currents) 2008: Live in Tokyo (live, 2002, CD-DVD)(Sound Currents)

Compilations 1987: Light of This World (compilation, 1978–1986 best-of, plus 2 original tracks)(CS/CD, Sound Currents)