I've also found North Indian classical music on Sarangi or Sitar, and Arabic classical music (Oud taqsim/improvisations especially) to be very effective during rituals. If I was using medieval or renaissance grimoires, I'd use appropriate music from those time periods. For general work, middle eastern and Indian music is always a good choice.
Everyone here will recommend classical music written between from 1650-1850, but you owe it to yourself to check out Renaissance and Medieval music while you're at it. There was so much neglected but amazing stuff written before 1600.
Ronn McFarlane has some fantastic solo lute albums. If you prefer quiet beautiful introspective melodies, DEFINITELY pick up his albums "The Renaissance Lute" and "Between Two Hearts".
He's also a member of the Baltimore Consort, and their work is quite good if you find you want more of this genre.
If you want beautiful music to wash over you and bring you to tears, listen to THIS album of Renaissance choral music. Crank it up LOUD! It's like angels tickling your insides.
Medieval music has more dissonances in it, so you may or may not like it, but give it a shot. I like the quieter meditative pieces that sound like a twisted music box. Here are some decent CDs:
Also - choral settings by Palestrina. When I want to feel clean on the inside, I just put on some Renaissance choral music and blast the house. Holy crap!
As a musician who specializes in early music, I often use medieval and renaissance pieces for my rituals. Favorites include renaissance lute fantasias (tons of recordings available from Paul O'Dette, Ronn McFarlane, and Nigel North), Renaissance choral music, and more mystical/meditative medieval pieces (Sequentia has some great stuff with vielles and harps). There is a huge range of sounds/textures from the middle ages that can be very meditative. Some Examples: Organetto & drum, recorder and percussion, meditative vocal music (Anonymous 4 are a great group, and vielles.
I've also found North Indian classical music on Sarangi or Sitar, and Arabic classical music (Oud taqsim/improvisations especially) to be very effective during rituals. If I was using medieval or renaissance grimoires, I'd use appropriate music from those time periods. For general work, middle eastern and Indian music is always a good choice.
Everyone here will recommend classical music written between from 1650-1850, but you owe it to yourself to check out Renaissance and Medieval music while you're at it. There was so much neglected but amazing stuff written before 1600.
Ronn McFarlane has some fantastic solo lute albums. If you prefer quiet beautiful introspective melodies, DEFINITELY pick up his albums "The Renaissance Lute" and "Between Two Hearts".
He's also a member of the Baltimore Consort, and their work is quite good if you find you want more of this genre.
If you want beautiful music to wash over you and bring you to tears, listen to THIS album of Renaissance choral music. Crank it up LOUD! It's like angels tickling your insides.
Medieval music has more dissonances in it, so you may or may not like it, but give it a shot. I like the quieter meditative pieces that sound like a twisted music box. Here are some decent CDs:
Of course, on the Rock side of things, just buy the entire Led Zeppelin discography. Sitting through Led Zeppelin IV is a religious experience!
Oh, and The Beatles post 1965 - sooooo many colors in their sounds ... Sgt Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, Abbey Road, hell buy those too!
Also - choral settings by Palestrina. When I want to feel clean on the inside, I just put on some Renaissance choral music and blast the house. Holy crap!