David Hykes
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David Hykes (1953 - ) is a musician, composer, author, experimental filmmaker and meditation teacher, and a principal pioneer in the modern harmonic, healing sounds and contemplative chant movements.
He founded The Harmonic Choir, considered by many to be the western world's pre-eminent overtone ensemble, in New York in 1975. He created the terms "harmonic singing" and "overtone chanting" to describe the new form of universal music he began to develop with the group. These terms are now generic and Hykes' music and ideas have influenced countless musicians and "sound healers."
He was born in Taos, New Mexico and currently resides in France where he directs Harmonique/Centre, a music and meditation center near Paris in the forest on a medieval stone farm site.
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[edit] Education
Educated at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio where he studied with the avant-garde or experimental filmmakers Tony Conrad and Paul Sharits, free jazz with the Cecil Taylor Unit, and contemporary, classical and medieval music with John Ronsheim and David Stock. He received an M.F.A. from Columbia University in New York.
David Hykes is a Dharma student of Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, who gave him the name Shenpen Yeshe, "the Primordial Wisdom that brings happiness to beings."
[edit] Style
The Harmonic Chant, developed by Hykes is based upon the natural harmonic overtones present in sound and fundamental to all music. Hykes was inspired by traditional world music of Tibet, Mongolia and Tuva, medieval Gregorian chant, North Indian Raga music and singer Sheila Dhar, Just Intonation composers La Monte Young and Terry Riley, and primordial polyphonic singing of Europe.
"Harmonic Presence" is the meditative system Hykes has developed combining music, contemplative awareness practices, and healing sounds. He teaches sacred music and meditation at leading retreat centers such as Esalen Institute and Kripalu.
He began experimenting with harmonic or overtone singing in 1974; his first musical composition, "Harmonic Tissues," explored in 4-part harmony the full-spectrum universe of possible harmonic overtones, undertones, chords and beating tones, through slowly ascending and descending cycles of 4 sine waves, which he manually dialed from lowest to highest and back, one track at a time. He incorporated his activities in New York as a not-for-profit arts organization called the Harmonic Arts Society Inc. on September 11, 1981.
[edit] Notable appearances and contributions
Hykes has co-hosted evenings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Gyuto and Gyume Monks, the first ever in the United States (1985-6). He was invited by revered incarnate lama Dzongsar Khyentse to contribute music to his feature film "Travellers and Magicians".
Hykes collaborated twice with the English theater and film director Peter Brook, contributing film music for Meetings with Remarkable Men (1979) and training Brook's French Mahabharata cast. Hykes has also contributed music to the films Travellers and Magicians, Dharma River, Dead Poets Society, Ghost, and Baraka, among others.
He has been awarded numerous grants and fellowships for his work, notably from: UNESCO's Fund for the Promotion of Culture, several grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, three grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (USA), and the New York State Council on the Arts. In October of 2005, he was awarded a $50,000 Flying Elephants Foundation Fellowship.
[edit] Discography
- HARMONIC MEDITATIONS, label: Sounds True (Spring 2005)
- HEARING SOLAR WINDS, label: Signature(Radio France), distributed by harmonicworld.com (2003)
- RAINBOW DANCES (for your rainbow heart), label: Fonix Musik (2002)
- BREATH OF THE HEART - DAVID HYKES/HARMONIC CHOIR, label: Fonix Musik (1999)
- EARTH TO THE UNKNOWN POWER, label: BMG Classics/Catalyst (1996).09026-68347-2 recorded at The Kitchen
- TRUE TO THE TIMES (How to Be?) David Hykes with Bruno Caillat and Peter Biffin, label: New Albion (1993)
- LET THE LOVER BE, David Hykes with Persian zarb master Djamchid Chemirani; label: Auvidis (1991)
- WINDHORSE RIDERS, David Hykes with Persian zarb master Djamchid Chemirani; label: New Albion (1989)
- HARMONIC MEETINGS, label: Celestial Harmonies (1986)
- CURRENT CIRCULATION, label: Celestial Harmonies (1984)
- HEARING SOLAR WINDS, label: Ocora(Radio France), distributed by Harmonia Mundi (1983)
