OM

The OM band was founded in 1990 by Nikolay Ivanov. At the moment OM‘s musicians include: Nikolay Ivanov - composer, acoustic and electric guitars, piano,keyboards, recorder, voice, percussion Rumen Semerdjiev - bass, keyboards, Guergui Anguelov - percussion, tabla, djembe, tupan, tarambuka, kaval, bag pipe, cuena, didgeridoo, berimbao, kuika.

OM have toured France, Hungary, India and Nepal, where they gave a very special concert on Kala Patar top (5545 m), below Everest, at May 15th 1996. Spiritual Traditions in Bulgaria Bulgaria is at the crossroads of East and West and since time immemorial it has shared both sets of cultural values. As was discovered and noted by the ancient Thracians, and as it is believed today by healers and yogis, there are many places of "power" in Bulgaria.

It is here where the torches of new teachings and movements have been kindled, such as the teaching of Orpheus. On his unifying music, poetry and philosophy the foundations of the ancient Greek culture were laid. In a similar vein the Bogomil movement arose in Bulgaria 1000 years ago and then spread throughout Western Europe engendering a number of religious movements and esoteric schools of thought. Another spiritual teaching that originated in Bulgaria is that of Petar Dunov called Beinsa Duno (1864-1944).

A major part of the occult practice of his school is connected with the Rila Mountains. According to his teaching, the high mountains in Bulgaria, similar to the Himalayas, are like antennae and transformers of a powerful cosmic radiance. The painter, composer and director of OM, Nikolay Ivanov, visited ten of these remarkable places. Inspired by their powerful vibrations he painted icon-like pictures and composed this music.

The ten titles on this CD are dedicated to these places. In the booklet Ivanov describes in detail the mythical, cultural and geographical background of each place and its accompanying music.

Press reviews:

The group OM, with their "Ritual Places In Bulgaria". This title is unlike anything Erdenklang has released, and quite unique in any respect. The sound, at times, is reminiscent of the best of Paul Winter's consort titles, with an ensemble sound that is mostly acoustic, improvisational yet highly structured & melodic all at once. The inspiration for the spiritual world music is from sacred power spots" in Bulgaria, such as the high Rila Mountains, like the Himalayas, monasteries , the Spring of St. Sofia, sacred stones, etc..

The leader of OM is painter, composer & director Nikolay Ivanov, who visited 10 of these places, painted icon-like pictures (included in CD booklet), & composed the music. Liner notes describe in detail the background of each place and the accompanying music. Ivanov plays guitars, piano, keyboards, recorder, voice & percussion, with Marina Velikova (soprano sax and basson), Guergui Anguelov (percussion, tabla, djembe, didgeridoo, berimbau, etc.), Rumen Semerdiev (bass, keyboards), and additional cello, clarinet, drums, percussion & vocals. - Heartbeats