The Project:
Tools for chanting
 

In Victoria, with the assistance of other musicians, Marina Rae leads a  “Sanskrit and World Chant” community event.  Marina has found this practice of chanting prayers and affirmative thoughts to be very powerful and uplifting for herself as well as the participants.  People describe this singing experience as calming, heart-opening, healing, joyful and meditative.

Our intention with this project is to share this practice of mantra chanting with many people.  We hope to inspire people to gather in community to create harmony and peace within their own lives as well as that of their neighbour and our planet thorugh the sacred power of sound and vibration.  We encourage people to sing healing mantras without having to follow a particular religion or belief set.

We hope to inspire people to gather in community to sing these Mystical Mantras and we want to encourage them to create their own affirmative songs as well as learn other mantras.  In our vision we see people all over the world gathering in circle to chant positive thoughts, making sacred music to bring harmony into their own lives as well as the lives of their neighbors and the planet.  We see this form of chanting having a profound effect in many cultures, from Japan to North America to Europe.

To achieve this Marina and Jon Patch have formed Mystical Mantra Productions, a British Columbia registered partnership which will create and market products which people can use to learn and share these chants.  The first offering is a multimedia product consisting of an audio CD and accompanying booklet.

The Product

The first CD, "Mystical Mantras,"  will have 10-12 Sanskrit and world chants, with an accompanying booklet of printed music. Approximately two-thirds of the chants will have an original melody; some of these will have original lyrics.  The balance will be well-known chants published elsewhere.  The demo, with four chants, is now available.

The printed music will include lead sheet (melody, lyrics and chords), and interpretation of the chant, and an English translation of the Sanskrit.   The booklet will also include a section on how to organize and present a chanting circle, some sound theory and a summary Sanskrit reference.

British Columbia content is a key element of the project.  All aspects of the project at this time are 100% BC, including songwriting, arranging, vocals, engineering and production.

Marina will be soloist for most songs with synthesizer, harmonium, guitar, harp and percussion accompaniment.  Other songs will have several backup vocalists.

Marketing

Jon Patch has spoken to the Tami Simon, President of Soundstrue, Inc. a major distributor of audio, video and music for the target market of individuals seeking greater connection and spiritual awareness.  Tami indicated that a product like this could sell 20,000 to 50,000 copies.  An international distributor is sought for the project.

This website could provide direct sales.  Further marketing is planned directly to yoga centers and through chanting circles.

People

The Partners

Marina Rae provides the creative force for the project. In Victoria she is co-owner, with her partner David Goulet, of “The Chakra Yoga Center” where they instruct a full-time Certified Yoga Teacher’s Training Program.  Included in the work of the Chakra Center she facilitates private Sound Therapy sessions with the application of a Vibrational Sound Chair, Regression Therapy and an Alternative Yoga Health Program.  Marina is a classically trained vocalist as well as an improvisational dance teacher, a skill she brings to her creative Yoga classes.

To date Marina has written 16 original Sanskrit songs/melodies for the chant group.  Marina believes sound is one of the leading healing modalities of the 21st century.  Her long-term vision is to introduce people to the sacredness of chanting, meditation, movement and breath.

For this project Marina has created new melodies to traditional chants, and some new chants.  She is the recording soloist, and provides technical direction.

Co-producer Jon Patch is educated as an Electrical Engineer and has decades of experience in project and financial management.  He is Chief Operating Officer at a vocal technology company.   In the past, Jon has provided executive coaching and management services to companies in many industries.  Jon has been host of an open-line radio show and a newspaper columnist. 

Musically Jon is a member of two choirs in Victoria, plays guitar and has written a variety of songs.   For Mystical Mantras, Jon provides production management, scoring, booklet layout design and technical review.

Other Participants

Complementing the contribution of the Marina and Jon, Renewal Partners has provided some financial sponsorship for the project.  Renewal Partners is a seed capital firm based in Vancouver, which invests in early stage companies with high social impact.  Renewal's mission is the long-term preservation and sustainability of British Columbia.

Sponsorship has also been received from private individuals.

Among those contributing time and effort to the project are Karel Roessingh, noted composer, arranger and musician.  Karel has produced and recorded eight of his own albums which have sold nearly 500,000 copies.  Karel is playing keyboards, composing background accompaniment, and providing engineering services.  More on his accomplishments can be found at www.roessong.com

Denis Donnelly,  former director of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, co-director of the Gettin’ Higher Choir and accomplished musician will be providing string accompaniment.

Niel Golden of Victoria plays tablas.

John Ellis has recorded vocals; he has recorded more than 60 CDs for local artists.

Local talent is being used for all background vocals.