Michel Bayan

"In developing Collage, I have tried to interweave specific expressions of musical art in a unique way to produce an overall, cumulative effect an the listener. For some this effect may be to soothe, to relax, to ease the burdens of a day-to-day life of great tension and pressure. For others it may provide a time of retreat and regeneration. Collage may invoke any number of powerful emotions as it invokes a musical environment which transports you across many centuries of creative genius. Whatever Collage does for you, I have no doubt that you will look forward to reliving the experience again and again."
MICHEL BAYAN

As the son of a classical musician, Michel Bayan was exposed to a wide variety of musical expression throughout his formative years. As time passed, he developed a powerful interest in the profound emotional effect different types of music had an listeners. Individual musical compositions, he discovered, almost always brought forth the same kinds of feelings and responses - even from widely different audiences. He also found that specific combinations of notes within compositions, chords and tone colors, even the use of certain instruments to perform compositions - all these elements contributed in measurable ways to the reactions listeners had to musical performances.
These insights led to experiments with the creation of musical collages; i.e., carefully orchestrated groups of musical compositions designed toachieve a singular powerful emotional effect an an audience. Eventually, Michel Bayan created Collage, a new form of expression which brings centuries of musical genius to bear, and which reaches deep into the emotional depths of virtually any listener to achieve its powerful and memorable effect.

About COLLAGE

Collage is a unique audio-acoustic experience, ten years in the making, which has resulted from contributions by composers, musicians, and technical production experts from all over the world.
In developing Collage, Michel Bayan has created a unique musical environment which is designed to transport any listener into a highly personal, alternative emotional dimension.
Technically, Collage consists of a series of musical compositions which span several centuries of musical history, and includes works by such composers as Johann Sebastian Bach, Ennio Morricone, Vangelis, Kitaro, and Rick Wakeman.
Each of the compositions which comprise Collage has been individually arranged by Michel Bayan so that the emotional response each is designed to illicit from the listener is enhanced to the maximum extent.
Each composition is performed by musicians hand-picked by Mr. Bayan, based an their individual ability to express musical ideas in a way that suits the demands of the medium.
Finally, the individual compositions which comprise Collage have been painstakingly assembled by Mr. Bayan to create the most powerful cumulative effect an the mind of the listener.
Ideally, this nearly 2-hour music/sound experience, contained an 2 CD discs (2 cassettes), should be experienced in two individual sittings. The best way to enjoy Collage is to sit in a comfortable chair or lie in bed, turn off the lights, and let the music take over consciousness.

Recorded at:
System Two Studios, Brooklyn, NY and the Hit Factory, New York, NY (strings only).

Sound Effects recorded at:
Ixtapa, Mexico (ocean); Saranac Lake, NY (running water, birds); Northern United Kingdom (creek); Sailboat The Aqua Space; New Mexico desert (thunder and lightning).

Equipment:
Sony 3324 Digital 24-track tape recorder; Mitsubishi X800 32-track tape recorder.

Pre-Production:
Psycho-Acoustic Laboratories, Long Island City, NY.

Producer:
Michel Bayan

Musicians:
Flute - Paula Chang Bing;
Guitar - Oren Feder;
Oboe, Bassoon - Marcia Buttler;
Vocals -Elada Chakoyan;
Synthesizers - Lawrence, Michel Bayan;
Synthesizers-David Labolte (Ignacio only)

Synthesizer Programming: Lawrence

Sound Engineer: Denny McNernie

Arrangements:
Michel Bayan, Lawrence

Arrangement: David Labolte (Ignacio)

String Arrangements: Deny Seidenberg

Musical Compilation:
Michel Bayan

Bookkeeping:
Ana Velez

Special thanks to: Jeanette Sahner

To find out more about Audio Acoustical Collage^, please write us at:
Audio Acoustical Collage P.O. Box 1044,
Long Island City, NY 11101

AMG EXPERT REVIEW:
Sound researcher Michel Bayan has researched not only the effects of certain sounds on our body and emotions, but the effects of musical pieces, instruments, phrasing, and nature sounds. With this knowledge, Bayan carefully selected pieces and searched the world for just the right soloists—with just the right sound. The resulting collage of pieces is a relaxation masterpiece with full emotional power. Although some use light spiritual or angelic sounding music for relaxation, Bayan takes another approach: All the selections have sweeping melodies with orchestral structures in a series of tensions and releases. "Inner Thoughts," athe adagio from Enio Marcello's oboe concerto, is very gripping, but then the sounds of a brook wash away the involvement. Marcello's other oboe piece, "Mystery," is quite dark and suspenseful, and Bayan stops it abruptly with thunder crashes as he moves into the mystical "The Road in the Sky" by Kitaro. Bayan chose to include five pieces by Saint Preux. "Summer" is a joyous waltz which inspires releasing; his piano "Nocturne," whose churning and introspective beginning blossoms into a fanciful interlude, then returns to its inner musings. Soprano Elada Chakayon is featured on Saint Preux's "For Her," a powerful, lyrical vocalise. Vangelis is also represented with "Sauvage" and "Antarctica." Bayan suggests the listener give the album full attention and wear eyeshades to enhance the experience. — Carol Wright