New York, NY (Top40 Charts) After an intense journey studying the shared themes of peace and human oneness taught by Buddha, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mohammed, the Sikhs, the Hindu, the Jews, the Cheyenne, the Kikuyu, and the Baha'i, TV/Film composer Steven Chesne's latest world music masterpiece, "Sapient: A Cantata of Peace," is taking industry awards by storm. Debuting
September 13, 2018, each track on the album is a moving, musical interpretation of a tradition's words of peace and oneness accompanied by music and vocals influenced by its distinct culture, language and place in history. The album culminates in a powerful finale, "Nyansapo: The Wisdom Knot," in which Chesne weaves each of the recorded interpretations one on top of the other, in a masterful achievement in counterpoint. ("Chesne has to be one of the finest composers of his day to create a moment of genius like this…" - One World Music.) A portion of sales from "Nyansapo: The Wisdom Knot" benefits UNICEF and protecting the world's most vulnerable children. Listen to "Sapient," www.chezworks.com/sapient.html
"Sapient" honors to date:
Global
Music Awards (Gold Medals for "Best Album" and "Best Composition")
John Lennon Songwriting Contest ("Best World
Music Song")
International Songwriting Competition ("Best Composition")
International
Music & Entertainment Awards ("Spiritual Album of the Year")
Clouzine Int'l
Music Awards ("Best World
Music Album")
Hollywood
Music in Media Awards (Official Nominee)
Chesne special featured guest on influencer Holly Shaw's iTunes podcast "Performers & Creators Lab" discussing "Sapient," premiers today, www.performersandcreatorslab.com
In preparation for recording, Chesne met with historians, translators, clergy, monks, rabbis, imams, linguists, etc., to study these sacred writings. He chose vocalists who had deep understandings of the traditions they were interpreting, so they felt comfortable being naturally expressive.
"Bringing these powerful teachings back into the spotlight during this challenging phase of our evolution, made this the most important project I've ever done," said Chesne, a long-time voting member of The Recording Academy. "The response has been thrilling and humbling. If I were lucky enough for 'Sapient' to receive a GRAMMY® nomination, this music and these universal truths would reach the widest of audiences, and that's always been my goal."
"… this is an album for the entire world, without doubt." -- Steve Sheppard,
Music Reviewer
Chesne's prolific career has spanned from symphonic to film and television. He has composed more than 300 primetime television scores, including "Batman: The Animated Series," "Family Matters," and "Hanging with Mr. Cooper." He also has scored 17 theatrical art-house films, and ASCAP formally recognized his creative contribution to art-house cinema. His orchestral works include four symphonies, two concertos, two orchestral suites, and more.
Married to
Diane Chesne, a concert pianist, the couple has two sons, Dimitri and Dorian.
