Robert Rich
Cloud Pond Sky River

Cloud Pond Sky River 60:00

©2026 Robert Rich
Recorded Mixed and Mastered by RR at Soundscape, Carmel CA
With Apple Logic, Sequential PX, flutes, lap steel, bells and objects
Ambisonic recordings 2022-2025 Pacific coast
Cover © Maksymillian Novak-Zemplinski, used with permission.

The entire piece uses a simple 5-limit just intonation tuning, an A-major six-tone scale that sits ambiguously at B or E. The bells are mostly in their own intrinsic tuning, so they float dissonant around the tones. The chords are played by hand throughout (not looped), hopefully to lend a dynamic stasis, always changing but never very much.

During my career as an artist, I have maintained a running dialog with the roles of active vs. passive participation in listening. I am usually inclined toward active full involvement, deep listening, mental focus. In the past I sometimes disparaged the idea of background music or “healing music”, being a bit rebellious by nature. I am still skeptical about medical claims in the experience of art. Yet, I am also becoming more forgiving of ideas that seemed a bit sketchy when I was young and fractious. Lately, I have been building these long meditative drone pieces, which suit my own strange way of listening without any compromise. I am putting these up as “Name Your Price” for several reasons. One reason is that our network overlords have conspired to make everything “free” except for paying their subscription. Another is that many people can’t afford to buy all the music they wish they could have, to listen when they want. You can have this for free, if you wish. Yet another reason for “Name Your Price” is that I have learned that people are often generous, and they pay for things because they want to. As I get older I realize that music keeps me healthy, when I make the sort of music I want to hear. If it helps you, that makes me happy. I hope you enjoy this blurry soft blanket of environmental sound.