Serena
Michael BenghiatSERENA offers a tranquil blend of gentle acoustic instrumentation, perfect for massage, meditation, yoga and the healing arts. Like the other albums in the AT PEACE ® COLLECTION, SERENA provides a full hour of peaceful but not boring contemporary, acoustic instrumental massage music. The hypnotic blend of guitars, Balinese gamelan, piano, keyboards, drums and percussion are all performed by musician/composer Michael Benghiat, complemented by ensemble performances of Stephanie Bennett on harp, Karen Guthery on flute and Brice Martin on flutes and recorders.
Michael Benghiat
A Santa Monica native, Michael Benghiat has experienced a multicultural musical palette since childhood. Accomplished on both the piano and guitar, Michael grew up in a home surrounded by music, with parents who not only treasured music but encouraged learning about music from a variety of cultural and ethnic heritages.This early exposure to the enduring folk traditions of Greek, Sephardic, Spanish, and Middle Eastern music as well as to classical orchestral music helped forge Michael’s unique musical sensibility. Michael’s curiosity and interest in non-western musical instruments and traditions finds expression today in his study and collection of exotic acoustic instruments from around the world. His ongoing explorations of musical culture are a natural extension of his BA degree and graduate level work in classical music composition at UCLA. The author of several books on the guitar, Michael’s work as a musician and composer reflects his desire to “reach more people than I can teach one-on-one.”
"I enjoy creating music that leads you inward. We all find ourselves refreshed by just the simple act of stopping for a moment and really relaxing. I try to create a musical world that facilitates this." - Michael Benghiat
