Govi
Encyclopedia
Govi is a new age
/ambient
musician
. One of the most acclaimed and best-selling contemporary instrumental and ethnic fusion musicians, each of Govi’s previous albums have all reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s
New Age chart.
. These experiences led to his first professional gig as a member of a group that played original material and won a national band competition and a recording contract which allowed them to tour throughout Germany.
Although a native of Germany
, Govi spent eight years living in India
. It was there that Govi started playing the mandolin
, mandocello
, sitar
, bouzouki
, charango
and the 8-string ukulele
. While in India, he also established a friendship with prominent German new age artists Deuter
and Karunesh
. Their mutual admiration and respect led to Deuter co-producing Govi's debut album Sky High throughout which Deuter can be heard playing flutes and keyboards.
His fifth album Guitar Odyssey became one of the most successful albums in its genre; in 1997, it reached the top ten of the "Billboard
" new age
albums, eventually climbing to number three.
Govi is now living in Hawaii
.
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
/ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. One of the most acclaimed and best-selling contemporary instrumental and ethnic fusion musicians, each of Govi’s previous albums have all reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s
Billboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
New Age chart.
Biography
Govi became fascinated with the guitar very early in life when he simply walked past one in a store window and decided that was the instrument he wanted to play. In his teens, Govi performed as the lead guitarist in bands that played everything from rock to blues, including early Beatles and Pink FloydPink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
. These experiences led to his first professional gig as a member of a group that played original material and won a national band competition and a recording contract which allowed them to tour throughout Germany.
Although a native of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Govi spent eight years living in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It was there that Govi started playing the mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, mandocello
Mandocello
The mandocello is a plucked string instrument of the mandolin family. It has eight strings in four paired courses, tuned in 5ths like a mandolin, but is larger, and tuned CC-GG-dd-aa . It is to the mandolin what the cello is to the violin.-Construction:Mandocello construction is similar to the...
, sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
, bouzouki
Bouzouki
The bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but...
, charango
Charango
The charango is a small Andean stringed instrument of the lute family, 66 cm long, traditionally made with the shell of the back of an armadillo. Primarily played in traditional Andean music, and is sometimes used by other Latin American musicians. Many contemporary charangos are now made with...
and the 8-string ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
. While in India, he also established a friendship with prominent German new age artists Deuter
Deuter
Deuter is a German New Age instrumentalist and recording artist known for his meditative style that blends Eastern and Western musical styles.- Biography :...
and Karunesh
Karunesh
Karunesh is a German-born New Age and ambient musician. His music has strong Asian and Indian influences prevalent throughout, with liberal use of Indian instruments, such as the sitar. Having sold 450,000 albums, Karunesh is one of the best-known New Age artists.Karunesh was born in Cologne,...
. Their mutual admiration and respect led to Deuter co-producing Govi's debut album Sky High throughout which Deuter can be heard playing flutes and keyboards.
His fifth album Guitar Odyssey became one of the most successful albums in its genre; in 1997, it reached the top ten of the "Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
" new age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
albums, eventually climbing to number three.
Govi is now living in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Studio albums
- Sky High (1988)
- Heart of a Gypsy (1989)
- Cuchama (1993)
- Passion & Grace (1995)
- Guitar Odyssey (1997)
- Andalusian Nights (1999)
- Seventh Heaven (2000)
- Mosaico (2002)
- Saffron & Silk (2004)
- Jewel Box (2007)
- Touch of Light (2008)
- Guitarra Mistica (2011)
Compilations
- No Strings Attached: Govi at his Exuberant Best (1999)
- Your Lingering Touch: Govi at his Romantic Best (2001)
- Havana Sunset: The Best of Govi (2005)
External links
- http://www.govimusic.com/
- http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Govi&x=0&y=0/