Deborah Henning's Debut CD: I Like To Fly (reviewed)

Deborah Henning's Debut CD: I Like To Fly
Reviewed by C. M. Burke

The Fairfield Weekly Reader
Fairfield, Iowa, USA Translate This Article
26 June 2009

Published 25 June 2009 in The Fairfield Weekly Reader.

Listen to samples at musicmall.globalgoodnews.com/songs.html

Like flight itself, Deborah Henning's recently released CD, I Like To Fly, is exhilarating! It has twelve songs inspired by His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's teachings and by experiences resulting from the practice of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi programs (including, as the title suggests, Yogic Flying).

The songs are simultaneously playful and profound. Light seems to be shining through every aspect. With the exception of one song, all words, music, instrumentals, vocals (Deborah does multiple voices on all the songs) and arrangements are Deborah's creation. And she designed the front and back CD cover artwork.

Deborah, largely self-taught, accompanies herself on electric piano, using it to make the sounds of various other instruments. She made a point of not listening to other music during the years she was composing and the result is a sound that is remarkably fresh and unique.

Several friends who have listened to I Like To Fly have had a similar impression. A psychologist who received it as a birthday gift says, ''It's my best birthday present.'' Another friend, who speaks only broken English, said: ''A beautiful voice!''

For me, it is that beautiful voice that gives the CD an ineffable quality. The words, music and arrangements are terrific. But Deborah is not out to wow us with great power or range of voice. What is so very special is the quality of advanced consciousness of the singer. Her voice has ''it.'' ''It'' is so rare, and I am relishing this opportunity to enjoy it.

Deborah and her late husband, world-famous magician, Doug Henning, spent nearly ten years studying personally with Maharishi, often on a daily basis. Deborah says: ''Putting much attention on Maharishi's lectures and writing songs about them really helps one integrate the knowledge and make it your own. The unmanifest Pure Consciousness* is so abstract that one has to make it concrete in every way possible.''

What is her favorite song on the CD? It's the very first song: ''Just Be.'' Deborah explains: ''When I heard Maharishi say: 'Just be, just be,' it touched me deeply! I thought: 'Even I can do that!' I think 'Just be' is really the secret to a peaceful and dynamically successful life. In the same way the whole huge dynamism of creation comes from, and is upheld by, absolutely silent Pure Being (the Unified Field), so our life lived from this level of silence makes us fulfilled in successful activity, peace and joy.''

You can purchase the CD I Like To Fly at M.U.M. (Maharishi University of Management) bookstore and at musicmall.globalgoodnews.com/songs.html

© Copyright 2009 The Fairfield Weekly Reader

Global Good News comment:

* The silent, unbounded field of pure intelligence at the basis of all the mind's activity. This field, which is also the Unified Field of total Natural Law, the fundamental level of intelligence at the basis of the entire universe, may be experienced directly and its infinite potential fully unfolded in daily life through the regular practice of Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation Programme and its Advanced Techniques.

For information about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York.