Biography of Schawkie Roth/Healing Music

Schawkie Roth

MUSIC

EMAIL ADDRESS: schawkie@schawkieroth.com

BIOGRAPHY | MUSICAL PERFORMANCE GROUPS | LECTURE TOPICS

Biography

Schawkie Roth was born in Wisconsin in 1943. "Schawkie" (meaning "Jacques") is a Swiss nickname given to him by his father. His musical heritage comes from his mother's family, which originated from the small European country, Bohemia, which merged into Czechoslovakia. His grandmother was an opera singer, and his family tree can be traced back to Anton Dvorak, the Czech composer. Coming from this heritage, Schawkie chose to begin his musical career at the age of eleven by taking up the alto saxophone in the classical school band. Within a year, he began playing and improvising on the piano, and then added the tenor saxophone to his classical and improvisational studies. His piano playing at an early age reflected classical motifs while his playing of the saxophone eventually found its home in the heritage of modern, lyrical jazz. During his twenties, his creative urges found expression in poetry, painting, philosophy and religious studies as well as in the fields of classical and jazz music. At college, he majored in religious philosophy and studied Zen Buddhism as well as the works of Carl Jung, Herman Hesse and Martin Buber. After his studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he moved to California where he received his Masters Degree in Integral Psychology. Here, the study of chakra therapy (psycho-spiritual counseling) with Dr. Haridas Chaudhuri was completed and the new study of Music Therapy began. During this time, Schawkie also was involved in making bamboo flutes, writing poetry and playing jazz in various ensemble groups. In 1969, he met Paul Horn - a famous flutist and meditator - and began the practice of Transcendental Meditation. Then began years of classical studies on flute and some initial training on the East Indian bamboo flutes with G.S. Sachdev, an East Indian flutist. In 1971, he was guided to take up the zither as a modal instrument for the channeling of spiritual music. Many enlightenment experiences happened to him during these times of channeling on the flute, bamboo flute, saxophone, piano and zither - as well as in his meditations. Through inner guidance, Schawkie determines which instrument to use for channeling the Holy Spirit in any given situation. In 1977, Schawkie was guided to make solo recordings and to concentrate on the recording process itself as a means of expressing to the world what was happening inwardly:

The Lark Ascending

Lousadzak

The Coming of Light

A Love Supreme

Karma

Inside

Koln Concerts

divinely inspired

"With this realization, a decision came from within to record and channel Heavenly Music. Inner guidance created the support and the friendship for this to happen in my life. So, with Love, this music has come forth into the world for the purpose of healing, upliftment, relaxation, meditation, and to soothe the souls of men and women and all Beings in the Creation. Feeling a deep sense of unity with the earth and also feeling the warmth and glow of the Transcendent Spirit, the first work to come forth was entitled, 'Heaven on Earth,' to encourage all others to bring Heaven to Earth for the sake of healing ourselves and our planet as we are destined to do for our Creator and the Creation."

- Schawkie Roth

Instrumentations & Musical Performance Groups WIth Schawkie Roth As Leader

Solo Performance - Flute, bamboo flute, saxophone, piano, clarinet, zither, and spoken poetry. New age music.
Schawkie Roth Jazz Quartet or Quintet - Alto and tenor saxophone, piano, acoustic bass, and drums. Jazz standards and originals. Music for dancing and listening.
Schawkie Roth Jazz Trio - Saxophone, piano, and bass.
Trio for Flute, Harp, and Cello - New age music like that played on You Are the Ocean: Vol. II.
Primordial Splendor - Afro-Brazilian group with two vocalists, flute, saxophone, and five outstanding percussionists. Performance for dancing and listening. Seven-member group.

For bookings, send email to schawkie@schawkieroth.com

Lecture Topics

Music and Healing - Self and others.

Theory and Practice of Chakra Therapy for Self-Healing and Self-Diagnosis - As taught by the late Dr. Haridas Chaudhuri, Founder of the California Institute of Integral Studies of San Francisco. Special Jungian approach.

The Healing Use of Music in Massage Practice

The Origins and History of New Age Music

Spiritual Influences in Jazz and Other Musical Traditions

Attracting Your Guardian Angel or Inner Guide - Special guided visualization for this purpose.

Live Spiritual Poetry Reading with Music - Original poems and other poems with live music for flute, zither, saxophone, clarinet, and vocal toning.