“After the first month of airplay, WOODLAND MOONS is in the #2 spot on the global Zone Music Reporter Top 100 Radio AirPlay Chart for September. “
New Age-World Instrumental Debut Album! Marcia Watson Bendo - “Woodland Moons’’
Marcia Watson Bendo is a multi-talented artist that is accomplished in many disciplines including the violin and a large selection of Native American Flutes. Picking up a woodwind changed her life and her music. Woodland Moons is her tribute to that instrument. In her own words, the artist explains what her music stands for…. “I strive to artistically create music that resonates with people by expressing an emotion, an image, a story, or reviving a memory.”
This Wonderful Native flute premier debut album “Woodland Moons” truly sets Marcia’s delightful playing apart from all the others, the plethora of instruments she plays on this marvellous release…is just something very special - the perfect introduction to a new talent you’ll be hearing much more from in the future…
Take a musical journey into the heart of the night on “Woodland Moons”, Let Marcia’s lilting flute melodies, enhanced with piano, superb orchestrations, and gentle rhythms, whisk you away, dissolving your cares from the day's stress. Featuring flawless mixing and mastering by the renowned Trammell Starks. Marcia’s music gives the listener a sense of “connection” that many other players just can’t realize, no matter how much musical education or experience they may have, and the songs she has created here are as rich in diversity as possible… one of the best examples of that broad range is the “heavy” sounds you might expect with a tune titled “Big Bear Moon“… it’s not hard (at all) to imagine woodland encounters with a lumbering, furry creature… and yet, there’s a gentleness about the piece that makes it very attractive for the long term… this one will be getting a lot of replays – I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find this composition being nominated for and winning an award. Of the 12 aural adventures Marcia offers up, her mastery at “weaving” various instruments into a full-blown orchestral experience makes her stand apart most enchantingly and this musical maestro has delivered a very delightful debut album indeed, you’ll want to hear this album…more & more.
The impressions of classical music came at an early age for multi-instrumentalist Marcia Watson Bendo. The vibrations of strings and the air movement of woodwinds caught her attention and she decided that music would be an important part of her life. That and maybe being a scientist. At age seven it was 88 keys, and through the years, violin, the clarinet, and the Native American flute. Recently she learned to play the harp. It is that never ending curiosity and desire to learn that has inspired her continued pursuit of a long career in the music industry.
Marcia’s formative years were spent playing the violin, during which she performed with the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra, The Tulsa Opera, and The Tulsa Ballet strengthening her classical roots. She went on to perform with notables such as Sammy Davis Jr., Doc Severinsen, and Ella Fitzgerald and with conductors Skitch Henderson and Arthur Fiedler. She continued her career as a free-lance violinist playing with Tom Jones, Don Williams, and she appeared in an Osmond Productions concert on HBO television.
Bendo picked up the Native American flute in 2011 and her career changed. She began composing for the flute and piano, honed her recording skills, and composed an album called Woodland Moons that featured flutes accompanied by light orchestral elements.
Marcia lives each day to focus on her music. Her joy in the journey, She gauges her success not on celebrity, but in the potential exchange with her listeners. It is the little things that she appreciates; learning new material and breathing life into her music. Her current music embraces several genres such as classical, traditional folk and World genres with unique instrumental textures not typically heard in Native American Flute recordings. What gives her the most pleasure is connecting with her listeners on many levels, both musically and spiritually. She has many goals for her music, but on a personal level, she believes it’s important to be informed about evolving issues affecting the music industry, artists, and creators. She hopes that the technology which allows people to create, record, share, and collaborate with others worldwide will retain the human element in its evolution.
Marcia Watson Bendo has delivered a gem of a debut album, it culminates a career in music perfecting her craft with some of the biggest names in the music industry…now showcasing her many unique talents with the world.
We really hope that Marcia continues this journey…the world now has a new, very bright musical star! PhaseGlobalRadio.com proudly presents Marcia Watson Bendo and her debut album Woodland Moons, it’s now available via the links below.
New Review by Phase Global Radio. Re-posted. Archive is here.
Marcia has been awarded 2 “Silver Medals” by the Global Music Awards ("Debut Album" and "New Age | Native American Album"). These awards were judged by a panel of twelve people. For more info visit: GlobalMusicAwards.com Review by BT Fasmer. Direct link to Review. Reposted courtesy of NewAgeMusic Guide. Take a musical journey into the heart of the night on “Woodland Moons”, the premier album from Native flutist/multi-instrumentalist Marcia Watson Bendo. The title, “Woodland Moons” was inspired by the lunar cycle and full moon names of the indigenous Northeastern Woodlands people of North America. The full moon names vary across geographic areas and symbolize a seasonal event or activity during that moon cycle. About the artist The impressions of classical music came at an early age for multi-instrumentalist Marcia Watson Bendo. The vibrations of strings and the air movement of woodwinds caught her attention and she decided that music would be an important part of her life. That and maybe being a scientist. At age seven it was 88 keys, and through the years, violin, the clarinet, and the Native American flute. Recently she learned to play the harp. It is that never ending curiosity and desire to learn that has inspired her continued pursuit of a long career in the music industry. Marcia’s formative years were spent playing the violin, during which she performed with the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra, The Tulsa Opera, and The Tulsa Ballet strengthening her classical roots. She went on to perform with notables such as Sammy Davis Jr., Doc Severinsen, and Ella Fitzgerald and with conductors Skitch Henderson and Arthur Fiedler. She continued her career as a free-lance violinist playing with Tom Jones, Don Williams, and she appeared in an Osmond Productions concert on HBO television. During this time, her professional career followed a tangent in psychology and law. She earned degrees in law and a Ph.D. in psychology. It is a certainty that her experiences influenced her future vocation, i.e. communicating with people with her music on an emotional level. Bendo picked up the Native American flute in 2011 and her career changed. She began composing for the flute and piano, honed her recording skills, and composed an album called Woodland Moons that featured flutes accompanied by light orchestral elements. Currently retired and living in Plano, Texas with her husband, Marcia lives each day to focus on her music. Her joy is in the journey. She gages her success not on celebrity, but in the potential exchange with her listeners. It is the little things that she appreciates; learning new material and breathing life into her music. Her current music embraces several genres such as classical, traditional folk and World genres with unique instrumental textures not typically heard in Native American Flute recordings. What gives her the most pleasure is connecting with her listeners on many levels, both musically and spiritually. She has many goals for her music, but on a personal level, she believes it’s important to be informed about evolving issues affecting the music industry, artists, and creators. She hopes that the technology which allows people to create, record, share, and collaborate with others worldwide will retain the human element in its evolution.
Of her music Marcia Watson Bendo says, “I strive to artistically create music that resonates with people by expressing an emotion, an image, a story, or reviving a memory. I enjoy exploring the melodic nuances and musical diversity of the native flutes with tenderness, poignancy, energy, and whimsy. It’s my hope that listeners will experience the qualities I love to convey with all the instruments and connect emotionally with my music.” Review by Dick Metcalf / Editor c/o Contemporary Fusion Reviews. Direct Link to Review Reposted courtesy of Dick Metcalf Marvelous Native flute premier album Marcia Watson Bendo – Woodland MoonsMarvelous Native flute premier album Marcia Watson Bendo – WOODLAND MOONS: What truly sets Marcia’s wonderful playing apart from all the others is the plethora of instruments she plays on her marvelous debut release… the highly engaging visuals in her trailer video are the perfect introduction to a new talent you’ll be hearing much more from in the future… …though you won’t find a lot of videos on her channel, be sure to subscribe on YouTube – because I anticipate seeing a lot more of her enchanting songs posted there soon! The promo sheet says that her “joy is in the journey“, and as you listen to the unique percussion and lush strings she has woven into the 6:08 “Forest Moon“, you’ll easily feel the elation she projects through her sensitive playing… she also plays piano on the album (she’s a “true” multi-instrumentalist), and the percussion provided by Rafael Pereira makes the magic come alive (particularly during the intro to the song). Though simple in structure, this is one of the lushest compositions I’ve listened to (yet) in 2018. Marcia’s music gives the listener a sense of “connection” that many other players just can’t realize, no matter how much musical education or experience they may have, and the songs she has created here are as rich in diversity as possible… one of the best examples of that broad range is the “heavy” sounds you might expect with a tune titled “Big Bear Moon“… it’s not hard (at all) to imagine woodland encounters with a lumbering, furry creature… and yet, there’s a gentleness about the piece that makes it very attractive for the long term… this one will be getting a lot of replays – I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find this composition being nominated for (and WINNING) an award! Of the dozen aural adventures Marcia offers up, it is (without a doubt) the intricacy and “down-home” feeling realized on “Maple Sugar Moon” that made it my personal favorite… once again, her mastery at “weaving” various instruments into a full-blown orchestral experience makes her stand apart most enchantingly.
I give Marcia a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99 for this sonic textural wonder! Get more information on Marcia’s website. By Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck - August 13, 2018 Reposted by Permission. Direct Link to Review I love it when I am able to read about an artist and all their amazing accomplishments. It gets everything into proper perspective before listening. Then writing about what I heard becomes more meaningful.
Marcia Watson Bendo is a multi-talented artist that is accomplished in many disciplines including the violin and a large selection of Native American Flutes. Picking up a woodwind changed her life and her music. Woodland Moons is her tribute to that instrument. In her own words, the artist explains what her music stands for…. “I strive to artistically create music that resonates with people by expressing an emotion, an image, a story, or reviving a memory.” From where I sit, that wraps it all up in a nice package and puts a bow on it. This type of music has a magical and mystical essence that cannot be compared to any other genre that is within my realm. I know there is a lot to choose from in the globally connected world we live in, so the choices are made by personal tastes and or a drive for exploration. Back when I was a young teenager I would buy albums out of curiosity. I have not lost that part of my decision-making process I just refined it over the years a bit. In any instance, I would not hesitate to listen to music like what Woodland Moons has to offer. The feeling of discovering something new and stimulating consumed me with this album. “Berry Moon” for instance, takes the flute and builds all the other instruments around it. The flute playing still stands out however the other music just enhances the entire track. The instrumentations and orchestrations are beautifully done and arranged. This track, in particular, illustrates the pliability of one instrument wrapping itself around everything else to create a bigger sound that reaches the listener. As I always say, it comes across differently for each individual yet it remains universal with no borders. That is the beauty and perfection of music and the one element that will never change. I am very grateful for that. Even though each song is about a different moon, it most certainly works because of the thought process the artist goes through. We do have many moons that we see in our sky, however, looking at the varying degrees presented here gives it an entirely new flavor. This interpretation is related to nature and our precious mother earth and all it has to offer us. Also, this may serve as a reminder of how we need to take care of our planet and appreciate how it sustains all life. Woodland Moons is twelve tracks of musical bliss that will serve every listener well. I highly recommend it for relaxing, meditation and for getting a spiritual connection. You can get a greater respect for your inner voice and purpose. If you listen enough, you will honor that inner voice and thank the music for bringing you to that realization. MARCIA WATSON BENDO, Woodland Moons - Jonathan WidranDiscovering an exciting new Native American flute artist like Marcia Watson Bendo reminds me just how long I’ve had a passion for her chosen genre. In the 90’s, when I was first getting into and writing about new age and world music, I loved the dual albums by pianist Peter Kater and flutist R. Carlos Nakai, and remember being enthralled by a performance by another great of the time, Douglas Spotted Eagle, at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival. In recent years, I have been a fan of artists like Ann Licater, and have used the beautiful sounds I hear on Pandora’s Indian Flute Radio for relaxation for me and a beloved pet. One can enjoy that station for hours, but the general vibe is a flute, a bit of percussion and perhaps one other instrument, in simple sparse arrangements. Beyond the inspiring beauty of the 12 deeply heartfelt compositions on her soul stirring debut album Woodland Moons, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Marcia’s epic work is that she has created a true Native flute symphony, complete with vibrant, sweeping string orchestrations and a (delightfully!) dizzying array of sonic textures, including harp, celesta, piano, vibraphone and cello. It’s incredible to note that she generates all these sounds herself, backed only by Brazilian-born percussionist Rafael Pereira, who adds Marcia to a multi-genre resume that includes Janelle Monae, India.Arie, Shawn Mullins and Sonny Emory. The recording was mixed and mastered by Trammell Starks, a renowned arranger, orchestrator and new age artist in his own right, who brought extra magic and sparkle to Marcia's vision. Marcia’s orchestral talents are rooted in her background studying classical music and playing violin with the Tulsa Philharmonic, the Tulsa Opera, the Tulsa ballet and legends like Sammy Davis, Jr., Doc Severinsen, Ella Fitzgerald and conductors Skitch Henderson and Arthur Fielder. For fans of Native American flute, Marcia’s emotionally transporting journey of musical discovery can be enjoyed as a multi-faceted rhythmic and sonic experience like no other. Yet to fully understand her passion for this project and appreciate her mastery as a storyteller, a little background is essential. The music on Woodland Moons was inspired by the 12 full moon names (one for each month) of the North American Woodland indigenous people, the Anishinabe. One of their tribes, the Potawatomi, historically inhabited regions of North America, from the Upper Great Lakes to Marcia’s native Oklahoma. She has been an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) since she was a child; her great grandmother and her family were settled on allotments in Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Though she wasn’t raised in the culture or traditions, as an adult she developed a strong interest in them. Over the past 12 years, Marcia has participated in their cultural events (festivals, workshops, lessons), and she’s played the flute (which, incredibly, she first picked up in 2011) for the past seven years at the Potawatomi Cultural Heritage Center during the annual CPN festival. She was inspired to create Woodland Moons after participating in several full moon ceremonies and learning about the significance of each full moon. With melodic grace (fashioned on flute and piano), sweet sensitivity, easy flowing rhythmic energy and strings that function equally as caressing harmony and lead voice of its own, Marcia fashions an impressionistic soundscape based on how each moon determines the tribe’s activities at different times of the year. The mood of the music and the journey it takes us on reflects the story being shared. For instance, the gently somber dreaminess of the opening track “Fallen Leaves Moon” reflects the shorter days of the approaching winter. Conveying a completely opposite feeling months later (though it is placed as track 2), “Planting Moon” is bright, playful and whimsical, full of bustling activity to convey the busy planting of corn, beans, squash and “sacred” tobacco. Also of symbolic good cheer is “Strawberry Moon,” whose elegant flute and piano and swelling strings express the gathering of the “heart berries” gathered in early summer. The mystical and soulful, harp and chimes-laced ballad “Forest Moon” prepares our bodies and hearts for fall, its slow waltzy vibe enhanced by the scampering footsteps of the creatures therein. You get the idea driving every fascinating moment. Each mood, each melody, each sonic detail and motif takes us to a different moment on the Potawatomi calendar, from the “Yellow Leaves Moon” of autumn to the “Snow Moon” in the dead of winter when everyone stayed inside and the elders told stories. Complementing the direct references to months and seasons are two bear related pieces, the adventurous, mystery-building (via a bassoon sound!) “Big Bear Moon,” where they’re seeking hibernation, and “Little Bear Moon,” a charming piece of childlike innocence conveying the birth of young cubs and the wonder they must experience during these months. Marcia Bendo Watson is a fresh, wondrous presence on the new age/neo-classical/Native flute scene – and I predict that works like Woodland Moons will lead her at some point to share this music in a grand, multi-media setting featuring full orchestra, photos and videos and interpretive dancing. We are excited to announce that "Woodland Moons" will be released on August 17th, 2018. You may pre-order from Amazon.com now.
Excited to announce that my CD, "Woodland Moons" is about done. I've been working with famed producer and engineer, Trammell Starks and we are putting the finishing touches on it. Here is a little sample, posted by Trammell on facebook from his studio (Studio Magic) in Atlanta, GA.
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