Tailspin - New Year Music

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For many years, the Mother ushered in the New Year for the residents of the Ashram by reading out an inspirational message and improvising on a reed organ. Later, she switched to an electric organ.

In 1964, the Mother asked Sunil to compose and record the music that would be played on New Year's Day of 1965. Thereafter he continued to compose and record the music under her guidance. While she was able, she played something for him on his birthday, Nov 3, which he generally used as the starting point and inspiration of the music. Closer to the New Year, she would give him a recorded copy of her message around which he composed the first part of the music.  The music was recorded before New Year's Day and previewed by her. On New Year's Day, it was played through a PA system in the Ashram courtyard. Sunil continued to compose music for New Year's Day after the Mother's passing.

Originally the gathering in the Ashram courtyard consisted of residents of the Ashram and a few guests. But over the years the crowd of people who wanted to begin the new year with this music and meditating in the Ashram environs grew, spilling over into the courtyard of the International Center of Education across the street from the Ashram, and even to the roads around the Ashram main building.