# Ethereal — Mood

> Otherworldly, transcendent, beyond physical. Floating, spacious, mystical.

## Defining elements

- Major or modal (often suspended)
- Slow tempo (60-90 BPM)
- Heavy reverb
- Sustained notes
- Choral / atmospheric textures

## Sub-types

### Choral ethereal
- Choir-based
- Examples: Eric Whitacre, Ola Gjeilo

### Ambient ethereal
- Texture without melody
- Examples: Brian Eno "Music for Airports"

### New age ethereal
- Crystal bells, flute, water
- Examples: Enya, Loreena McKennitt

### Cinematic ethereal
- Film score "magic" moments
- Examples: Hildur Guðnadóttir, Ludovico Einaudi

### Religious / spiritual
- Sacred music
- Gregorian chant
- Sufi music (whirling)

## Instrumentation suggestions

- Choir (or choir-like vocals layered)
- Soft strings (sustained)
- Bells / glockenspiel
- Piano (sustain pedal heavy)
- Synth pads (atmospheric)
- Celtic harp
- Flute / ney
- Singing bowls

## Vocal style

- Soaring, sustained
- Female soprano often
- Multi-tracked harmonies (8-16 layers)
- "Aaah" / "Ohh" wordless vocals
- Falsetto male
- Whisper-singing

## Lyrics direction

- Spiritual themes
- Light, sky, eternity
- Transcendence
- Often few words
- Universal themes
- Abstract beauty

## For Suno

```
[Style: ethereal cinematic, 70 BPM, C major with suspended chords, 
heavy reverb on all elements, soft strings sustained + piano with sustain 
pedal + bells + ambient pads, female soprano vocals soaring with multi-
tracked choir-like harmonies, transcendent atmosphere]
```

## Avoid

- Aggressive percussion
- Heavy distortion
- Fast tempo
- Sharp dynamics
- Worldly / mundane lyrics
- Dry production

## Examples (reference)

- "Sleep" — Eric Whitacre
- "Adagio for Strings" — Samuel Barber
- "Spiegel im Spiegel" — Arvo Pärt
- "Arrival of the Birds" — The Cinematic Orchestra
- "The Host of Seraphim" — Dead Can Dance
- "Music for Airports" — Brian Eno
- Mugham vocal extended sections (Azerbaijani ethereal)

## Cultural variants

- Western ethereal: choir + strings
- Sufi ethereal: ney + zikr (chanting)
- Indian ethereal: tabla + sitar (slow ragas)
- Azerbaijani ethereal: extended mugham vocal lines
- Christian liturgical: Gregorian chant tradition
