"Meditation" (originally "Meditacao") is a bossa nova composition by Antonio Carlos Jobim with lyrics by Newton Mendonca. The piece first appeared on Jobim's 1967 album Wave, where it was presented as an instrumental featuring piano, flute, and light percussion in an arrangement by Claus Ogerman that incorporated lush string sections. The melody is lyrical and gently flowing, evoking introspection and quiet longing through phrases that unfold with an unhurried, contemplative quality. Its harmony reflects Jobim's signature style of rich chord extensions and subtle modulations that draw on both jazz vocabulary and the influence of French impressionist composers like Debussy and Ravel. The composition emerged during a period when Jobim was moving beyond the core bossa nova sound toward a more expansive, classically inflected approach, blending Brazilian rhythms with cinematic orchestration. Within Jobim's extensive catalog, which includes such widely known pieces as "The Girl from Ipanema," "Wave," and "Desafinado," "Meditation" occupies a respected place as one of his introspective, mood-driven works. The tune has been widely adopted by jazz musicians as a vehicle for improvisation, with interpretations by artists including Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Toots Thielemans appearing on tribute recordings. It continues to be a staple of the bossa nova and jazz repertoire, valued for its melodic beauty and harmonic sophistication.
