Walzer by Henning Schmiedt by Henning Schmiedt (FLAU, 2015)
“Walzer” is one of masterpieces of Post-classical and today’s piano solo music and I think the representative work of Henning Schmiedt. The songs are so sweet, elegant and precious, also melancholic but bright, cute but rigorous, innocent but nihilistic, significant but familiar. I think it shows the preciousness of our ordinary life.
The fruit of his music career and his life. He splendidly expressed his sense and technic of classical composition, and mixture of various memories and feelings. This album owns a tendency of this orthodox classical compositions, almost songs are three beat and waltz based compositions, but they are not dance music, slow gentle piano pieces. And they own the echo of German music (from Haydn, Beethoven, Wagner, Kraftwerk, NEU!, Andrea Berg to Monika Kruse).
The 2nd track, “Nowhere” expresses the sweetness of the loneliness. The 6th track “Wennschon, Dennschon” is a sweet and cute little waltz piano piece. The 8th track, “Hochzeitslied” must be a piece for weddings. But it has nihilistic feeling as a spice, so it become a so sweet and precious song. 12th track, “Duft von Astern” is a beautiful and delicate sweet piano piece is good for refleshing.
Again, this album is the excellent master-piece of today’s Post-classical piano solo music. I want all music fans to listen to it.
The Monarch and the Viceroy by Carlos Cipa (Denovali Records, 2012)
Carlos Cipa’s debut album in 2012, and masterpiece of contemporary piano solo music and today’s Post-classical or Neo Classical music, by completed grandiose compositions and high skills. High tempo technical piano pieces. The melancholic and pathetic mood is common to all songs of this album. At the same time his songs recall various human emotions. For example, “Perfect Circles” suggests the feeling of new beginning and anxiety, “Monarch and the Viceroy” suggests loneliness and meditation, “Human Stain” suggests will and hope, “Lost and Delirious” suggests desire and lost.
That is to say this album is one of greatest today’s piano solo music. I want all Post-classical music, Classical music and piano solo music fans to listen.
How My Heart Sings by Akira Kosemura (SCHOLE, 2011)
“How My Heart Sings” released in 2011, is the third solo album of Akira Kosemura, the second his piano solo album and the first his full-scale, serious and orthodox classical music style piano solo album. And the title is the same as an album by the Bill Evans Trio released in 1964.
12 tracked album, 8 songs are piano solo pieces. 2 songs are violin and piano duo songs, and the same 2 songs are saxophone and piano duo songs features an experimental saxophonist, Shin Araki.
I think this album is the most representative, excellent and iconic album of Akira Kosemura. Lyrical but highly sophisticated classical compositions were played by clear tone piano courteously, sensitively and wholeheartedly. The mood of this album is sweet, elegant, pure and fragile also melancholic.
One of fruits of Kosemura’s career. It’s the most precious, pure, sweet and beautiful also melancholic and sorrowful but not miserable music. It’s an extra formidable work of today’s Post-classical music. And, I think this is a master-piece of today’s piano solo music. I want everyone to know this album. Please, listen, all Post-classical fans and all piano music lovers…
La chambre claire by Quentin Sirjacq (Brocoli, 2010 / Schole, 2011)
Quentin Sirjacq’s debut album released in 2010, France by Brocoli, in 2011, Japan by Schole (the label is managed by Japanese composer Akira Kosemura).
This album is basically piano solo album, but on few songs a violin, a cello and a vibraphone (or piano tones were changed to like the tone of vibraphone by compressor or some effects.) participated. Also piano solo songs are not completely piano solo, there were piano over dubbings or Dub effects used for some parts of piano play.
Compositions of this album are highly influenced by the Impressionist composers, Debussy especially, and Fauré and Satie, the Romantic composers, such as Chopin and Liszt, close touches and tension notes of Jazz. But the compositions have today’s sophisticated simpleness and light feel.
Piano tones are clear and solid also beautiful. As a whole, in this album, there’s a bright and freshening mood also there’s his mercy.
“Et le nu” is my favourite song of this album. Very brilliant song are consisted by 2 pianos, a violin and a cello (and a vibraphone.) High tempo and bright song has full of the hope. The later part is a minimalist approach arrangement and structure. The part features piano backings ride on long tones of a violin and a cello. I remember the nice sunshine of the spring afternoon in a woods.
“Aux regards familiers” is the piano solo grand work of this album. The combination of Satie’s simpleness and its apathetic melodies and Chopin’s dynamics and complexity.
“Obsession” is slow, gentle and apethetic good song with a violin and a cello.
One of excellent albums of today’s Post-classical music. Please, listen.
The Art of the Piano by Fabrizio Paterlini (p*dis, 2014)
Fabrizio Paterlini’s piano solo album released in 2014. He succeeded in completely establish his original iconic composition and musical style have melancholic and pathetic mood.
The 1st track, “Somehow Familiar” is a bright song for his composition, but it’s minor key. The piano touches are few but he made use of chord plays with a delay effect to the piano well.
“Conversion With Myself” and “Broken” are songs of the iconic and unique compositions own melancholic, sorrowful and deserted mood.
“Wind Song” is a good song features developments of an impressive riff and a passage.
This album is Fabrizio Paterlini’s excellent master-piece in his piano solo works. Please, listen, everyone!
The Bells (Kning Disk / Erased Tapes, 2009)
“The Bells” is Nils Frahm’s early piano solo album. The compositions of this album are deeply influenced by the German and European orthodox Classical Music and Romantic Music. For example Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Schumann and Liszt. Also there are influences of Minimal Music of Steve Reich and Philip Glass and today’s sophisticated pop sense. But the form music of this album is flexible and brand-new.
The compositions have very orthodox, dignified and profound Classical Music tendency. Also he played piano by a Classic trained highly technical piano skill. But in the melodies I felt today’s Pop and contemporary light and sweet mood. Also there are elements of Jazz, he played swinging, dynamically and improvisational, also the harmonies and chord progressions are complex as Jazz, they suggests Pat Metheny of Herbie Hancock.
One of the piano solo masterpieces of Post-classical Music.
Nunu by Nunu (Schole, 2011)
Nunu’s debut album released in 2011. It consist of 7 short piano solo pieces were played by an acoustic piano or an electronic piano (or Casiotone??).
The first track “Wa1c Oo” is . The second, “Hokku” and “Kimidoll” are arpeggio based improvisational and swinging minimal pieces. “Cheburashka” is a simple, melancholic but elegant piano piece. “Chocolat” is simple piano piece has neutral and ordinary mood. “Serce Polska” and “Alb” are plain and easy but wonderfully emotional but pathetic piano pieces. And, all tracks might be recorded by herself, the sound is rough but I feel a handmade touch and a real familiar feeling.
Her compositions and playing are tiny and pity, however strangely beautiful and elegant, own an unbelongingness and a multicultural mood. This album is today’s musical treasure or precious stone. I wish as many people as possible to listen to this.
List of All Music Reviews
Post-classical, New Age, Ambient, Minimal Music, Electronica
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