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Dutch composer Silvard released this
great CD in 1995. It features piano as
the dominant instrument, and is fully
orchestrated. There are nine tracks, and
all bar one are originals. The CD runs
to just over forty minutes in length.
It opens with the beautiful
"Ecstasy"- a track composed for the
wedding of Silvard's brother. This piece
is full of optimism and has a
celebratory feel to it. As with all the
tracks featured on this CD, the melody
is very catchy, and it makes for a
strong start to the disc.
However, this is not just a one hit CD;
this disc is full of highlights from
start to finish.
The second track, "Voices in
the Wind", has a haunting and
fairly sombre feel to it,
although it is very beautiful.
The tempo begins very slowly,
and soon the female voice of
Sophia Roberts can be heard with
wordless vocals. I don't
normally like this sort of
intrusion, but it works very
well on this track, especially
with the lovely accompaniment of
Mary Alice McCann on cello. As
the piece develops, the tempo
increases and becomes more
positive in nature.
"Resolution" has a
gorgeous melody, and a
nice rhythmic feel to
it. Again, the cello
makes an appearance and
combines to great effect
with Silvard's
impressive piano
playing. I really enjoy
listening to this piece.
"Honshu Sunrise"
definitely has a
Japanese feel to it, and
features a beautiful,
gentle melody to capture
one of nature's wonders.
I'm impressed with the
versatility of the
composer, as a range of
themes can be heard on
this CD.
The fifth track on
this CD is the only
non-original piece. "Romanza"
(composer unknown) will
be instantly
recognisable to many
listeners, but Silvard's
working of this piece
gives it an extra
quality, and it really
is a highlight of the
CD.
"Ocean Voyage" is
dedicated to Silvard's
mother, who sadly passed
away in 1992.
Surprisingly upbeat,
this suggests to me the
piece is a celebration
of her life as opposed
to a mournful,
reflective piece. It is
a lovely piece to which
to listen.
The seventh track, "Part Ti"
(dedicated to Maria) is yet
another highly-melodic piece on
this CD. This again features
various accompanying
instruments, which enhance the
soaring melody.
"Heartfelt" is the
penultimate track on the disc.
As with all the pieces on this
CD, this is upbeat, and has a
catchy tune. This is "feel-good"
music. The addition of Tim
Gilmore on drums is quite
prominent on this track, but
they in no way detract away from
the piano, which remains the key
instrument all through the disc.
In many ways, although the music
is definitely uplifting, it also
has a relaxing feel to it as
well.
My
undoubted favourite track on the
CD is the final offering-
"Rainstorm". This is also the
lengthiest track on the disc,
clocking in at nearly seven
minutes. It begins slowly, but
the listener will be under no
illusions- this is definitely
the calm before the storm. Soon,
the rain does indeed arrive, but
the pianist never loses the
structure of the piece, and it
remains a controlled opening of
the heavens! I particularly
enjoyed Silvard's use of
glissando to symbolise the rain
falling. This track
is full of energy and
vivaciousness.
The track fades out gradually,
to reflect the ending of the
storm. I never tire of this
track, and it is a real
highlight for me.
I am
very impressed with "Picture of
Time". It remains consistently
strong throughout, and makes for
a very pleasurable listening
experience. Beautiful
melodies envelop the disc from
start to finish, and the the
orchestration really enhances
the beauty of the piano playing.
What also makes this CD so
original and interesting, is the
variety of the music contained
within the disc. One minute, one
is meditating to the Japanese
sounding Honshu Sunrise, the
next, one is swept away by a
rainstorm!
Also worthy of mention is the
fascinating cover-art (right): a
painting by John Stevens. I
notice something different every
time I look at it. It is very
M.C. Escher in style. To Silvard,
it had an instant appeal as he
felt in captured the key moments
in his life. In the notes, he
says it was "love at first
sight... Not only is it a
beautiful painting, it also
depicts the different phases and
aspects of my life: the harbour
scene reminds me of my
birth-place- The Hague. The
harpsichord symbolises the role
of the piano in my life, the
ships sail the ocean in search
of knowledge [Silvard teaches
Biology in Boston]- the shells
were the reason I left my home
country to study marine biology
in the USA, and the different
clocks serve as a reminder that
things are always in a state of
change, and that time connects
all of life's phases. This
painting is truly a picture of
time."
Silvard ("I have seashells in
my blood, and music in my soul")
is clearly a talented composer
and pianist. Having started
taking piano lessons at the age
of ten, he has gone on to
release several albums through
his own website (see bottom)-
and "Around the World in 88
Keys" is due for an imminent
release. I have virtually all
his CDs, and this one is a
stand-out to me. The pieces are
played on a Steinway Grand.
Overall, this is an excellent
CD. Very highly recommended!
S.C.
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