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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. |
