(新世纪音乐)(Happy Valentine's Day)(心灵钢琴)George Skaroulis - Second Nature(2003)

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Artist : George SkaroulisAlbum : Second Nature[img]

[/img]Year : 2003Genre : Instrumental, PianoFormat : apeDescription: "Second Nature" is quite simply one of the most beautiful recordings I've ever heard. George Skaroulis' piano music is effortless, full of grace, and emotionally uplifting without any sticky sweetness or pretension. One senses a very giving and gentle soul behind the music, making the album all the more likable. "Soothing" and "relaxing" are words that are used to describe so many albums in this genre (most of them, actually!), but peace and tranquility emanate from each piece - although several are dark and moody (I like that!!!). This is a collection of twenty-one pieces that would be a wonderfulmore… backdrop for almost any activity, but I found myself stopping to listen more carefully each of the ten or twelve times I've played it (so far! - this one ain't gonna collect dust on the shelf!). As a piano teacher, I listen to piano music for a living; and as a reviewer, I listen to piano music in most of my free time. It takes a lot to knock me out, and "Second Nature" has done it. Skaroulis' music is immediately accessible without any commercialism. He expresses his deepest emotions without manipulating listeners or hitting them over the head with the obvious.Along with his original compositions, Skaroulis has included a beautiful vocal/piano arrangement of "The Water Is Wide." Vocal selections on a mostly-instrumental album can be annoying, but this one fits in beautifully. He has also included poignant arrangements of two of Mark Isham's movie themes - "A River Runs Through It" and "Mrs. Soffel". And then there are the originals. There are too many favorites to name them all, but I'll try to give you a sampling. The title track is stunning - bittersweet, full of longing, and yet flowing like a river. "Reflection" is a shimmering vignette at under two minutes in length, but the openness of the emotions expressed make it a standout. "Aqua Clara" takes a different approach than the other pieces, and has lyrics spoken in Italian. More orchestrated and rhythmic than most of the other tracks, the piano, strings, and voices convey a wide range of emotions. A mysterious piece, Paul Mercer's violin adds a dark and haunting quality. "Cold Morning Shadow" was co-written with Mercer; keyboards support Mercer's sorrowful viola, melting into the ambient "Awakening." The CD closes with a reprise of "Aqua Clara" that is simple, elegant, and very sad."Second Nature" is nothing short of amazing. I could go on for days, but give yourself a treat! I can't imagine that anyone would be disappointed in this CD unless they were looking for rap or maybe a polka record. Great stuff! I give it my highest recommendation.Tracklist:01. Resting Place 02. Spacious Skies 03. The Dance of Time 04. Water is Wide05. Colorado 06. Reflection 07. Seaside 08. Sunset 09. Aqua Clara 10. Laughter in the Garden 11. Second Nature 12. A River Runs Through It 13. Mrs. Soffel 14. Falling Leaves 15. Cold Morning Shadow 16. Awakening 17. Rainforest 18. Bella Luna 19. Little Star 20. I Can Fly 21. Aqua Clara (reprise) ......George Skaroulis是一位自学成才的艺术家，迄今一共出版发行了8张个人专辑，其优美的琴声打动了无数乐迷和乐评人。在亚玛逊网站十分罕见的将其所有音乐专辑均给予5星的极高评价和推荐。..................................................试听地址:https://bbs.qianqian.com/viewthread.php?tid=384134载点:

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[ 本帖最后由 kuang2233 于 2009-2-23 15:31 编辑 ]