David Lanz - easy on the ears
Written: Dec 24 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: These selections are some of my favorite David Lanz' pieces.
Cons: Doesn't contain 'Cristofori's Dream' - another great song by David Lanz.
The Bottom Line: Beautiful piano music, easy to listen to, even more wonderful to play.
|
|
|
| pansy4agirl's Full Review: The David Lanz Collection: New Age Piano Solos |
Listening to the music of David Lanz is almost hypnotic, always soothing, intriguing, and inspiring. I have enjoyed his music for a long time, and being a piano teacher, have had the joy and immense pleasure of hearing his pieces played by many.
You might hear his music played in department stores as background, but it is not "Muzak" type music - His music just lends itself to the "easy-listening" genre, and makes beautiful background music to many things.
In this book, my favorite pieces are "Under the Waterfall" and "Return to the Heart" - I wish somehow you could hear them right now...
I think one of the best things a student of mine could say about a musical selection and the musician who wrote it, was that after he memorized "Under the Waterfall", he played it on a piano set up outside a music store in a mall, and an entire group of people gathered around, applauded him vigorously, then five people proceeded to purchase a piano!" (In fact, he went on to work at that same music store for three years, and played David Lanz pieces almost nonstop in the mall walkway, being honored as "best salesman" his first year, and every year thereafter.)
David Lanz' piano pieces are "medium" difficulty - not impossible, but somewhat challenging. It is a good idea to listen to the piece on tape or CD, to get an idea of how it sounds, and to hear the emotion and feeling he portrays through his music.
"Dream of Forgotten Child" is a hauntingly beautiful, sweet melody - one of those melodies that gets into your head and won't leave...you will be humming it long after hearing it...
The songs are wonderful to memorize, and once the rhythm is mastered, and the notes learned, the melody and warmth of the music almost take on their own direction - it is easy to become immersed in the tones and lilting melodies.
There are some "darker" pieces in this book as well, along with quick light songs - the scope of moods is mostly upbeat, but with at least two songs that are softer, deeper, that awaken more emotion when you hear them.
A complete listing of the songs included:
*Behind the Waterfall/Desert Rain Medley
*Coronet Chop Suey
*Dancing on the Wall
*Dark Horse
*Dream of Forgotten Child
*Escapades of Pan
*Firedance
*Free Fall
*Madre de la Tierra
*Prelude to the Dance
*Return to the Heart
*The Setting of Two Suns
*Vesuvius
*Wings to Altair
If you are a piano player, I highly recommend adding this book to your library - work through the pieces until you find one that you love - there will be several, I am sure - then play it until you become familiar enough to close your eyes and let the music carry you...it is an almost hypnotic experience.
If you do not play piano, I encourage you to get David Lanz on tape or cd - his music is beautiful, and you will enjoy listening to it anywhere. You would probably find it with "New Age" music, by Narada. It is one of the best piano instrumentals I have ever heard.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
pansy4agirl
|
|
Location: warm and sunny Arizona
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
Life is an adventure....not a guided tour
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.