18 Original Songs for Solo Piano by Eric Thor Karlstrom
1. The River
3:23
2. Fern Glen
2:20
3. Minstrel’s Dream
2:16
4. The Storm
2:43
5. The Refuge
3:59
6. The Clearing
4:18
7. The Rainbow
2:32
8. Elves’ Chasm
2:06
9. Rock and Sky
1:29
10. The Fall
3:09
11. Wyoming Waltz
2:53
12. Winds of Fire
3:13
13. Angel’s Lament
2:49
14. Tears From the Land of the Snows
4:54
15. Flight of the Mountain Eagle
2:16
16. The Ancient Forest
4:02
17. Lake Song
2:57
18. The Path
2:36
The River features 18 original piano songs that are used in the movie “An Awakening Journey: Songs and Voices from the Earth”. So this CD is an excellent companion piece to the movie. I composed these songs in the 80’s and 90’s and recorded them in 1997 and 1998 on a $90,000 10-foot, Bosendorfer Concert Grand piano. It felt like riding Secretariat! What power! What sound! People of all ages find this music beautiful, relaxing, and inspiring and have been known to play it over and over again, non-stop, all day. My sister’s 5th grade class has been asking that she play it for them every day. Recently, they all wrote me letters saying how much they love the music. One girl wrote: “We usually hate soft music but we really love your music. Please send CDs so we can buy it!” Studies have shown that classical music can make people smarter. I hope my music will too! Because it’s both peaceful and powerful, this music seems to help people relax and focus. When we focus our minds, we’re all geniuses in our own ways.
As a college professor who loves music, mountains, and meditation, I chose nature themes for most of the titles. Most people can relate to nature’s peace and power, but the music also stands by itself and I hope listeners will enjoy whatever feelings or images the music evokes for them. This CD makes an excellent gift to friends and loved ones. Happy listening!
