PHILLIP SCHROEDER (composer) and JERI-MAE G. ASTOLFI (pianist)

Music for Piano

Capstone Records (2005)

Review by Bill Binkelman

This the second album of Phillip Schroeder's compositions (as performed by other musicians) that I've reviewed, the first being the outstanding all rivers at once. Whereas that recording featured more than just piano, this one is all solo piano played with skill, grace, charm, and utmost control of nuance and subtlety by Jeri-Mae G. Astolfi. This CD is full of haunting delicate reflective music, much like the pieces on all rivers at once, however since this is solo instrumental, it offers even more of an open canvas for the listener to paint on when it comes to evoking whatever his/her reaction will be. There are occasional outbursts of energy, such as the eleventh movement of "Twelve Pieces for Piano" which explodes with power and passion, but most of what is contained on the just mentioned track, as well as "No Reason Why," "Floating," "From the Shadows of Angels" (which was also featured on all rivers at once) and "Moons" is subdued, minimal, and asks more questions than it answers.

Schroeder's music is as concerned with space between notes as notes themselves (perhaps even more), so don't come here looking for Robin Spielberg or David Lanz's lush romanticism or rolling cheerfulness. In fact, these selections make some of George Winston's compositions sound positively uptempo and lively. Ideally suited for very late evening listening, or perhaps grey afternoons in late fall, Music for Piano is the type of music that asks, ever so gently, for your attention and your patience. It unwinds slowly, wending its way ambiguously through a sepia-tinted landscape of forgotten places, remembered people, dreams abandoned and hopes crushed. Yet the spirit survives and even perseveres despite the obstacles fate throws in its way through the simple yet deep music which speaks of the depth of the human soul.

The brevity of some selections contained in "Twelve Pieces for Piano" may take some getting used to (one movement is only 35 seconds long) but the gradual passage from one selection to the other takes place almost transparently, even when the mood shifts between selections. The twinkling opening of the second piece, like sunlight glistening off of a lake, yields to the sing-song back-and-forth lower register refrain with sparse upper register accompaniment of the next piece, while the fourth piece playfully skitters up and down the keyboard with child-like wonder and innocence for those scant 35 seconds.

"No Reason Why" is a somewhat melancholic yet surprisingly adroit eight minute piece, with delicate interplay between upper and lower registers. "Floating" begins with stark powerful upper chords, tinted with dissonance and contrasting deep rumbling lower notes (almost drone like in characteristic). The track continues to keep the listener off-balance, with music that hints at foreboding and menace, despite the new age "friendliness" of its title. The album concludes with the four-part "Moons" ("New," "First," "Full," and "Last") progressing from the lively opening refrain on "New" which contains a sparkling series of notes that reverberate cheerfully, to the quasi-romantic pirouetting strains of "Last."

It goes without saying that Music for Piano will be most appreciated by fans of contemporary classical minimalism. New age piano music lovers may find themselves wondering where the melodies are. They're there, albeit usually as refrains or repeated notes or musical phrases, indistinct sketches instead of the lush landscapes that new age music lovers are used to hearing. I don't know whether those who enjoy Harold Budd, Brian Eno, or James Johnson will like this CD or not, since it's not as ambient as the work of those artists. Stangely, it's more minimal than ambient to my ears, and as a result it requires more attention to really "get" it. Playing it in the background would be akin to lighting incense in an open field - every now and then you'd get a whiff of it but that's about it. In the case of Music for Piano, do yourself a favor and light this incense in a quiet room with no distractions and breathe in its simple unadorned beauty. Hopefully, you will feel as refreshed as I do whenever I play this.