I'm going to introduce you to what I feel is some of the most beautiful and simple music I have ever experienced. Listeners of classical music will definitely know the name of the Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi, whose work started to become well known around 2000. I said he'll be well known with classical listeners, because Einaudi's gained great popularity on Classic FM, but his musical style can be called a mixture of minimalist, and contemporary classical. His style is simple and repetitive, and one reason I think his work is so wonderful is because anyone of any musical ability can hear the repetition in his pieces, and also the subtle changes which gradually pull you into the rhythm and momentum he loves to portray in his music. Echoes was released in 2003, and is a collection of the best pieces from his other albums. I've given the track titles in thei English translation, so no one gets mixed up! 1. The Waves (Le Onde) Straight away, you can hear the repetitive and rhythmic nature of the piece on solo piano, and this is how Einaudi feels waves are; rhythimic, but with subtle changes each time, and they can be heard in the ever changing but always subtle pitch variations in both hands. This music is great to help you to fall asleep because the underlying rhythms are so strong and hypnotic.
2. African Melody III (Melodia Africana III) This is very similar to Le Onde, such that there is the repetitive nature, which varies slightly and has the ongoing, unrelenting rhythm which allows the piece to keep moving forward. However, because the piece is based on a different tune, there is no danger of boring similarities.
3. Out of the Night (Fuori
dalla Notte) This dark and moody piece is the first element of change on the CD, first the fact that it's a string quartet with the piano over the top. The strings add a raw passion to a more lyrical piano tune, an obvious contrast to the repetitive, hypnotic feel of the first 2 tracks. Hauntingly beautiful.
4. The Days (I Giorni) I don't know why, but this piece doesn't really do anything for me. It's following the rhythmic but with variation theme, but it doesn't have much of an impact as tracks 1 and 2 do. I feel though, this may be due to it's positioning on the CD; the contrasts are too great.
5. The Dark Line (La Linea Scura) It says in the CD insert that this piece is inscribed the sea, and I feel that you get a sense of it as soon as the piano keys make a sound. Einaudi plays on the solo piano, a flowing repeated bit, which to me reflects the wave, and a simple yet beautiful melody over the top. Once again the theme of slight variations features. It's a very calming piece, I'm picturing the sea lapping against the shore at sunset…
6. Eden Roc Now Classic FM listeners will instantly recognise this piece, because the opening of it is used in some commercials on the air. This is one of my favourite pieces, mainly because it's so different. It features a bright sounding acoustic guitar which is the background, then a solo piano line over the top, which is then taken over by strings, and the strings and instruments swap roles. It's an uplifting piece, it will make you feel good :o).
7. Nefeli This is one of Einaudi's most famous pieces. It incorporates everything which is his style; almost like the concentrated elements. He wrote this piece for a cheerful little girl he met in Greece, so this piece seems to have more emotions and more colours; the piano parts of this solo piece have more life and seem busier. If you want to experience Einaudi for the first time, listen to this!
8 . Tonight ( Questa Notte) This piece is meant to represent romance and love, with 'the promise of something big happening in a relationship'. I feel this is portrayed perfectly; it has suspense and lots of emotion, which is then built up, again with the simple tune and backing 'riff' which vary ever so slightly but still show a million different colours.
9. Two Sunsets (Due Tramonti) I like the fact that so much of Einaudi's music is linked to people, or experiences in his life; I think it gives the pieces so much more emotions and depth. This piece is no exception. It's solo piano and cello played amazingly simply but I think it is soul stirring stuff. It truly is beautiful. It's relaxing and gentle to listen to, and is very smooth.
10. Calm (Calmo) Must say, the first thing I think of when I hear this piece is that it should be played in a meditation room, or at a spa when you go into the reception area. To put it another way- it really is a very calming piece! It's a solo harp piece and has lots of space in it. It doesn't really have a tune, just calming sound. It could almost be a lullaby to lull a baby.
11. Passage (Passaggio) This piece is very important to me, mainly because it's the first Einaudi piece I learnt to play! Hehe, must say, that for those of you who may have played Einaudi's music, you get to really feel how the repetition simply adds to piece, rather than make it sound boring. The recurring theme of waves and the sea occurs here and it can be heard in the momentum of the left hand part, with the theme tune over the top which is repeated in subtle little ways.
12. Beautiful Night (Bella Notte) The reason this piece doesn't occur as being one of my favourite pieces is due to the introduction. I just don't like- it doesn't fit with Einaudi's style and so for me sounds a bi alien to the rest of the music. Though the rest of the piece does perfectly fit in with his quintessential style, so it redeems itself. Again, it's solo piano.
13. Odd Days (Giorni Dispari) To me, this piece just cries out passion. It has a hint of darkness, but not so much it's depressing. Its moods are changing, and there a lots of different colours to be heard. It's solo piano with a string quartet and double bass, and like before, piano and strings take turn at having the tune. This contributes to the variety of colours. It's slow and very beautiful.
14. Limbo This piece is meant to represent a state of mind, and this is portrayed by the chords, which don't seem to go anywhere, and all the lingering pauses. It's a very easy piece to play, and this means that it's about the emotion it's portraying, rather than the complexity of the tune itself. It's simple yet deep and definitely keeps you in a state of 'limbo'.
Now the next 3 tracks are special to this CD, for they were recorded live in London. 15. Behind The Window (Al di la dei Vetro) To me, this piece reminds me of the sea and the familiar theme of the rhythmic waves. It has a thicker texture with a fast flowing accompaniment in the left hand of the piano part, and the tune just seems to seamlessly fit on top. The piece also is broken up into different sections of contrasting tunes, and this really keeps your attention and makes you want to listen.
16. White Night Feel the minimalist influences come in here, because there is lost of repetition with just one note which gets repeated throughout, and acts as the accompaniment. This again demonstrates how something very simple and easy to play portrays a mountain of emotions. It's solo piano once again and is based on a folk song. It's almost like an interlude between tracks, like it's nearly not there; it's just a fragment of something.
17. Cadenza Last but not least! This piano piece has the same aim as Calm, in that it has space and calmness. It's meant to be a bright, gentle piece, with a spread out tune. It's a slow waltz, and you can really picture a slow motion scene in a film with a couple dancing together. I love this guy's work; it just paints so many pictures.
The single CD can be brought for around £8.20 from www.amazon.co.uk, it's certainly a lot cheaper than what I paid, so definitely stick around that price. The CD insert gives you a deeper insight to the composer, giving notes on his life and his inspiration behind the pieces and what they're meant to portray. People, please allow yourself to experience this music, you really won't regret it. Tis also a lifesaver for those who are unfortunate enough to experience stress in these summer months.
Thank you very much for reading :o)
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I only know 1 or 2 pieces by Einaudi (from a classic fm compilation cd I think; I used to be able to listen to it on the net but they stopped international access last year :o( Fab op.
steerpyke 29.08.2006 14:47
there are a couple of pieces by him that I love (I have classic fm on at work) maybe have to get this to get more familiar with his stuff.
The Waves (Le Onde) African Melody III (Melodia Africana III) Out of the Night (Fuori ... more
dalla Notte) The Days (I Giorni) The dark line (La linea scura) Nefeli Tonight (Questa Notte) Two Sunsets (Due Tramonti) Calm (Calmo) Passage (Passaggio) Beautiful Ni...
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