Customer Reviews

Angel Above My Piano

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"Angel Above My Piano" is Australian pianist Fiona Joy Hawkins' follow-up to her 2005 chart-topping "Portrait of a Waterfall," a finalist for the "best piano album" in the New Age Reporter's 2005 Lifestyle Music Awards. Inspired by a cruise to Antarctica, love, and a drawing of an angel, the music is very visual and evocative. Hawkins is a visual artist as well as a composer/pianist, and her music is as colorful as her paintings. Most of the thirteen tracks are lightly orchestrated with keyboards, guitar, strings, and flute, creating a lovely, tranquil mood and "music to dream to."

The CD opens with Antarctic Interludes, a group of three pieces inspired by an expedition cruise on the Orion. Both majestic and fragile, the music brings the wilderness and wildlife of the area to life. "Crystal Desert" utilizes minimal sound effects to enhance the feeling of a frozen wind and the stark, sparkling whiteness of the landscape. "Dance of the Penguins" has a constantly shifting rhythm that suggests a lack of grace and a playful demeanor - totally charming! "Flight of the Albatross" is one of my favorites. It describes the graceful flight of a bird gliding across the tips of the waves outside her window. Utterly peaceful and carefree, and utterly beautiful. The title track was inspired by a charcoal drawing that was done by a friend who was diagnosed with cancer. The drawing is of an angel that came to him in a dream, "who looks like someone you know but no-one you have ever met." Opus for Love is a three-movement work created from the emotion Hawkins felt when her grandmother died. "Love In Winter" is about the journey that spans the winter of life. Poignant and reflective, it's a very effective piece. "Love Forever" brings in graceful strings to convey the sadness of losing someone dear. "Love In Spring" is very interesting because the piano part is mostly sprightly and joyful while the strings are sad, demonstrating the mix of emotions that take over at a loved-ones passing. "Thinking of You (Australian Lullaby)" pairs a song composed by Hawkins' father, Garry Heaney, with a melody she wrote about lost love, creating a tender and beautiful lullaby. The closing track is a reprise of "Love Forever" as a piano solo - a sweet farewell.

I bought this CD with high hopes, as I loved this artist's first CD. I was not disappointed! Fiona Hawkins is the real deal, a superb musician who not only displays technical excellence, but depth and passion in her music. I look forward to her future works!

This is one of the most beautiful piano CDs I have ever heard. I never heard of Fiona Hawkins or her piano music until I heard her on XM radio. From that point on, I was hooked. Her music is so lovely, it transports you. I have given this to friends and family as a gift and they all love her too!

I first heard a couple of songs from Fiona Joy Hawkins album "Angel Above My Piano" on the internet radio Pandora.com Wonderful music. Had to get a CD copy of this album for myself. I play it daily I enjoy it so much. In fact, I have just ordered another of her albums today, "Portrait of a Waterfall."

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed this product. It is a wonderful selection of piano and instrumental music that is calm and peaceful. Fiona Jay Hawkins is a fantastic pianist and I had no problems with the cd I purchased. It was in perfect condition.

Perhaps like all of my greatest personal discoveries, my introduction to the music of Fiona Joy Hawkins was one of fortuitous accident. It turned out to be one of the most joyous musical discoveries of my life.
To approach any music as a listener, or to consider writing an opinion that others would read in my view requires tastes and disciplines that include all important genres of music, from the great composers of the classical era through rock, pop, and contemporary classical (New Age).
My first experience of New Age music in contemporary piano form was that of George Winston and Michael Jones, who paved the way for innumerable other artists to follow. In my opinion, Fiona Joy Hawkins' music greatly surpasses them and is highly recommendable work. If they are for music for dinner, then Fiona is music for dessert.
Inspired by a trip to Antarctica, an interwoven theme of the composition is that of the timeless wonder and awe of the isolation of nature, romance, melancholy, and at times exquisite joy.
Angel Above My Piano is composed of beautifully textured arrangements occasionally surrounded by strings in luxuriant yet uncomplicated melodies that Fiona seems to have a unique gift for developing beautifully as each track progresses. At times sparse and lonely like the Antarctic desert itself, at other times the music is rich and textural and expresses unbounded joy. The music is well arranged, pleasing to the passive listener, and deeply moving to the romantic of heart. At its least it is good, at its best it approaches musical brilliance, especially the 3 movements of "Opus for love", which are truly some of the most beautifully romantic pieces of music I have ever heard.
I cannot help but think that Fiona was profoundly inspired and awed by her trip to the Antarctic, and like the works of all greatly inspired artists and composers, that awe was transformed from the ether into one of the most beautiful arrangements I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. This one is a keeper, going on the shelf next to Ray Lynch, 2002, and other greats of this genre.
When Fiona came back from her travels and translated her experience into music, there truly was- an Angel above her piano.

The most beautiful piano music I have ever heard. It will take your emotions and make them soar in peace.