Light on the Water

Timothy Cooper [Piano] | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 15, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New Piano Age Music
• ASIN: B0017063Q2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #864,835 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Written and performed by artist and human rights advocate Timothy Cooper, July 11, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Light on the Water (Audio CD)

Light on the Water is a CD of new age piano music written and performed by artist and human rights advocate Timothy Cooper. Though strongly influenced by and created in response to the September 11th attacks, Light on the Water is musical collection promoting peace, healing, and humanity above all. The flowing melodies and quiet beauty of the music respects the suffering of the dead and the survivors, even as it kindles hope for the future and shaping a better world. A heart-touching album, highly recommended. The tracks are "Worldscapes", "Why", "Rising", Solar Nights", "Soundings", "Curve of Madness", "One Smile", "Open Soul", "A Quiet Urgency", "Autumn Tears", "Advancing Moors", "Light on the Water", "The Struggles", "Glad Sorrows", "Ribbons of Starlight", "Solstice", "Worldscapes (Reprise)", "Advancing Moors (Reprise)", and "Advent". 57 min 12 seconds.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh New Voice!, June 8, 2008

By 

Kathy Parsons (Florence, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Light on the Water (Audio CD)

"Light On the Water" is one of two solo piano CDs released simultaneously by Timothy Cooper (the other is "East Winds"). Dedicated to the victims of 9/11 and recorded on a concert grand piano, the nineteen pieces on this album are improvisational compositions that are introspective, a bit on the dark side, and very intimate. Where the pieces on "East Wind" were mostly very short, these are somewhat longer and more developed, with time to explore the various themes that involve nature and aspects of the human experience while reflecting on the events of that fateful day. Each of these freeform gems is unique yet becomes part of a beautiful whole, creating a mood that stays fairly consistent throughout the album. Most of the music is on the quiet side with no flash or harshness although some of the harmony is unusual in places. Several of these pieces have more energy than those on "East Wind," but none of them is flamboyant. Somewhat edgy and deeply personal, Timothy Cooper brings a fresh new voice to the solo piano genre.

The CD opens with one of two versions of "Worldscapes," a piece with a gently rocking rhythm on the left hand and a more improvised, freeform right hand. Both peaceful and questioning, it's an auspicious beginning. "Solar Nights" is very atmospheric - mysterious with a feeling of vast open space. "Soundings" is one of my favorites, exploring a variety of musical moods that are mostly calming, but become stormy and dark in places. "Curve of Madness" is more turbulent and agitated, as its title implies, but is beautiful in its own way. "Open Soul" is one of the more melodic pieces, beginning with a whisper and building with the variations on the melody - richly compelling. "A Quiet Urgency" is more energetic, but doesn't lose the peaceful mood of the album. The title track is another favorite with its grace and hypnotic flow. (There is a music video of this piece on Cooper's website www.new-piano-age.com.) "Glad Sorrows" reflects the strange mix of emotions we all felt in the weeks following 9/11. I also really like "Ribbons of Starlight," a gorgeous piece full of longing and hope. "Advent" is a lovely theme for that most-forgiving season of the year. Pensive and intimate, it brings the CD to a quiet close.

"Light On the Water" is excellent from start to finish. Edgy and experimental, this is music captured at the moment of its creation, inspired by events that changed all of our lives forever. Recommended!