Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
from MainlyPiano.com, May 23, 2004
In the late 1980's, when new age music was becoming more popular, David Lanz started doing more piano work again, rather than synth. His 1988 album, "Cristofori's Dream" is a true classic. Lanz utilized a combination of piano, synthesizers, and other instruments, but the piano really dominates. In this album, Lanz fulfilled a dream of being able to play one of his favorite songs from the `60's, "A Whiter Shade of Pale," with the original keyboard player from Procol Harum, Matthew Fisher. The title song from this album is David's favorite of his compositions, and remains one of his most popular pieces to date. "Cristofori's Dream" is about the inventor of the piano, Bartolomeo Cristofori, who was a harpsichord builder. As the story David tells goes, Cristofori was working very late in his shop one night, and fell asleep at his workbench. He had a dream of seeing his new invention going through its development all the way to becoming a concert grand piano, and the song ends with the piano turning back into a child's toy or music box. This is one of my all-time favorite pieces of music, and I never tire of hearing or playing it. Other titles include "Spiral Dance," "Wings to Altair," and "Summer's Child."
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
6 stars - one of the best of it's genre..., April 2, 2000
I have been a big new age fan since I first heard "Shadowfax" and other Windham Hill artists..but upon hearing this MASTERPIECE, it put a new perspective on just what great 'new age' music is...This is simply one of (if not THE) best new age CDs ever made. For those only liking to get a 'few CD's in their collection of music like this', make this one of them. For new agers who just don't like David Lanz, well, forget it... David Lanz is simply a MASTER at the piano - I originally thought his approach was overly fluffy and not 'technical enough'. Well, this was wrong on my part, as David's counterparts were putting out some, well quite simply, BORING or uninspired piano music... I cannot say more except that everyone I have ever played this CD for (or let others borrow) has said that this CD is simply FANTASIC....
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Balm to the soul, July 28, 2006
It's so easy to forget how potent and magical music can be, with the daily grind, running to work, doing chores, paying bills and being part of this society of fast movers and shifters, until I stop in my tracks under the spell of this music. Cristofori's Dream is a pearl, in no words I mean small but a treasure that can be unnoticed until spotted. I had this cd in my collection for so long I almost forgot about it, and upon listening to it for the past few days, I'm back in love with it, not that it ever went away but life goes so fast that I forge to listen to my own favorites. I often find myself putting Lanz as background music to reading, and half the time I stop reading and make the music louder and day dream to it, it's that wonderful!
Some of my favorites are:
Cristofori's Dream the title song is movie like, romantic, moody and tender and puts me in a dream like quality. The chorus, often repeated is really addictive, as I can hear it every day and not get tired of it. To me it sounds like an ice castle bathed in a winter wonderland with sun reflecting off the falling snow.
Spiral Dance has flute in, which I have played for about 18 years now, since I was a kid and it's really delightful and sparkling. The piano and the flute twist together like the DNA helix, or a huge curling staircase plummeting down, they accompany each other in a real lovely partnership. They flirt and play to the point where I want to dance on my toes, its really pleasant and happy music. Since Lanz uses synthesizers and various instruments to add to the piano this is a really intriguing cd that never tires me.
Green into Gold mixes piano, drums and various small objects blending into exotic and almost jazz like quality of sound. I can easily see the jungle in it but it's refined and soft, nothing wild.
Wings to Altair shows why Lanz is one of the foremost expert contemporary new age recording artists, as he creates sounds that might share spotlight with the most amazing movie, if used as a soundtrack. This music is complex yet it sounds like a breath of air turning pale colors as it tickles my ears.
A Whiter Shade of Pale almost sounds like a wedding, I just read love and happiness and pure glow from the music. It's charming and sultry yet romantic almost to the point of tears and goose bumps.
And to help others understand him, I will share a quote from Mr. Lanz; "A friend of mine was leading a seminar on the energy centers of the body and wanted music to illustrate the flow of energy through these areas sometimes referred to as chakras," Lanz says. "I was also interested in the healing qualities of music and it's effect on body and soul, so I made a little tape of piano music for the seminar and just about everyone who heard it, to my utter surprise, wanted a copy!"
I see his achieved his goal right away because his music has fed my heart and soul for years, making me feel happy, relaxed and lost in a dream like world of sparkling harmonies.
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by David Lanz 
