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Put your hands on the remote! browse music »Songs Without Words by Craig Urquhart
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fave it New Age
15 tracks | 69 minutes
Released Jul 2003
on Heart Earth Music
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- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:40 The Homecoming lyrics BUY MP3 03:40 The Homecoming lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:40 The Homecoming
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:08 The Prophet lyrics BUY MP3 04:08 The Prophet lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:08 The Prophet
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:55 The Acquisition of Wings lyrics BUY MP3 03:55 The Acquisition of Wings lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:55 The Acquisition of Wings
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 06:09 Lullaby lyrics BUY MP3 06:09 Lullaby lyrics "GIFT MP3" 06:09 Lullaby
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:38 Waves lyrics BUY MP3 03:38 Waves lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:38 Waves
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:22 Gentle Wind lyrics BUY MP3 04:22 Gentle Wind lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:22 Gentle Wind
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:27 The Prairie lyrics BUY MP3 03:27 The Prairie lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:27 The Prairie
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:10 Fog Horns lyrics BUY MP3 05:10 Fog Horns lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:10 Fog Horns
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 07:20 Ocean Song lyrics BUY MP3 07:20 Ocean Song lyrics "GIFT MP3" 07:20 Ocean Song
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 08:00 Vesper Hymn lyrics BUY MP3 08:00 Vesper Hymn lyrics "GIFT MP3" 08:00 Vesper Hymn
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:17 The Dalliance of Eagles lyrics BUY MP3 03:17 The Dalliance of Eagles lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:17 The Dalliance of Eagles
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 02:29 Pas de Deux lyrics BUY MP3 02:29 Pas de Deux lyrics "GIFT MP3" 02:29 Pas de Deux
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:02 Soliloquy lyrics BUY MP3 03:02 Soliloquy lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:02 Soliloquy
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:03 Radiance lyrics BUY MP3 05:03 Radiance lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:03 Radiance
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:45 Morning lyrics BUY MP3 05:45 Morning lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:45 Morning
A beautiful, mesmerizing meeting of Classical composition with New Age accessibility. Atmospheric, evocative tracks to stir the soul.
Editorial review
Craig Urquhart's classical compositions have been recorded by world-famous baritone Thomas Hampson and Lauren Wagner. His "The Wonder of Miracles" was choreographed by the Turtle's Dance Company for a memorial concert at the Cathedral St. John the Divine. His compositional style began shifting from classical to new age as he began appreciating the later compositions of Brian Eno and Philip Glass, and his approach moved from atonal to tonal and lyrical after a project which found him setting the poetry of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson to music. The title of this 15-track recording comes from one of Felix Mendelssohn's most famous works. It reflects the powerful melodic nature of Urquhart's early new age material, which could be sung even without lyrics. It is the most classically influenced of his four works. Many of the tracks are also indicative of his growing environmental concerns, particularly the "Beach Music" suite of "Fog Horns," "Ocean Song," and "Versper Hymn." The sequence tells the musical story of the artist walking on the beach where he "hears" the ocean pleading for help; the hymn finds the sun going down after the day is through. Each song tells a unique story, and as with all of his projects, he begins and ends with an optimistic musical spirit ("The Homecoming," "Morning"). ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
Bio / Background
Composer/solo pianist Craig Urquhart creates rich melodic landscapes which blossom into dramatic journeys from the heart. Expressing his passion for the environment as well as a belief in the healing power of music, while drawing upon the influences of classical music's keyboard masters, Urquhart has become one of modern acoustic piano's most transcendent voices.
Urquhart's timeless sound and compositional focus has gradually shifted from academic classical music to a more lyrical personal voice. His music draws upon the influence of such iconic keyboard composers as Bach, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Debussy, Satie and Copland, but Urquhart also considers pop/rock musicians Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, and Brian Eno as creative influences.
↓ more ↓The composer's love of the piano began at age six, when he began taking piano lessons as a child growing up in Michigan; however he credits Leonard Bernstein's CBS series The Young People's Concerts with The New York Philharmonic as "literally educating a whole generation of kids about music, including myself."
Moving to New York City after receiving his Master's in Composition from the University of Michigan, Urquhart left some of his music with Bernstein's Manhattan doorman; the Maestro called Urquhart back, and the two became acquainted. In 1985 Urquhart was hired as Bernstein's musical assistant, and worked for Bernstein until the composer's death in 1990. He also served for ten years as a member of the music faculty at the Harlem School of the Arts, and was actor Tom Hulce's musical coach for the Academy Award winning film Amadeus.
Urquhart is also a well-known composer of American classical art songs, including musical settings of poems by Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman. His songs have been performed and recorded by Thomas Hampson, Michael Slattery, Lauren Wagner, and other artists.
Urquhart has been actively involved in a wide array of social and environmental causes over the years, performing at the United Nations for National AIDS Awareness Day and Earth Day, as well as at benefit concerts for such organizations as the Tidewater AIDS Taskforce of Norfolk, Virginia, Momentum AIDS Project in New York and Bread & Roses AIDS hospice in Connecticut. His "The Wonder of Miracles" was choreographed by the Turtle's Dance Company for a memorial concert at the Cathedral St. John the Divine.
SHEET MUSIC of Urquhart's solo piano works is available for purchase through his website (www.craigurquhart.com).
PRESS QUOTES:
CRAIG URQUHART takes you even deeper into the possibilities of solo piano music... subtle as moonlight reflecting on ocean waves, yet [retaining] a thoughtfulness and elegance that betray [its] classical origins.
LINDA KOHANOV, Pulse Magazine
One of the finest independent pianists in America.
BRADLEY TORREANO, All Music Guide
One of new age's most transcendent voices.
PETER MANZI, New Age Voice Magazine
A beautiful addition to the collection of a fan who loves new age piano music.
JONATHAN WIDRAN, All Music Guide
A stunning collection of original piano solos, I give it my highest recommendation.
KATHY PARSONS, Solo Piano Publications
An inspiring listening experience that will touch your soul and water your eyes.
MICHAEL DEBBAGE, Wind and Wire
Wonderful!
RICHARD MAURO, Producer, Sacred World Music, KFCK-FM
Craig Urquhart's "On This Wondrous Sea" was especially effective.
ALLAN KOZINN, The New York Times
(From review of Lauren Wagner's song recital
at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall)
...notable for sensitive and knowing settings of the Whitman text.
David Hall
From STEREO REVIEW's review of Thomas Hampson's "To The Soul."
Solo piano at its most personal and heartfelt.
KATHY PARSONS, Solo Piano Publications
... simply excellent music... an exceptional CD!
NORVEL TROSST, Producer, "Soundspace," KPBX-FM,
An incredible pianist and artist... so delicate and gentle that it almost feels fragile - very, very beautiful.
KATHY PARSONS, Solo Piano Publications
...sensitive piano playing....
STEPHEN HILL, Hearts of Space
An exceptionally expressive pianist, giving his music a broad range of musical colors.
KATHY PARSONS, Solo Piano Publications
↑ less ↑Average Customer Review: 5
songs withour wordssunrise82 wrote on June 24, 2008
magnificent piano music!








