Search - Craig Urquhart :: Songs Without Words

The Music of Urquhart: Sheer Poetry

Kathy Parsons | 08/13/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Music is many things to many people. What it is to everybody is a balm for the soul. And, indeed, in this harsh, all too fast and impersonal world of ours, Craig Urquhart's SONG WITHOUT WORDS provides an island where the listener can truly pause and find his peace. Each work, lasting between 2 and 1/2 to 6 minutes, offers us exquisite, tranquil beauty. How we have needed Urquhart's blessed pen and touching music in our chaotic times! The titles of each work extol the beauties of nature and, clearly, the composer's love for the world around him: The Acquisition of Wings, Waves, Gentle Wind, The Prairie, Ocean Song, Radiance, Morning. We also have the great bonus hearing these works played by the composer himself--and what a marvelous pianist he is too! Urquhart performs with great sensitivity and deeply moving expression, invoking a wide range of color, light and texture. This is music to make us pause, think, be at peace and unite with the world around us, completely detached from wordly strife."

From Solo Piano Publications

Kathy Parsons | Florence, OR United States | 03/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Songs Without Words" was Craig Urquhart's first recording of original piano solos. For the most part, this album is much quieter and more understated than Urquhart's later work. The titles of most of the fifteen songs have to do with nature, and the mood of the album is very calm and soothing. I found it much easier to let this one slip into the background than Urquhart's other albums, making it a great choice for reading or simply relaxing and letting the music wash over you. Very classical in style and approach with an emphasis on emotion, Urquhart is an incredible pianist and artist. "Lullaby" is so delicate and gentle that it almost feels fragile - very, very beautiful. "Gentle Wind" is also tranquil and serene like a warm spring breeze. "The Prairie" is livelier, almost dance-like. "Fog Horns" captures the mystery of being near the ocean in the fog - everything is soft, cool, gray, and very quiet. "Radiance" is a sparkling, twirling crystal shooting reflected light in all directions. I also really like "Pas de Deux" and "Soliloquy," which are both soothing and elegant. "Songs Without Words" is a gorgeous collection of piano solos, and I highly recommend it."