Music from Utopia - Part I

If you know me really well, you know that I worship George Winston. That I believe he is the greatest pianist on the planet. I was introduced to his music through a boyfriend back in college. Now that I'm middle aged I've listened to various other pianists over the years, but my loyalty remains true to G.W., who I was blessed to hear in concert back in the 80s during my college years, a blessing that I'm hoping to be privileged enough to have again in the future. 

I believe his gift is in making such beautiful art in such a simple way, as often some of his simplest, most uncomplicated pieces are his most breathtaking. 


Take "Thanksgiving" (album: DECEMBER), among his oldest, and categorically my #1 favorite. So very moving, perhaps a touch on the sad side for parts of it, yet haunting, spiritual, inspirational, sublime... I can't say enough about this piece. Definitely tops my G.W. list of favorites.

Enjoy...

I love the fact that all the images on this video are shots of nature. But of course, I'd say that.


Then take "Colors/Dance" (album: AUTUMN), so aptly titled in my opinion because of the way in which, as the piece progresses it's all about his fingers doing this exquisite dance on the ivories. This one takes you through an up and down of emotions, and as such I think it invokes more of the senses. That's one of the reasons I love it so much.  See what you think... 

I thought the image choices that went into this video were great. I particularly enjoyed the human figures exploding out of paint bottles in a joyous dance. I'd love to grace one of my walls with that piece, I like it so much.

And what about his rendition of the traditional English Christmas carol "The Holly and the Ivy" (album: DECEMBER).  A myriad of versions exist of this, of course, so many of them taking a particularly serene and solemn tone. What I enjoy so much about G.W.'s version is how merry and joyous it is. I particularly love the change around 2:04 - 2:05 in this video. The melody of this whole piece is just beautiful and uplifting enough as it is, but this little movement change just takes my breath away. Absolutely exquisite.

Lastly, there's "Some Children See Him", also from his album DECEMBER. Two things I adore about this piece. One is that it is a perfect example of my point that sometimes his most simplest music is his most divine. This arrangement isn't a complicated one, when you really listen closely to what both hands are doing and dissect it in your mind, but put both of them together and that simplicity is precisely what makes it so ethereal when they harmoniously become one. Another thing I love about this piece, nerdy as it may be, is his use of the sustain pedal, the most commonly used one when playing piano (the one on the right). The pedal and the wonderful way in which he makes notes cleanly and purely linger is essential to the air of this piece in many places of it. When you use the pedal wrong it can result in notes getting mushed together and sound like noise instead of music. But G.W. wouldn't do that. I love his use of it here. 

I cannot get enough of George Winston's work. What a gift to music.