Big Round Records release a collection of composer and pianist Kenneth Kuhn's original pieces. Kuhn’s compositions arose from three main sources: dreams, memories, and spontaneity...

Piano Works of Kenneth A. Kuhn contains seven tracks (58 min) all performed with a passion by Chiharu Naruse at the piano.

In 'Prelude No. 3 in G-minor', the composer describes the free-flowing second section as having formed on its own, stating "As if controlled by some external something I literally watched my hands play this without any thought in the process."

'An Alpine Song' formed from a dream of a young Bavarian woman singing and playing guitar in the Alps and what the composer could recall of her exotic melodies upon waking. In 'Ode to Memories', the composer reminisces on his own past and its ups and downs, from joyous school years to the sudden death of a dear friend.

While it's not overly important that you know the background to any of the tracks to appreciate them, it's interesting to learn the composer's original inspiration.

This album is exactly how classical recordings should be. Kuhn has crafted some beautiful, emotional pieces here. There's no filler material either, this is full of emotive themes and set pieces.

9

Darren Rea