Secret Places Private Thoughts

Track Listings

1. Song of the Wind

2. Childhood Revisited

3. Affairs of the Heart

4. Reflections of Love

5. Sweet Voice Within

6. The Lost Child

7. Only Yesterday

8. Piano Suite

9. Ballade

10. Serenade

11. Impromptu

12. Spirit Awakening

13. Joie De Vivre

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Chicago-based Lesley Spencer is a professional composer, musician & producer who has worked with the San Francisco Opera, Victory Gardens Theatre, Urban Gateways, and performed children's concerts throughout the western states through the Wyoming Arts Council & National Endowment for the Arts. She has produced several albums of her original music which transcend the ordinary. Her previous nationally-distributed albums AUTHENTIC FLAVORS and CLASSICAL DELIGHT are critically-acclaimed for their innovative blending of fresh contemporary classical and Latin styles for full orchestra. Lesley's music is frequently heard on NPR and has been licensed for various media projects including commercials, motivational tapes, and documentaries. Her orchestral piece "Tribute" is the title theme of a documentary called, "STONES FROM THE SOIL," due to be aired on PBS in May of 2005.

Product Description
SECRET PLACES PRIVATE THOUGHTS combines the most evocative, soulful and thought provoking piano solos from pianist/composer/arranger Lesley Spencer's first three CD's. With her trademark highly expressive and clear writing style, Lesley is able to crystallize an emotion in a melody in a way that few artists can. These memorable melodies are sure to help anyone who is trying to get in touch with their feelings or who just wants to savor the moment. This is piano poetry at its best.

Secret Places Private Thoughts,Lesley Spencer,Gabriella Music,Secret Places - Private Thoughts combines the most evocative, soulful and thought provoking piano solos from this composer/pianist's first 3 CDs. She crystallizes an emotion in a melody in a way that few artists can.

Tracks:

Song of the Wind
Childhood Revisited
Affairs of the Heart
Reflections of Love
Sweet Voice Within
The Lost Child
Only Yesterday
Piano Suite
Ballade
Serenade
Impromptu
Spirit Awakening
Joie De Vivre

Album Description

SECRET PLACES PRIVATE THOUGHTS combines the most evocative, soulful and thought provoking piano solos from pianist/composer/arranger Lesley Spencer's first three CD's. With her trademark highly expressive and clear writing style, Lesley is able to crystallize an emotion in a melody in a way that few artists can. These memorable melodies are sure to help anyone who is trying to get in touch with their feelings or who just wants to savor the moment. This is piano poetry at its best.

Customer Reviews:

From Solo Piano Publications.......2006-04-04

"Secret Places, Private Thoughts" is a gorgeous collection of original piano solos by multi-talented pianist/composer/arranger Lesley Spencer. As the title suggests, these pieces are mostly reflective and intimate, allowing the listener a glimpse inside of the composer's soul. Often, albums of this type convey feelings of pain and loss, but the thoughts and places reflected upon here are mainly warm and pleasant - not necessarily joyful, but optimistic and soothing. The music is varied enough for repeated active listening, but the tone and mood are fairly consistent, creating a feeling of an easy-going peace that would serve as a lovely backdrop for quiet activities. Lesley Spencer's other recordings have been mostly piano and ensemble works, so this solo piano album is especially welcome.

The CD opens with "Song of the Wind," a piece that sometimes swirls and dances and sometimes just kind of breezes along. This is a gentle, playful wind that catches falling leaves and keeps them from touching the ground. A beautiful beginning! "Childhood Revisited" celebrates innocence and beckons us back to simpler times. "Affairs of the Heart" is poignant and more than a little nostalgic, remembering good times and people who have come and gone from our lives. "Sweet Voice Within" is one of my favorites. Warm and gentle, this piece exudes a quiet joy. "Only Yesterday" is another favorite, with its powerful sense of longing. "Piano Suite" is a five-movement piece that illustrates five different emotions and states of mind. "Nostalgia" delicately conveys the sense of longing for the past; "Empathy" gives a feeling of true understanding and acceptance; "Longing" has a rubato rhythm and the deep bass notes of the piano evoke feelings of passion; "Affection" is light, warm, and sunny; and "Serenity" depicts that sense of perfect inner peace that can often be elusive. "Piano Suite" is a powerful and compelling work. "Ballade" feels especially personal to me. Its gentle flow and deep introspection seem almost naked in their sincerity and honesty. "Impromptu" is probably my favorite piece on this album. Deeply emotional and passionate, the listener is drawn in and held tight by this heartfelt musical tale. "Spirit Awakening" takes us back to the light and joyful side of life, and "Joie De Vivre" closes the album with a bit of musical sunshine.

"Secret Places, Private Thoughts" is an outstanding collection of deeply personal piano solos. The music is soothing and uplifting, but is far more substantial than "ear candy." Recommended!

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