The contemporary solo piano pieces blend folk melodies with classical motifs, evoking a tranquil, pastoral, reflective atmosphere.

7 MP3 Songs
NEW AGE: Solo Instrumental, NEW AGE: Contemporary Instrumental



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Ten years ago, contemporary solo pianist Stephen Majewski walked into a recording studio for the first time. It was Unicorn Studio in Nevada City, Calif. At the time, however, recording an original collection of piano solos was not even remotely in his mind.

Unicorn is the home recording studio of Roger Hodgson, formerly of the 1970s super-group Supertramp. Working as a public relations consultant, Majewski was there to advise Hodgson about how he could improve his recently-launched Web site. Playing Hodgsonâs Steinway grand piano, however, reminded Majewski of his years spent learning the songs of Supertramp, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Steve Winwood, and Genesis, among others.

Majewski does not have the typical pianistâs pedigree. He had the obligatory childhood piano lessons before returning to the instrument intermittently as a teenager.

Around Christmas of 2002, Majewski heard âSnow on High Ground,â an instrumental piece by Nightnoise, composed by Triona Ni Dhomhnaill. Primarily a solo piano composition, the song re-inspired him. Determined to play at that level, he enrolled at the New Jersey School of Music for a year before beginning to compose his own pieces while self-studying the piano.

The result is TAMARAC. Inspired by a beautiful area in New Jersey where Majewski lives, the album is his musical interpretation of a typical summer day in Tamarac. The solo piano pieces blend folk melodies with classical motifs, evoking a tranquil, pastoral, reflective atmosphere.

Instrumental and soundtrack music have always been a favorite of Majewskiâs â from John Williams and Maury Laws (best known as the composer for the Rankin-Bass television specials such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "The Year Without A Santa Claus," and "The Hobbit.") to Enya and George Winston, the pianist he has studied the most since 2002.

"All contemporary solo pianists are indebted to George Winston," Majewski says. "Without him, there wouldnât even be a contemporary instrumental music genre."