Click on the album cover above to listen on your favourite music channel or listen to a preview here:
Riversong:
The title song of the album, “Riversong” is a poignant piece written in 2014 . It describes views of the River Trent in Autumn and early Winter. Following the death of my lovely wife, Michele, in 2010, I often walked the fields by the river very early in the morning and was struck by the peaceful beauty of the scenes – the mists over the water, the stillness of the riverbank and the faint silhouettes of St. Wystan’s steeple across the river in Repton. I would begin to sense the stirrings of the little river “people”, their slumber interrupted by the early morning light. Close by, Willington would be coming to life, its inhabitants ready for another day. The scenes seemed to mirror a sense in me of the beauty and vulnerability of life shared by all living beings. This composition is dedicated to my son and his wife, Jeremy and Debbie, who also lived in Willington on the Banks of the River Trent.
Song for Aimy:
The second track on ‘Riversongs’ is a simple, lyrical melody written for my oldest granddaughter, Aimy. It is a simple expression of loving feelings by a grandfather (or “Papy”, as Aimy calls me) for his beautiful granddaughter. I love playing ‘Song for Aimy’ in public and have received some lovely compliments, particularly when I played at Kings Cross Railway station a few years ago. I need to record another performance video soon, but in the meantime here are links to two quite different versions.
Video links
Sheet Music
Download the sheet music for ‘Riversong’ here
John McGuinness Piano 