Excellent!!
author: Deeon
Ralph Zurmuhle’s music is refined and sophisticated. His music is a tender expression of deeply meaningful moments of life; reflections of a sensitive, gentle spirit. His music creates peace, wonderment, and personal contemplation. Highest recommendation!
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beautiful...
author: Sophie C
I first heard Ralph's music on Whisperings (Live365) and everytime one of his pieces was played, I would come to the computer to see who on earth the composer was! It kept turning out to be Ralph Zurmuhle. I just fell in love with his music! Pure, pristine...elegant. I concur with the other reviewers here and whole-heartedly recommend any of his albums. All of them are simply beautiful.
These pieces are wonderfully mature and seem to me full of awareness, and spiritual impulse. After one of his compositions comes to an end, I consistently find that I am left sitting in a place of quiet, inner stillness. Balance is everything and I think perhaps one thing I find so appealing (besides the elegance of the melodic lines) is Ralph's intuitive balancing of the right notes (in the right place!) with the requisite, echoing silence to create a perfect alchemy. ahhh! beautiful! It is wonderful to have these deep breaths written into the fabric of the notes.
I seldom write reviews, and when I do, it is because I find something to be particularly special.
Hope this review will encourage anyone to listen to, and collect, the music of this artist.
Sophie C.
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Exquisite...!
author: Patricia
This is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. When one of Ralph's pieces comes on the air (I listen to Whisperings Solo Piano), I drop what I'm doing and simply listen. ...because this is solo piano at its best. I have listened over and over to all three of Ralph's CDs (more coming I hope!), each of them is an absolute gem...cannot reccomend these highly enough (need more stars! :))
This is pure, focused music...Ralph knows how to embrace stillness; every note is perfectly and consciously placed. As a result something deep inside inevitably responds. I find it transformative and transcendent. Can't think of a higher compliment than that! Thank you Ralph, I wish the whole world could sit down and have a listen...!
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Amazing!
author: Kathy Parsons
“Between” is the first of three solo piano albums released by Ralph Zurmuhle since 2000. Swiss-born and classically-trained from a young age, Zurmuhle possesses the playing skills to do whatever he wants at the keyboard, but generally prefers to keep it simple and deeply emotional - often much more difficult to do well than playing a flurry of notes for the sake of bravado. Most of the music is on the melancholy and contemplative side, creating a sonic environment for relaxation, thought, or just losing yourself in. I have only recently discovered the music of Ralph Zurmuhle, and that discovery has been one of the high points in an exceptionally good year for contemporary instrumental music.
“Between” begins with a short prelude called “The Beacon” that sets a tone of quiet mystery - an intriguing opening that piques the interest. “Farewell” is an 8 1/2 minute piece that wears its heart on its sleeve. Some of the melody is played in the bass of the piano, giving an achingly beautiful effect similar to a cello. “I’ll Find You There” is an elegant and graceful musical promise that speaks gently but carries a lot of meaning. “Prayer In the Night” is one of my favorites. The repetitive bass line sets a consistent rhythm for the more improvised right hand and also creates an intense mood. This is one incredibly gorgeous piece. The mood lightens to almost playful in “Indian Child.” “The Goddess In My Dream” is a bit more classically-structured, yet is wistful in watercolor shades of color and delicacy. “Leaving Home” has the mixed emotions of a big step in life - anticipation and excitement intertwined with fear of the unknown. “An Improvisation For La Plana” is exquisite. A 13-minute improvisation, it is leisurely in pace but packed with passion. Very spare and uncluttered, this is music that comes from a place deep inside where only truths are spoken. When I hear something like this, I’m reminded of the stark difference between music that is assembled as “product” and when it is truly a work of art. “Lullaby For My Soul” is a bittersweet and oh so gentle little song that is at peace with the world - at least for now.
Ralph Zurmuhle is a real find! Very highly recommended!
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