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Review by
Ron Rudin for Innerchange Magazine
June/July 2007
http://www.innerchangemag.com/musicreviews.htm
Grateful Day is a stirring and meditative compilation of 17
instrumental songs which feature the piano played by Beloved. The
music represents the experience of spiritual experience, harmony
with nature, and unfolding journey. Grateful Day gives me the
feeling of a movie soundtrack that presents an inspiring visual
landscape, but then I realize it is the soundtrack to Beloved’s
Life. In addition to piano, you will hear a world class performance
on guitars, bass, bouzouki, tamboura, sarod, synthesizer, shakuhachi,
and percussion by Richard Raven Williams. Silver flute is played by
Gary Cooper. The music style is a blend of classical and new age
influences. There is a surprising versatility in the instrumentation
and uniqueness of each track, considering how well united they are
in a single minded expression of inner peace and love.
“Passionate Words” (Track 7) reminds me of the music that might be
put to Leonard Cohen lyrics. If you like to read poetry, Beloved’s
music will help you go deeper with the words. This is not music with
showiness or an attempt to be overly dramatic. It gives the listener
freedom to be present in the depths of the moment.
About “On The Bridge Of Our Love” Beloved writes: “I encourage you
to close your eyes, visualize a bridge in a beautiful garden and see
your loved ones smiling as you meet them with an open heart. Love
may change shape, yet love is the truth that lives forever.” The
music flows joyfully from track to track with a quality that is
eternal. You can sample some tunes at
http://cdbaby.com/cd/belovedsounds
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Beloved lives in Mt. Shasta, CA and it is one of her greatest
passions to share her healing music with others. She previously
lived in Durham, N.C. and was also known as Kim Spalding. Grateful
Day will serve well as background music, massage accompaniment, with
meditation, and along side other healing practices. You can purchase
it from Dancing Moon in Raleigh or at Amazon.com.
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Thank you,
thank you, thank you to the amazingly gifted artist Beloved from the
bottom of my heart for sharing her gorgeous songs with the world on
this new CD. The lush sweet sounds and lilting rhythms of her music
are like poetry for the soul and gentle healing medicine for the
heart. Each song has a rich and poignant beauty that uplifts the
emotions and calls to a mystical union with love's deep imagination.
The music effortlessly moves the listener's heart through a range of
love, yearning, and passionate embrace with the beloved within,
inviting new tenderness for life like a graceful dancer riding inner
waves of light. The whole sound transports one to realms of utter
serenity, peace, and magical beauty. Perfect for quiet reveries,
meditation, and relaxation, I often listen to the CD when I work at
my desk so that my heart feels nourished and inspired. This is
highly, highly recommended music of divine grace! ~R. Remez Raleigh,
NC |
Grateful
Day is an amazing emotional journey taking the listener to a higher
realm of consciousness celebrating the reverence and joy of life.
Beloved's talents as composer and pianist are extraordinary,
uplifting and energizing the soul through her artistry, transporting
you to the heart of love. You feel the experiences of a day lived in
sacred union with the power of nature and the exquisiteness of its
beauty. Grateful Day is a mystical wave radiating pure heart energy,
exemplifying the path of love and light. This is perfect music for
meditation and spiritual contemplation; it is a must have for your
collection of sacred and loving music to listen to over and over
again!
~Drinda J. Pennini Copperopolis, CA |
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By Dan MacIntosh for
Indie-Music.com Aug. 2007
Beloved is pictured in one of this CD’s pictures smiling broadly
while playing a piano surrounded beautiful trees. And this smile is
the perfect picture of Beloved’s music, which is consistently warm
and inviting.
All of Beloved’s music is instrumental and mainly piano-focused.
Beloved’s notes for Grateful Day help explain the unique order of
these songs. “As I looked at the final arrangement, I noticed that
the titles to the tracks all lined up nicely and in proper order as
the events of a day; from “Dolphin Sunrise," to “Ribbon Sunset," to
“Dreamtime Mist," and "Into the Deep”.
Instrumental music can be tricky to describe, which is why you’ll be
grateful – no pun intended – for these CD notes. For instance,
“Dolphin Sunrise” was inspired by “dolphins frolicking in the
water,” as Beloved puts it. So when you listen to the flute and
acoustic piano sound interaction of this track, it’s easy to picture
those gentle sea creatures putting on a show.
There is also a spiritual element to Beloved’s music. The
composition “On The Bridge of Our Love” was written for “those who
are missing or longing for someone.” To experience this song
therapeutically, “close your eyes, visualize a bridge in a beautiful
garden and see your loved ones smiling as you meet them there with
an open heart.”
The story behind “Into the Deep (The Whale Song)” is given extended
detail in the CD booklet. It was inspired by the nearly tragic
beaching of 75 false killer whales, which – according to Beloved –
are a species of dolphin that look like whales. She describes this
song’s inspiration as follows: “As I received this song, through my
subtle awareness, I felt and saw whales swimming in circles deep in
the ocean – under my piano. They seemed to be stirring the
consciousness of humanity. As the song ended, they would swim into
the deep.”
Beloved also matches her piano playing with various inviting
instrumental combinations. Although it comes off a little on the sad
side, the bouzouki of “Until You’re Here” helps the song express a
deep sadness.
Without a doubt, Beloved’s soul is in touch with nature. From the
forests on the back cover, to the mountain tops on the front along
with the whale and dolphin-inspired tracks, Beloved draws peaceful
feelings from what she sees and feels in nature, then puts these
deep emotions to music.
If you’re a city guy like me, you may not make connections similar
to Beloved. It’s hard to get stuck on the 405 in Southern California
and end up with a Grateful Day happy feeling. But after you get
home, and once you find a place where you can listen to music
without being disturbed, Grateful Day might just put your mind into
a different, better place. |
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This
instrumental CD was inspired, received, directed and
brought forth every step of the way by Spirit! This is
inspired/channeled piano music I have written, played
and produced through divine guidance. I had other
amazing musicians play along with me and the result is a
soothing, healing, heart opening, uplifting, yet
relaxing CD - perfect for easy listening, driving in the
car, a massage, inspiration for your work and creativity
and great for gifts!
