Kerani – Small Treasures Soundtrack For AM and PM Yoga!
Ok so I have written before that I listen to several genres of music. Yesterday the soundtrack of my run was from the genre I consider Americana music. Americana includes most roots music like folk, blues and bluegrass.
Today I’m going to write about a New Age album that has been the soundtrack for my morning and night yoga routines for the last week or more. the album is Small Treasures by keyboardist Kerani. Small Treasures follows on the heels of her album Stardust, which went right to the top of the Zone Music Reporter’s (ZMR) Radio Air Play chart. Where I’m sure Small Treasures will find itself, also!!
About Kerani
Kerani has become one of the top keyboardists, composers, arrangers and producers in the Neo-classical and new age music genres. She was born in Belgium to a Hungarian father and a German mother and currently resides in The Netherlands.
Kerani first made a name for herself primarily in Europe via her first two recordings Wings of Comfort and The Journey. Her last three recordings have dominated the ZMR charts. I previously noted that Stardust rose to the top of the chart. The other two albums Equilibrium and Arctic Sunrise rose to numbers 3 and 2 respectively. Additionally, Arctic Sunrise won the ZMR Neo-Classical Album of the Year Award.
About Small Treasures
Small Treasures features more of Kerani’s piano performance than ever before. On the album Kerani is featured on piano and occasionally synthesizer. She is backed by a live string quartet ( all members of Andre Rieu’sbJohan Straus Orchestra), as well as, a handful of special guests musicians and vocalists.
What makes Small Treasures extra special is the inspiration for the tunes comes from poetry, history Ancestry dreams and fantasy. Kerani says…
”For the album Small Treasures…..I chose to write music that is closer to myself, music which describes memories and feelings that left an imprint on my heart. it is a musical self-portrait, and a journey through my past. By recording this music I hope to give a piece of myself to each listener.”
In a booklet that comes with the CD Kerani associates each tune with a poem from writers around the world including: Kerani’s mother Ruff Rosa, Oscar Wilde, Sara Teasdale, Petofi Sandro, Khalil Gibran, Monk Kusai, Amairgin Gluingel, Bliss Casanova and Antonio Machado.
My Favorite Tracks on Small Treasures
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Most of the time when I am listening to the CD I am exercising for the first 29-25 minutes and then I just let it play while I am doing something else. So I’m most familiar with the first five to six tracks. My favorite of those tracks are tracks two and three. Here’s what Kerani says about those tracks…..
2. “Fields of Hungary”
With my paternal Hungarian background giving me a deep feeling of nostalgia, I wanted to describe this country. The endless fields of grain, sunflower and corn; the tasty food, wine and Music. M; all of these delicate flavors and scents and sounds are gathered in the classically arranged piece. I used features that are typical of Hungarian folk music to try to give the listener a real feel of the country, and in the packaging I included words of Hungary’s most famous poet Petofi Sandirbwhich exactly express the way I feel about the country l. On this time and three others Helen Hendricks plays concert flute
3. “Sakura”- featuring Ron Korb.
My love for the Japanese culture and traditions made me create this piece. Inspired by a 700-year-Old renga ( a form of Japanese poetry)!written by Monk Kisai, this song describes the beauty of the cherry blossom, which is the national flower of Japan. Grammy- nominated Canadian flautist Ron Koennishi featured on Japanese flutes.
The bottom line is that Small Treasures is in fact a treasure in and of itself. It’s great as a soundtrack for yoga and meditation or just unwinding. So Check It Out!
Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Kerani
Artist’s Website
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
CDbaby
Here is a Video for “Temple of Roses” the opening track for Small Treasures
