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Gary Stadler returns after completing his highly acclaimed Fairy-Trilogy, with new music that radiantly sparkles with enchantment, revealing the essence of his evocative musical style. On this new release, Gary places the focus on the purity of his beautiful piano sound, He artfully combines that with other acoustic instruments such as classical guitar, Cello, Vocal Choirs as well as the lovely Harp artistry of Lisa Lynne, The result is another understated masterpiece of dreamy celtic-influenced magic. It is no wonder Gary's music has created a dedicated base of fans; there is a simple beauty in his music which comforts the heart and stirs the soul.
Release date: August 15, 2003
Published Reviews
All Music Guide
Gary's talents for symphonic wizardry have made him one of the new millennium's forerunners in New Age music.
— MacKenzie Wilson
Music Design In Review
By this point, most fans of ethereal instrumental and new age music should be familiar with the whimsical lullabies of Gary Stadler. Inspired by the enchanting realm of the faeries, Stadler is joined by harpist/composer Lisa Lynne and weaves piano-based soundscapes that are heavy on celestial wistfulness and otherworldly beauty. REFLECTIONS OF FAERIE is aptly names, as this entry returns to Stadlers more acoustic and meditative roots. The albums is completely instrumental and relies more on natural instrumentation like piano, harp and guitar than electronic atmospherics as he has in the past. This is an album that would fit in well with your end-of-the-day cool down rituals; lie down on the couch, press play and let the faeries take you away to a land of eternal peace.
Awakenings
Reflections of Faerie radiates with enchantment ! There is a special magic and simple beauty in this music, which touches the heart and stirs the soul. Wonderful for all types of healing techniques, meditation, massage or for the special time when you take loving care of self.
Share Guide
This new music radiantly sparkles with enchantment, revealing the pure essence of Stadlers evocative piano style. This album artfully combines piano with other acoustic instruments such as classical guitar, cello, vocal choirs, as well as the lovely harp artistry of Lisa Lynne. The result is another understated masterpiece of dreamy Celtic-influenced magic, which comforts the heart and stirs the soul.
Wind and Wire
On this, his fourth "faerie" music recording, Gary Stadler pulls back from the reliance on electronic keyboards of his earlier releases and emphasizes
the sounds of acoustic instruments, not just at his own hands but also those
of guest artists Lisa Lynne on Celtic harp, Dr. Harold Grandstaff Moses on
viola, Bruce Lawrence on guitar, and Sandy Schieffer and Tiffany Snow on
background vocals. Stadler himself plays grand piano, guitar, cello, string
bass, acoustic bass guitar, and some sparse synthesizers. The result is
music that is a tad warmer and more genteel than his previous three
recordings, although all of those were also fine releases. Reflections of
Faerie has less of an ethereal quality and more of a renaissance/early
music/classical feel at times. Of course, the songs are still wonderfully
soft and peaceful pieces that invite repose and reflection, a stilling of
the heart and quieting of the soul.
You'll hear these qualities right away on the first track, "Spinneee," which
opens with Jon Mark-like lush keyboards and delicate harp, with piano
eventually taking over the lead on a flowing melodic refrain. "Lullaby" is
even softer and more romantic, with an unhurried pace to the piano and harp
and a certain sadness to the music. Piano is more predominant than harp (and
there sounds like some guitar mixed in there too). In fact, piano is frequently the showcased instrument. Stadler displays a masterful light touch with good command of phrasing and nice balance between upper and lower
registers.
The overall mood of the CD is placid, calm, restrained, yet filled with a
simple beauty and an unassuming charm. As I mentioned earlier, there is less
of a "magical" texture to the music, and I think it's mostly due to the lack
of overtly electronic effects. I guess you could call this "faerie"
unplugged - if you wanted to be glib about it. However, I'm inclined to
instead judge this to be a more refined musical statement, not so much
because the music is softer, but because by stripping away the ethereal
aspect of the faerie kingdom, Stadler has revealed a more earthbound majesty
and subtle sense of awe. The calm inherent in these gentle melodies and the
peace that permeates them should offer stress relief in abundance to souls
wearied by this modern world.
— Bill Binkelman
Steve Ryals, Syndicated Music Columnist
Reflections of Faerie is Gary Stadler's fourth release on Sequoia Records. Over the past eight years, Stadler's music has entranced literally tens of thousands of listeners, transporting them to a time a place when the Faerie flew on translucent wings in the moon's tender embrace. Somehow, Stadler's compositions give us a sense of this place. His gentle, ephemeral piano dances with Lisa Lynne's harp, melody entwined with heart in paeans to a time of innocence, a time before hearts were so easily broken. Reflections of Faerie, then, is great magic, its healing light pouring out the speakers like the sound of sunshine.
Since Stadler's first release, Fairy of the Woods, which he did entirely on synthesizers, his work has steadily shifted more and more towards acoustic instrumentation. Now, with Reflections of Faerie, he used almost no synthesizers at all, preferring to work with other musicians on music that comes ever more from the heart. Stadler plays grand piano, cello, harp, bass and more. In addition to Lisa Lynne on Celtic harp, Bruce Lawrence appears on guitar, Dr. Harold Grandstaff Moses on viola, and Sandy Schieffer and Tiffany Snow on background vocals. A truly exquisite album, Reflections of Faerie will be a welcome addition for meditation, massage and traveling to the heart of the world.
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