George Winston

For someone who grew up around classical music (Indian, both Carnatic & Hindustani), Rock, Jazz and a whole lot of bollywood, it is rather strange that the songs I’ve heard a maximum number of times are by a pianist who is dabbles in the genre of Neo-classical / New Age, George Winston. An American who has been actively making albums for 40 years now.

I don’t remember when exactly but an album called Autumn by the artist caught my attention from my father’s music collection (this will feature repeatedly given that my musical proclivities are genetic) and on hearing it for the first time, I was left speechless. Not because the music is great (which is undoubtedly is) but I did not know that one could have such a large range of music with just one instrument. 

The music of GW stirs & soothes me at the same time. It is music that I sometimes play in the background while doing something immersive (as I am right now) or something I would listen to keenly over a drink. 

The albums available with me are

1. Autumn

Rated as one of the top albums by GW, this one captures the essence of the season beautifully with his slow chords that are interspersed by sudden runs of melody. Just like the season, the album flares up in its beauty before retreating and allowing winter to set it.

My pick from this album would be the song Longing/Love which is a little under 9min long. Two of my friends from Mumbai who are reading this (one now in Singapore & one in California) possibly identify as deeply with this song as I do. 

2. December

Apple Music rates this one as a must have from GW and his best album of all time. On Allmusic.com, users rate this as their best album to play on Christmas eve. 

For me this album has a special place because of where and how I heard it first. I was at the home of a family friend in Switzerland in December 2004 when I was left one evening by myself as they had a social do to attend. Their apartment has a large terrace and the living room has these large french windows over looking the terrace and the city of St. Gallen. It started to snow and before you know it, the terrace was blanketed white. While going through the host’s music, I saw the album and decided to play it (I knew who George Winston was but not this album). Words may not do justice to how I truly felt that evening. In a large apartment, by myself, snowing outside and I warm inside the house experiencing a European winter with music that immerses you in it completely. 

My pick from this album again are not the popular songs - Thanksgiving or Joy  - but the lesser known song no. 8 titled Night (Part 3: Ministrels). Around the 30 second mark, Winston breaks into a deeply moving piece which takes me back to that magical evening. The depth of my sentiments about this song may be linked to everything about that evening coming together but the fact that it still evokes the same warm feeling everytime I listen tells me that the music has a big part to play in it. 

3. Night Divides the Day -  The Music of the Doors

What could be more exciting than a great pianist paying tribute to an Iconic rock band from the 60s? Before I heard this, I'd heard Symphony & Metallica which I thought was a great blend of two starkly different styles of music. This album however takes it a level higher. The ability to modulate the music from low chords to high pitched notes seen best in Riders of the Storm is likely to leave you very impressed. 

From the remaining two albums, some of my favourite songs are Cloudy This Morning (from Forest) & Rain (from Winter into Spring). 

All my albums of George Winston are available here: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AiYwJm3Pb8i9gpJALtRhhwJ022o4HQ?e=uKt5PT

If you like the music by George Winston, you may also enjoy music from an Italian composer called Ludovico Einaudi. I discovered his music when I saw the French movie called The Intouchables. The movie itself is fantastic (Netflix India has a version dubbed in English) and the background score was very soulful. Most of the music was from his album Una Mattina which can be heard on YouTube. Link below. 

Stay safe and have a great week ahead. 

Cheers,

Avi