Richard Joo - Billy Joel: Fantasies & Delusions, Op. 1-10 - Music for Solo Piano

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Free Music Notes for Billy Joel: Fantasies & Delusions, Op. 1-10 - Music for Solo Piano

Free Music Review: A Modern Day Classical Classic
Hit: 5 Stars

Billy Joel has triumphed once again by composing top-notch quality music, the only difference being that it's a departure from his normal rock n'roll signature. He has proven himself to be someone who dares to change and to mature gracefully. All the tracks here are superbly written by Joel and performed by award-winning virtuoso Richard Joo. It's very hard to dispute that.

Many reviewers here compare Joel with great classical composers of the past. I suppose it's perfectly understandable to do so. But let's stop awhile and appreciate Billy Joel for what he is and what he has accomplished on this cd.

However, going back to the subject of great composers of the past, let us not forget the fact that many of them were criticised for their work and unfairly under-appreciated until decades after their time. Case in point, think of Bach. Why was that ? It's the same reason, people needlessly compared them with composers and works before them. Indeed, new classical pieces often need time to "sink in," but wouldn't it be nice to appreciate it for its individual quality and give it the credit it deserves from the start ?

Also, let us not overlook the fact that many of the great composers did not personally perform their works themselves. Joel in this case was extremely wise to hand it over to Richard Joo, a highly accomplished classical pianist, to do the performing. Joel is after all a rock n'roll piano player. For those who knows a thing or two about piano playing, like myself, it should be quite enough said.

Finally, it is only natural to have some input from Richard Joo into the pieces, as well as a few others who worked on this album. Joo is the one who played the pieces and its quite impossible for him, as an artist, not to have some suggestions of his own. Bottom line, Joel is the one in charge here and all these pieces essentially started with the man himself. Therefore, "Music Composed By Billy Joel" is genuine and justified.

Favourite tracks, basically all tracks here, but Track 2, Opus 2, Waltz# 1 (Nunley's Carousel) and Track 5, Opus 1, Soliloquy (On A Separation) stand out. The latter was the first track that was written for this album. Joel wrote this piece out of an intense longing for his daughter as he watched her car disappear into the distance after she came to visit. You could clearly hear his heartache in the music and the depth of his emotions comes across so powerfully that words are hardly needed.

Fantasies and Delusions is a must buy for all Billy Joel fans, old and new, and for all those who like classical music for the piano, and also for everyone who appreciates the effort and courage of someone who sets out to create brand new classical music in this day and age.

This cd contains 12 tracks of 100% quality classical music, not just something that barely resembles classical music. Billy Joel truly deserves great respect for his contribution to the world of music for the last 30+ years and this album is no less essential. It's top-notch quality through and through.

Ps. Two pieces of music here are featured on The Essential Billy Joel double cd released on the same day.

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