JULIE RIVERS: The Kiss of the Sun

Julie Rivers

The Kiss of the Sun

© 1999 Julie Rivers (617244136428)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 10% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Beautiful romantic piano music that speaks of love,hope and optimism, some "bluesy" with lush orchestrations.

tracks

1 A New Day
2 How Sweet is the Meadow (Aire)
3 River Run
4 I'll Give Myself to the Wind
5 Sad Birds
6 Midsommar Dag (Midsummer Day)
7 Heartbeats
8 The Last Rose
9 How Many Angels
10 When the Sun Goes Down
11 Mountain Stars
12 Daystar

notes

Julie Rivers Biography
With the EarthStar Recordings 1997 release of her third album, "One Starry Night," pianist/composer Julie Rivers captured the hearts of new and old fans alike with her luxuriantly romantic music of the night. February 1999 saw the world premier of "The Kiss of the Sun," much-anticipated sequel to "One Starry Night," which celebrates the dazzling romance of the day. Her sixth recording, Christmastide, was released in November, 1999, and her seventh, "As Far As the Heart Can See" came in February, 2003.

New Age Voice Magazine featured tracks from "One Starry Night" and "The Kiss of the Sun" in their Nov/Dec 1999 and May 2000 CD Samplers included in the mailings of the national publication. Her music has been in the Airwaves Top 100 of NAV Magazine, with airplay on stations from Cambridge, MA to Florida, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Hawaii, and many more. Radio Kansas recently selected three of her original albums for their popular new age program, "Nightcrossings," and two of her albums were listed simultaneously on the Hastings Books Music and Video "Top Ten." A feature story about Julie appeared in the Fall 1999 edition of "Bryggen Magazine," Sweden.

Julie Rivers is one of seventeen pianists selected nationwide for a recording commemorating and benefiting the families of the victims of the 9/11 tragedies. The HeartAid Project released the CD including Julie's composition, When the Sun Goes Down, from the album "The Kiss of the Sun" on the Spring Hill label on 9/11/2002.

In April 2002, it was announced in San Francisco that Julie won first place in the nation in the National League of American Pen Women composition contest with music from her recording, "The Kiss of the Sun." In April 1998, she had won first place in the same contest in St. Petersburg, Florida, with music from the CD "One Starry Night." In June 1997, she was recognized by the Kansas Arts Commission with one of four state Fellowship Awards for composition. She has received special awards from ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers every year from 1998 through 2002.

Called a "treasured Kansas artist" by Linda Graves, First Lady of Kansas, pianist Julie Rivers has been on the Kansas Musical Artists Touring Program each year since 1980. She is also a pianist for the fifteen-state Heartland Arts Fund roster of touring artists, and has performed with the Texas Touring Program and the Mid-America Arts Alliance.

A graduate in Piano Performance from the University of North Texas, Julie has performed with the Saint Louis, Dallas, Oklahoma, San Angelo, Abilene (TX), Lawton, North Arkansas and Topeka Symphonies, among others. She has performed at the Texas Round Top Festival and the Oregon Bach Festival, in addition to many regional touring engagements.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • author: Jean D: The Kiss of the Sun

    Another great CD of original compositions by Julie Rivers. They are very expressive and passionate and played meticulously by Julie. A joyous CD. I am so glad I found Julie. I was browsing for recorded piano music when I ran across her. Lucky me! This CD will not disappoint.

  • Inspired by nature and poetry, Julie Rivers' fifth piano album shimmers. Most of
    author: Solo Piano Publications - Kathy Parsons

    The Kiss of the Sun Julie Rivers 1999/EarthStar Records 51:30 Reviewed by Kathy Parsons True to its title, "The Kiss of the Sun" spills over with warmth and sunshine. Classical in its scope and sophistication, the music is timeless in its mood and message. Inspired by nature and poetry, Julie Rivers' fifth piano album shimmers. Most of the pieces are orchestrated, and children's voices as well as sound samples taken from nature make "Kiss of the Sun" a very full and rich listening experience. I absolutely love "Heartbeats", which is passion set to music. The least orchestrated piece on the album, it is slow, earthy, and haunting - and so very intense. Amazing stuff! The piano is accompanied by synth strings, the sound of wind, and at its peak, voices. I can't imagine anyone being untouched by the fierce beauty of this piece - worth the price of the CD by itself! "How Many Angels" is another favorite. Composed in appreciation for her brother, Rivers' warmth and love touch deeply. Mostly a piano solo with synth strings and innocent-sounding voices, the piece uplifts and soothes. "Sad Birds" and "When The Sun Goes Down" are more jazz-influenced with Kim Park on flute and sax respectively. "Sad Birds" is downright bluesy, showing just how versatile this artist is. "Mountain Stars" was inspired by the beauty of the stars at night in Sun Valley, Idaho. It is dark and spacious, and yet glittering. It is very easy to lose oneself in this piece, picturing the black sky with its millions of stars twinkling above, feeling both alone and as one with the universe. "Daystar" swirls and soars in celebration of life and the sun - pure joy flows through this piece. "I'll Give Myself to the Wind" tells the story of a walk in a meadow before a storm, escorted by dozens of butterflies and a dragonfly, with birds soaring overhead. Peaceful and serene, a lovely experience. Julie Rivers is a relatively new discovery for me, and I am really impressed with the strength of her composing and playing. I would say her music is much more classical than new age, but most contemporary instrumentals end up in the new age category anyway. Open and heartfelt emotions conveyed with top-notch playing skills are a winner in my book!

email

Please log in to email this artist.