💿 possessed: OUT NOW
music that explores grief & enhances your connection with loved-ones
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Announcement Video
Psst: Jump to 2:15 for some special insight.
Accolades
Charlotte Botterill, Contemporary Classical Composer:
“This collaborative mother-son project demonstrates the joy which nurturing a love of music can bring - a gift which can be shared by all ages. Both pianists play with genuine emotion, putting their own unique take on these classics.”
Dan Kamionkowski, Pianist:
“The articulation of Chopin and Rachmaninoff in terms of the "tiny notes" feels natural, and the curation of the program is so intuitive to the stated goal. I just passed the 2 year anniversary of my mother's passing, so I will treasure these beautiful performances. My mother would have loved their playing.”
Tamara Casey, Singer/Songwriter & Producer:
“A lovely, relaxing album that would just as easily accompany a quiet dinner, curling up with a good book, or providing a musical background to work to. The novel interpretation of these timeless pieces is something anyone should appreciate.”
Cynthia Brando, Singer/Songwriter:
“The first movement opens with a starkness of sound that penetrates, putting you into a state of deep reflection. The music settles in to deeper emotional states... artistically and precisely played by two obvious wondrous spirits of musical joy...”
AJ Deiboldt, Guitarist & Singer/Songwriter
“'Possessed' is relaxing and compelling. It’s as if your piano-playing friend didn't just make you the perfect playlist- he painstakingly recorded it for you”
When possessed by grief, how do we endure?
Does our connection with loved-ones & ancestors persist?
A haunting exploration of piano at its most mournful and brooding, possessed highlights music meant for dim hours and shadowed rooms. Holding hostage to reflect deeply on grief, each track carries the weight of absence, calling out to long-lost memories and emotions. A rare generational collaboration between mother-son pianists, Beth Anderson and David Levine, possessed has been carefully crafted to support introspection and self-reflection.
The idea for this album was formed by considering: when possessed by grief, how do we endure? Perhaps it represents connection, somehow cosmically, to those who have passed away and to ancestors who we never had the privilege of meeting. Especially with intention, music creates a safe space to explore this connection. Maybe they live through and beside us, and when we drop our defenses, we begin to perceive them. This album is dedicated to self-reflection and ritual. An hour of dark, introspective classical piano music has been carefully recorded to support your journey. The magically-inclined listeners will savor knowing that every track in this album has been recorded with the intention to invite loved-ones and ancestors into dreams.
The Track List
1. Chopin, Prelude Op. 28 No. 4
2. Rachmaninoff, Prelude Op. 32 No. 12
3. Chopin, Nocturne No. 20
4. Chopin, Prelude Op. 28 No. 6 (Beth Anderson)
5. R. Schumann, Davidbundlertanze Op. 6 No. 11 (Beth Anderson)
6-12. R. Schumann, Symphonic Studies Op. 13, Selections
13. Chopin, Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1
14. Grieg, Lyric Pieces Book 2 Op. 38 No. 6 (Beth Anderson)
15-18. Scriabin, Prelude Op. 11, Selections
19. Chopin, Prelude Op. 28 No. 15, “Raindrop” (Beth Anderson)
20. Coleridge-Taylor, “They Will Not Lend Me a Child”
21. Schubert, “Serenade” (Beth Anderson)
About the Pianists
In her early years, Beth Anderson studied flute and piano, playing professionally as a classical pianist, accompanist for many musicals, and church pianist. She varied her career between teaching piano, performing, software engineering, and engineering management. In 1998, Beth debuted, Meditations, an hour-long album of contemporary music. Throughout her varied career, her favorite role has been as Mom and Grandmom to her kids and grandkids. After her hiatus, she returns to the piano in possessed, contributing over 15 minutes of precision and emotive-touch through her diverse selections.
David Levine removes the “scholastic” element from the world of Classical Music to help listeners that are new to the genre find an emotional connection. His published discography includes 2-hours of Classical & Romantic-Era music. Based in Lansing, Michigan, he performs locally at various medical-rehab and memory-care facilities, connecting with hundreds of people in-person to promote self-reflection with music as medicine. A major theme he highlights is acknowledging the critical nature of Classical Music culture, and to overcome it simply by spreading kindness and support to fellow musicians.
LAST WORDS
A HAND-HELD, ARM-RAISE & BOW with Beth Anderson (my Mom). THANK YOU for contributing to this legacy body of work that we now share together.
A SUBTLE HEAD-NOD to the living & passed-away mentors and loved-ones who contributed to this album without knowing.
And lastly, a THANK YOU to the VARIOUS MUSICIANS who were kind enough to speak candidly earlier this year here on Substack about their craft and outlook on music in the modern world. These conversations were inspiring as I settled into accepting the completion of my recording process. Here is a list of mini-shoutouts in no particular order (I highly recommend you explore their work): Lisa Marie Simmons, Emilia Elucidates, Tamara Casey, Dan Kamionkowski, Charlotte Botterill, AJDeiboldt-The High Notes, Cynthia Brando.
Congratulations David.
Incredible! I’m super excited to check it out!