Product Description

Each track on DAY OF LIFE conjures an idyllic day, a dreamy journey through nature, as though Monet s pastels have come to life. Concerns float away while basking in this gorgeous hour of Koch s signature music. Describing his recording process for DAY OF LIFE, Koch said, ''Flooded with good memories, I became more in the composing of it.'' You can become more in the listening.

Review

DAY OF LIFE is Bernward Koch's sixth album of soothing, silky-smooth instrumental music on the Real Music label. The thirteen original pieces are mostly piano/keyboard-based and evoke images of a perfect day. Warm, dreamy, and very relaxing, this could very well be my favorite of Koch's albums. Not quite a solo effort, Koch's wife, Christiane Bohm, appears on flute and piccolo on several tracks; and Christoph Koch, Annina Struve, and Johannes Anders play various hand percussion instruments on the closing track. As would be expected of a major Real Music release, this is ideal music for massage, meditation, relaxing, studying, or simply a private musical retreat to a place of peace, beauty, and utter contentment.
Day Of Life begins with ''The Enchanted Path,'' a piece overflowing with grace, calm, and just a hint of magic. Bohm's ethereal flute is perfect, adding a breath of springtime. ''The Blue Light'' is as warm and gentle as a whisper, effortlessly soothing stress and cares away - sigh! I absolutely love ''Lonely Road'' with its poignant, melancholy mood of reflection. Piano, keyboards, and atmospheric sounds paint a picture in delicate shades of blue and purple - another sigh! ''Flowers On the Mountain'' is more ambient with warm, pastel colors, and an easy flow. ''Irish Sun'' is my other favorite. The bittersweet melody has the simplicity of a music box, but the misty washes of sound behind it give it dimension and weight. Bohm appears this time on piccolo, again a perfect fit for the piece. It's amazing how a simple song can convey such intense emotion. Love it! The title track has a slow, rubato waltz rhythm and is as serene as a nap in a grassy meadow. ''Passing Clouds'' could be a lovely lullaby for a child of any age - sweetness and innocence set to music. I also really love ''Journey to the Sea,'' one of the longer pieces. The gently rocking rhythm suggests the peaceful ebb and flow of a very calm ocean, perhaps at sunset. Delicate bells make me think of sparkles of sunshine dancing on the water - another favorite for sure! ''Behind the Mountains'' returns to a more ambient sound that would be wonderful in a movie soundtrack. Conveying the majesty of a mountain range and a curiosity about what lies beyond it, it s a gorgeous ending to a terrific album.
I have enjoyed all of Bernward Koch's albums, but I think DAY OF LIFE is his most expressive and evocative work to date. Very highly recommended! --Kathy Parsons / MainlyPiano.com
For his latest, Koch turns his keyboards to soundscapes that each represent a baker s dozen of days where you get to do what you want in peaceful surroundings without a care in the world. With themes that feel like drifting and floating that might makes you feel like Huck Finn drifting down the Mississippi away from his troubles if he was doing it today (you wouldn't have had music like this 150 years ago, come on), this is a first class audio getaway that won't do anything less than help you recharge the batteries. Dandy stuff to open the ears and mind with. --Chris Spector / Midwest Records
This reviewer stated about eight years ago that German pianist Bernward Koch could best be described as classically trained, with a good ear for an understated melody with room to breathe merging classical and ambient influences. Several recordings later the same can be said for his most current recording DAY OF LIFE which will please any of Koch's current fan base and new listeners seeking for a music that is silky smooth with no edges. Koch's music continues to be inconspicuous and pastoral in nature allowing for a great escape from everyday life. --Michael Debbage / MainlyPiano.com