The Chronicle

You could review this CD in two words: “nice piano”, maybe. Or “piano brainwash” if you wanted to be more new age-y about it. It’s a CD that’s impossible to dislike; it’s here to entertain and not be heavy or deep, and its purity does wonders for an over-busy brain. Seivewright plays with simplicity and grace, and it all bobbles along nicely. (Bobbles along, musical term, honest). The music has got real charm and Seivewright sounds like he enjoys playing it. The sleeve notes talk about the “easy and mellifluous expansiveness” of the first piece, (“foreshadowing Romantic as well as Classical styles”, too). The second piece provokes extensive sleeve notes about the key of D minor but towards the end a comment on a “spirit of great joyousness”, which is all you need to know, unless you’re big fan of the “ancient” key, the tonic note of the Dorian mode, as we all know. And so on. For the non-academic piano lover, it’s a charming CD of lovely music that equally suits quiet, late night listening, an early morning wake-up or for contemplation during the day. Academics can still enjoy it, and get the learned sleeve notes as a bonus.

—Jeremy Condliffe