{"product_id":"0636551833028-melancholia","title":"Melancholia","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTHE STUNNING NEW PIANO OPUS FROM RICK WAKEMAN - 12-TRACKS OF INSTRUMENTAL PIANO MASTERY FROM THE LEGENDARY YES KEYSMAN, PRESENTED ON DIGIPACK CD\/ SPECIAL EDITION 2-DISC CD+DVD INCLUDING HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO \u0026amp; 'INSIDE MELANCHOLIA' SHORT FILM \/ LP \/ INDIE EXC SILVER VINYL LP. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"one of the most meaningful suites of piano music I have ever done\" - Rick Wakeman \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith 'Melancholia', Rick Wakeman completes a remarkable trilogy of solo piano works that began with 'Piano Portraits' (2017) \u0026amp; continued with 'Piano Odyssey' (2018) - both landmark albums that found him reaching new heights of popularity \u0026amp; critical esteem as a solo artist. But while those records looked outward, reinterpreting beloved melodies \u0026amp; exploring sweeping themes, 'Melancholia' turns inward, inviting us into the most personal, introspective \u0026amp; perhaps profound music of Wakeman's storied career. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe album began, as so much of Wakeman's finest work has, with a quiet moment at the piano. One afternoon, his wife Rachel overheard him playing a contemplative piece - what would later become \"Garo\" - \u0026amp; was struck by its quiet emotional power. And because she knew well that he often turned to the piano in times of sadness or inner turbulence, using music as a kind of emotional compass, she encouraged him to share it. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat followed was not a conceptual record in the traditional sense, but a deeply cohesive suite, written intuitively at first \u0026amp; later shaped in collaboration with long-time producer \u0026amp; engineer Erik Jordan at The Granary Studio in Norfolk. Recorded on a beautiful Steinway Model D, the sound of 'Melancholia' is rich, resonant \u0026amp; stripped bare in the most delicate way. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Long live the King of the Keyboards\" - Sunday Express\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWakeman, of course, needs little introduction. A virtuoso keyboardist, composer \u0026amp; arranger, he rose to fame with Yes, helping to define the sound of progressive rock \u0026amp; earning his place in the Rock \u0026amp; Roll Hall of Fame. His solo output spans over a hundred albums, from grand concept works to soundtracks \u0026amp; acoustic meditations. In 2021, he was awarded a CBE for services to music \u0026amp; broadcasting. Rick continues to be prolific on the live scene with a UK tour scheduled in Autumn 2025. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis edition of 'Melancholia' is presented as a 4-panel digipack CD.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56232303001974,"sku":"0636551833028","price":11.55,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_14039877_1226714_20250909045521.jpg?v=1757397279","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/0636551833028-melancholia","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}