Peace of Heaven
Advent
Heritage
Thoughts and Affections
Forever and Eternity
“Peace of Heaven” Album:
“The peace of heaven is like dawn on the earth, which gladdens minds with universal delight; and the truth of peace is like the light of the dawn… for peace has in it confidence in the Lord, that He directs all things, and provides all things, and that He leads to a good end.” - Emanuel Swedenborg (Heavenly Secrets 8455)
“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.” (Psalm 37:3-5)
Peace of Heaven - The title track is meant to capture those rare moments when we feel a sense of heavenly peacefulness; when we know that God is in control; that everything will work out for the best, and that there is no need to worry about our lives. “Heavenly or angelic peace occurs in us when we are attuned to wisdom because of the union of the good and the true and therefore see ourselves as contented in God.” - Emanuel Swedenborg (Heaven and Hell 288)
Family Comfort- This piece is about that warm, cozy, almost lethargic feeling that I feel when I’m spending time with my family, say for example, after dinner at Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. It’s about the comforts of home.
Thoughtfulness - Doing good things for other people is an important part of life. But sometimes charity can become ritualistic, or even selfish. True charity comes from the heart, and I think is well captured in the word: Thoughtfulness. “The life of thoughtfulness toward the neighbor - behaving fairly and uprightly in all our deeds and in all our responsibilities - leads to heaven, but not a life of piety apart from this active life.” - Emanuel Swedenborg (Heaven and Hell 360)
Memories - This is an improvisational piece structured around 4 chords. This piece is about exploring one’s past and digging up long-forgotten memories - either happy or sad - that have shaped one’s life.
Surrender - This piece is about letting go of our own agenda and letting God into our lives. Thy will be done, not mine. This is hard to do, and often involves a painful struggle with ourselves, and with God. But it is only through fighting our own selfishness that we can truly turn to God, and find true peace. (Luke 9: 23-25)
Footprints in the Sand - This piece was inspired by the famous poem about feeling lost and thinking that the Lord has forgotten us. We look behind us and see only one set of footprints in the sand. We think they’re our own, but they’re really the Lord’s footprints as He carried us through the hard times.
Contentment - This piece follows the previous two. After fighting our own selfishness, feeling lost, and finally casting our cares on the Lord, we can be blessed with a wonderful sense of knowing that we’re in the stream of the Lord’s Providence.
Rise Above It - This piece was inspired by Ray and Star Silverman’s book about spiritual development through the 10 Commandments. This piece is about the quest of rising above our bad habits and evil tendencies, and elevating our minds and lives into a spiritual plane of existence.
Affection for Truth - This piece is about the simple joys of learning new truths that apply to our lives.
More than a Dream - This was originally a song that I wrote for my wife, Tirah. Over the course of being married and learning about true marriage love, I have learned in what ways it is more than just a dream; it’s so much better than I had dreamed it would be. This is the solo piano version of the song.
Revelation - This piece is about having a personal epiphany, or inspiration, or enlightenment from God; those moments when the Lord opens our eyes, and the truth is revealed.
Life after Death - When someone that you know dies and moves on, we can experience very bittersweet emotions. We are sad and shocked that they are gone, but happy to know that they are in a better place, and hopeful that we will see them again someday.
Hymn of Gratitude - This piece was meant to have lyrics, but somehow I could never find the right words. This piece is about learning to have an attitude of gratitude to the Lord, in everything that we do in our daily life. Heavenly peace can be found when we sing a hymn of gratitude 24/7; when we sing: “Thank you Lord, for all Your blessings!”
Peace be with you - This piece was inspired by the first words Jesus spoke when He appeared to all of His disciples after He had risen. What a wonderful way to greet someone: wishing that peace would be with them! (Luke 24:36, John 20:19)
Angel’s Birth - When my wife and I got married, I composed this piece as our wedding processional. I believe very strongly in the importance and eternity of marriage. I believe that “two spouses in heaven are not called two angels but one angel.” (Emanuel Swedenborg “Heaven and Hell” 367) So therefore, a wedding here on earth is the date of birth for an angel in heaven!
Solomon Keal is a solo piano artist and composer from Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania.
This is his fourth solo piano album. His previous solo piano albums include “Thoughts and Affections,” and “Heritage,” featuring his own compositions; and “Advent” which features his own solo piano arrangements of traditional sacred Christmas songs.
Visit Solomon at www.SolomonKeal.com and sign up to receive his monthly email newsletter.
All pieces composed and performed by Solomon Keal.
Recorded in the summer of 2006 by Solomon Keal in his home studio, using Art Vista’s Virtual Grand Piano Sampler.
Recorded and mastered by Solomon Keal
CD manufacturing by Oasis
Graphics design by Peter Genzlinger, Tirah Keal, and Solomon Keal.
Photography by Roger Schrock and Matthew Genzlinger
Copyright 2006 Peace of Heaven Music.
Once upon a time, Away in a Manger, the Lord Jesus Christ was born into our world. And It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, that a heavenly choir of angels appeared to a group of shepherds nearby. And when the shepherds had overcome their fear of the might and glory of this angelic Pastoral Symphony, the angels said to them, “Rise Up, Shepherds, and go into Bethlehem. For unto us a Child is born!” And when the angels had gone away, the shepherds asked themselves, “What Child is This?” One of them answered, “I don’t know, but the Angels we have Heard on High said to go to Bethlehem and see.” So they ran into Bethlehem, and found the Baby Lord, lying in a manger. And His mother, Mary was singing Him to sleep, whispering softly, “Lully Lullay, o little tiny Child, Lully Lullay Lullay.” And the shepherds saw that this little tiny Child was the Lord, the Messiah, and they rejoiced and said, “O Holy Night! Let us spread the good news! Let us Go Tell It On The Mountain that Jesus Christ is born!”
Even now, thousands of years later, When the World is White with Winter, we still spread the good news, and celebrate our Lord and Savior’s wondrous birth, when we sing Christmas Carols about Him, like His mother did in the Song of Mary.
And so, In the Bleak Midwinter of our hearts, let us pray that the Lord comes to us all, as we say “O Come, O Come Emanuel. O come into our hearts, as You came into the world that Blessed Night so long ago.”
Solomon Keal is a solo piano artist and composer from Lenhartsville Pennsylvania. This is his third album, following two other solo piano albums of his peaceful original compositions, entitled “Thoughts and Affections” and “Heritage.”
All pieces are sacred Christmas melodies in the public domain.
All pieces were arranged and performed by Solomon Keal.
Recorded in the summer of 2005, on a Yamaha Clavinova CLP-950, by Solomon Keal in his home studio.
For interest’s sake, every piece on this album was arranged in a different key.
What Child is This? - 16th Century English melody
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - 12th or 15th Century French plainsong
Pastoral Symphony - Melody by George Frederick Handel, 1741
Angels we have Heard on High - Traditional French Carol, 19th Century
Blessed Night - Melody by M.B.F., 1907
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Melody by Richard Storrs Willis, 1850
When the World was White with Winter - Old French Christmas Carol
The Wexford Carol - 12th Century Irish or English melody
Rise Up Shepherd and Follow - African-American spiritual
The Coventry Carol (Lully Lullay) - 15th or 16th Century English melody
O Holy Night - Melody by Adolphe Charles Adam, 1847
Go Tell it on the Mountain - African-American spiritual
The Magnificat (Song of Mary) - Composer unknown. Based on Luke 1: 46-55
In the Bleak Midwinter - Melody by Gustav T. Holst, 1906
Away in a Manger - Melody by James R. Murray, 1887
Recorded and Mastered by Solomon Keal
Additional Mastering by Oasis
Graphic design by Peter Genzlinger, Tirah Keal, and Solomon Keal
Photography by Roger Schrock.
Copyright 2005 Peace of Heaven Music.
“Heritage” is my second album of original piano pieces following “Thoughts and Affections” in 1998. All music contains a certain amount of the composer in it and my first album was, in general, some of my thoughts and affections.
This second album is more of a music story in which I express some of my heritage in music. This particular story was inspired by specific events in my life over the past few years, a time when I was coming of age and learning about my relationships with people and with the Lord. The thoughts and affections expressed in both of my albums are things which have made me who I am today and thus are, in a sense, my Heritage.
Musical Joy - My joy in music is an essential part of my heritage.
Sunset - I have always thought that sunsets were one of the best forms of beauty and peace in the Lord’s creation.
Reflections - The way that a person reflects is often like the ever-spreading rings in a pond when a stone is thrown in.
Prayer - Prayer is talking with God; which is a continual conversation of ups and downs.
Admiration - This piece was written for someone for whom I have much admiration.
Solitary Contemplation - I did a lot of this as I was coming of age.
My Faith - I wrote this piece at a time in my life when I was trying to figure out exactly what I believed.
Lonely Heart - The process of finding a marriage partner is full of hight points and low points.
Heritage - The first verse of this piece was composed in the style of George Winston; the second verse was composed in the style of Hagood Hardy, the third verse was composed in the styles of Tom Rose and Tony Rose, all of whom were a part of my musical heritage.
Wisdom of Time - The beautiful thing about the past is that we can learn from it.
Moving On - Sometimes we get stuck in one way of thinking and we just need to move on.
Courtship - A little bit of the joy of Heaven. A piano duet for three hands.
Sweet Dreams - We have dreams when we sleep and dreams when we’re fully awake and thinking about the future.
Sleep Well - …a little rest and relaxation…
Thinking of You - A piece for someone who has changed my life forever.
All pieces composed and performed by Solomon Keal
Recorded on a Yamaha Clavinova P150 at Bearswamp Studios in October and November of 1999.
Original copyright 2000 Freeflow Music.
Copyright 2003 Peace of Heaven Music.
Recorded by Clark Ferguson - Bearswamp Studios, Macungie Pa
Photography by Dennis Gillette - Gillette Photography, Emmaus Pa
Graphics by Liz Stehman - Rittenhouse Graphics, Macungie Pa.
“Thoughts and Affections” Album:
Solomon Keal started taking piano lessons when he was in the first grade in 1983. For several years these lessons were taught by his mother, Wellesley Keal. When he was about 12 years old, he had completed his elementary lessons. By this time he had grown tired of taking lessons, so he spent a year or two not playing the piano at all. He came back to the piano from a love of music, with a background in basic music theory, and started learning piano pieces by ear. In 1993, when he was 16, he composed his first original piano piece entitled “Thunderstorm.” He has been composing ever since, and at age 20 he had compiled a collection of around 30 original pieces. Most of his pieces are for solo piano, but has has written pieces for flute and piano, as well as several songs.
Solomon comes from a very musical family; all of them sing. His mother plays piano, guitar, organ, and recorder. His father Ian plays guitar, both acoustic and electric. His sister Roxanne plays flute and piano, and his youngest sister Tamar plays piano, violin, and recorder. His mom and sisters also compose for the piano, and currently Solomon and Roxanne are working on an album of flute and piano pieces.
Solomon loves many different kinds of music including Country, Classical, Classic Rock, and Celtic (alliteration unintended). Solomon’s favorite influential piano composers include George Winston, Hagood Hardy, Vince Guaraldi, John Odhner, Scott Joplin, and James Horner.
Wellesley’s Waterfall - A favorite of my Mom’s
Star Gazing - A piece about thinking on things higher than oneself. What are those small points of light in our lives? It’s also just about that quiet awe one feels when looking up at the stars.
Homesick - This piece really took on its name and meaning after I went away to College.
Friendship - A piece inspired by a poem written by a friend, about friends.
Coming Home - the follow-up piece to “Homesick.”
The Baptism - A piece composed during the reception after the baptism of a friend’s new son.
Angels on Earth - Dedicated to members of the Kempton New Church Society.
Crystal Snowflakes - You know that very soft kind of falling snow that is so quiet that it seems like the world is holding it’s breath? If you listen carefully, it “tinkles.”
Svend’s Song - This piece was inspired by the feelings I went through when I heard of the death of one of my boyhood friends. This piece is dedicated to his family.
Music Box Lullaby - I hope to someday have this song put into a real music box.
An Evening with Friends - Written during an evening with some of my friends from Bryn Athyn College of the New Church.
Recorded in the Kempton New Church School Society Room, on a Baldwin Upright Concert Piano, on December 22nd 1997.
All pieces composed and performed by Solomon Keal.
Recorded by Bruce Siekmann - Amoeba Audio, Fleetwood PA
Mastered by Clark Ferguson - Bearswamp Studios, Macungie PA
Photography by Dennis Gillette - Gillette Photography, Emmaus PA
Graphics by Liz Stehman - Rittenhouse Graphics, Macungie PA.
Original Copyright 1998 Solomon Keal.
Copyright 2003 Peace of Heaven Music.
