Shades of Quiet Review
January 16, 2026
What a lovely oasis of calm can be found in this book! Beginning with the cover picture of a white iris on a beige background, moving to the easily legible layout, this book is immediately engaging.
Each of the titles of the 15 two page piano solos, draw one in to a mood of quiet reflection. From Just a Whisper, Solitude, Wrapped in Twilight, to Solace, Tranquillity, Serenity, and more, the expressive, lyrical melodies create a sensitive and peaceful atmosphere. In the preface, the composer states her intent that this repertoire capture your heart without requiring an intense amount of practice.
The difficulty is from late elementary to early intermediate. Key signatures range from one flat to two sharps with the exception of a single piece using mostly black keys with six flats. Time signatures used are 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/8 and 6/8. Most pieces use quarter notes and eighth notes with the exception of Be Still which has a brief section with broken chord sixteenths.
These pieces have a wide range of uses, from repertoire to sight reading, to exercises in melodic projection and creating a gentle tone palette. We all know the therapeutic value of music – this volume is a valuable tool to that end. In an era of heightened anxiety, here is a balm!
Joyce Janzen – BCRMTA
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