Matt Johnson
Pianist ~ Composer
Teacher
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Companion eBook
ISBN: 9781543958430
Reflections on…
The Proverbs of Solomon
Improvised piano music with Matt's narration—album
This is a "musical audiobook" devotional tool. Using these 15-minute guided meditations to reflect daily on the ancient wisdoms of the Proverbs allows the listener to easily cycle through the entire book of Proverbs each month.
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Matt offers his original music with no expectation of payment.
The above audio files are absolutely FREE for your personal use and enjoyment.
However, donations are always appreciated.
Recording Information and Credits
Title: Reflections on…The Proverbs of Solomon
Artist: Matt Johnson
Release Date: November, 2010
Produced, Engineered, Mastered, Graphics and Artwork:
~ Matt Johnson
Record Label: Dolce & Nuit Productions
The World English Bible translation of the Proverbs was used for this project: www.WorldEnglishBible.org
Download the Proverbs eBook to follow along if desired.
CD Numbers:
DNP4305-2: Reflections on…The Proverbs of Solomon
DNP4810-2: Just the Music™ from
"Reflections on…The Proverbs of Solomon"
UPC: 045011430521
ISBN: 9781543958430
Total Recording Time: 7 hours, 45 minutes
Musicians:
~ Matt Johnson: piano, narration and harmony ball texture
Graphics created for this recording
…a melding of Matt's music and narrations
"People see things differently."
MJ
In my life journey, there have been many chapters. Each phase helped me grow…helped me learn that my views and opinions are not the only way of seeing things…things that might work for me may not work for another…and that's okay. Most significantly, becoming a father has given me a different perspective on living.
It is with these understandings that I present the "Perspectives…by Matthew" series—a melding of my music and narrations. Selections within this series will feature improvised and captured "moments in time." When I sit down at the piano to create the music and narrate the words, an improvisational musical picture emerges. These are the musical moments I offer…for your own personal times of reflection and meditation.
As I continue on my path, I look forward to exploring many topics of interest.
• • • • •
The first project in this series features Matt's improvised musical reflections as he narrates the 31 chapters of the Proverbs of Solomon. Each track [chapter] is 15 minutes in length, totaling almost 8 hours of audio content.
This is a "musical audiobook" devotional tool. Using these 15-minute guided meditations to reflect daily on the ancient wisdoms of the Proverbs allows the listener to easily cycle through the entire book of Proverbs each month.
The original improvised music has also been released in a companion "Just the Music™" series—without narration—to enjoy during personal times of reflection and meditation.
Testimonials
REVIEWS
Album Review: Reflections on…The Proverbs of Solomon
Matt Johnson
2010 / Dolce & Nuit Productions
7 hours, 45 minutes
Review by Kathy Parsons/www.MainlyPiano.com
"Reflections on…The Proverbs of Solomon" is a huge project by Matt Johnson that combines improvised piano music behind Matt's reading of the thirty-one chapters of The Proverbs of Solomon. Originally released in 2010, Matt reads from The World English Bible translation of the Proverbs, so the language sounds natural and contemporary. Each chapter is presented in a 15-minute segment with the intention that one chapter be listened to each day for a month and then restarting the cycle. Knowing how difficult it can be to commit 15 minutes every day to something like this, Matt suggests listening while commuting, meditating or by pausing for a daily devotional. Each segment has breaks in the narration to reflect on the words or to listen more fully to the music, which is soothing as it enhances and adds tonal colors to the narration. There is also a downloadable companion e-book for those who would like to read along with the narration.
The concept for the project came from the realization that most people rarely take the time to reflect on things that are important to them or to center themselves. Taking 15 minutes a day to listen to Matt's music and the words from the Proverbs could be a very positive step toward changing that. Obviously, people will reflect on different things at different times, depending on their current needs, desires and perspectives. Matt adds: "While my religious heritage stressed a daily devotional time, this personal practice may be applied within any spiritual path."
Matt explains how the music was created: "With a pre-selected text, I sat at my piano and played... simply channeling the muse...accepting whatever came out as meant to be... while interweaving the words." The music was recorded with a digital piano, and "harmony ball texture" was added to the music, giving it a bright but gentle sparkle.
There is a second version of the project called "Just the Music™ from 'Reflections on …The Proverbs of Solomon'" that contains all 7 hours and 45 minutes of music without the narration. It is also divided into thirty-one 15 minute segments. Without the narration, it is more obvious that the music is very expressive and often passionate, but it can still stay in the background while you're working or studying and need to focus on something other than the music itself. Music for reflection, meditation, relaxation or simply for listening pleasure, this is a very nice collection of piano improvisations with harmony ball textures added.
In addition to creating the music and reading the text, Matt produced, engineered and mastered the album(s). He also designed the graphics and artwork.
Matt Johnson offers all of his recordings and sheet music as free downloads from www.MattJohnsonMusic.com. (There isn't any sheet music available for this album.) CDs and downloads of the recording and e-book are available from Amazon, and downloads of the music are available from Apple Music/ iTunes. The full album can also be streamed on Spotify, Pandora and several other sites. Just the Music™ from 'Reflections on…The Proverbs of Solomon' is available from Amazon and Apple Music/ iTunes.