Listen to instrumental music from Jill Haley with her new album National Park Soundscapes, part of a wonderful series of albums inspired by the beauty and majesty of some of our National Parks. She plays oboe and English horn as one of a few musicians who work with Will Ackerman, Grammy winner and Windham Hill Records founder, at his Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont.
To celebrate the National Park Service centennial in 2016 Jill released “National Park Soundscapes,” which is a collection on music about 12 different National Parks from Acadia to Zion. The CD packaging includes a 15-page full color booklet with a photo of each National Park that is portrayed in the music. She is also presenting concerts of this new music in some of the Parks included on the recording as well as at other music venues.
The music will also be presented in an orchestral format for the first time as a “National Park Suite.” This will be an arrangement of four of the new pieces from the recording for orchestra and solo oboe/English horn.
While artist in Residence for 2 weeks in 2014 at Mesa Verde, Jill wrote new music about the park entitled, “Mesa Verde Soundscapes”. The recording included 14 compositions about different places in the park.
In November 2012, Zion and Bryce Canyon Soundscapes was the #1 most played CD for ambient music. The recording is dedicated to the National Park Service which is celebrating it’s centennial in 2016.
“Glacier Soundscapes,” is a collection of original music written in 2010 for Glacier National Park. The album is dedicated to the scientists, politicians, organizations, and individuals who are working towards the goal of slowing down global warming.
After a busy summer of presenting this new music she will return to Glacier National Park as an Artist in Residence for the month of October 2016. She hopes to create some new music about this park as well as share it with the local community in a concert format.
Jill describes her National Park Series recorded over the past several years:
It is so great to live in these parks while I am writing the music and am able to capture lots of different moods in the park. The National Parks are a precious resource in the United States that needs to be protected for future generations. Many environmental issues have an impact on the National Parks, such as climate change and encroaching development. This recording is dedicated to the National Park Service which is celebrating it’s centennial in 2016.
In his review Michael Diamond of Music and Media Focus says:
If anyone comes close to expressing the ineffable splendor of nature through music, it is Jill Haley. Her National Park Soundscapes album illuminates both the grandeur and subtlety of these natural wonders. Each piece is beautifully written in tribute to a particular park and enhanced by the musical chemistry between Jill and her talented accompanists, making for a most enchanting listening experience.
There is also a lovely review by Kathy Parsons at MainlyPiano.com.
National Park Soundscapes (2016) – 12 songs, 49 min
More music from Jill Haley: albums, videos, and links.
