Solo Piano II review by Kathy Parsons on mainlypiano.com

I’m delighted to share this wonderful review of my album Solo Piano II by Kathy Parsons (mainlypiano.com). It was recently published on MainlyPiano.com, and her words truly moved me.

You can find the full review here:

👉 Album review: Solo Piano II – Aura Noctis (Kathy Parsons)

And here’s the text:


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Concert Photos January 2025

On January 12th, I held a concert to present the two piano albums I released in 2024, Solo Piano and Solo Piano II. It took place at Espacio Ronda in Madrid, and for me, it was magical.

I would like to share some photos from the concert. As for words, I prefer to save them for another time, as it would be very difficult for me to express all that I have received and what this experience has meant to me. I express myself better through music 😊

Just one thing:

✨🎹🙏 Thank you 🙏🎹✨

Picture - Album release concert for 'Solo Piano' and 'Solo Piano II' by Aura Noctis, January 12, 2025 Picture - Album release concert for 'Solo Piano' and 'Solo Piano II' by Aura Noctis, January 12, 2025 Picture - Album release concert for 'Solo Piano' and 'Solo Piano II' by Aura Noctis, January 12, 2025 Picture - Album release concert for 'Solo Piano' and 'Solo Piano II' by Aura Noctis, January 12, 2025 Picture - Album release concert for 'Solo Piano' and 'Solo Piano II' by Aura Noctis, January 12, 2025 Picture - Album release concert for 'Solo Piano' and 'Solo Piano II' by Aura Noctis, January 12, 2025

Solo Piano II review by Steve Sheppard – One World Music Radio

I am very happy to share this beautiful review written by Steve Sheppard (from One World Music Radio) about my album Solo Piano II. The review was published on January 13, 2025, on his blog.

Here is the link:

👉 Solo Piano II by Aura Noctis written by Steve Sheppard

And the text:


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About the music in my Solo Piano albums

In this post, as promised, I’ll share the stories behind each composition in my last two solo piano albums. More specifically, the stories behind the pieces that are solo piano versions of previously released works. For the new ones, their stories will come later 🙂 For now, I’ll just highlight their status as premieres and mention when they were composed.

Starting with the latest one, Solo Piano II:


Solo Piano II:

Behind the Mask: Composed in 2024, debuting on this album..

Nana: Composed for lostfrontier’s sampler* ‘Music written for and inspired by babies’ (Track 13 – Nana2 – Olga BG)
https://archive.org/details/MusicWrittenForAndInspiredByBabies
*(These are compilation albums featuring different artists, released annually by this radio host. More info on his website.)

Amnis: Composed in 2013. First released on the album En Directo 2015, in its version for piano and oboe.

El Cantar de las Hojas: Composed in 2011 as a gentle piano lullaby, originally titled ‘Inexistente final’. Its vocal version debuted on the album ‘Vitae Proelium‘ (2012), with vocals and lyrics by Pilar. It was also featured in the 2015 live album, with vocals and lyrics by Bea. You can also find other live performances on YouTube, in 2023 sung by Mar and with oboe, and in 2022 with Bea.

Primer Viaje: Dating back to before 2000, it was originally sequenced on a keyboard. Released as ‘Erste Reise‘ on the album ‘Itineris I‘ its digitally produced version, arranged for piano, cello, and other instruments. Also released as ‘Viajes‘ (comprising Primer Viaje, Segundo Viaje, and Tercer Viaje), featured in the 2015 live album for piano, cello, oboe, and bendir. You can also fin on YouTube the 2022 live performance.

Desde el Silencio: Composed in 2007. Released as D.e.S. on the album ‘Itineris I‘ (2011) in its digitally produced version, featuring piano and other instruments..

La Danza del Duende: Originally a piece in B minor intended as an accompaniment for vocals. Later titled ‘Dances of the Soul‘ and released on the album ‘Vitae Proelium‘ with vocals by Pilar and myself. Retitled ‘La Danza del Duende’ in a new vocal version by Bea that remains unreleased, though we performed it live.

Let go: Composed in 2013 but previously unreleased. Its title reflects the theme of acceptance and letting go during its creation.

Renacer: Composed between late 2023 and early 2024. The centerpiece of this album, and the reason why I wanted to record a second solo piano album soon, since I finished it shortly after recording the first album.


Now moving on to the previous album::


Solo Piano:

Trisolgy: Composed in 2014. The piano, cello and oboe version premiered live in 2015. A 2022 live performance is also available on YouTube. Digitally produced version released in 2023 (album ‘Hiems Aeterna‘). Initially composed in three parts in G minor, which inspired the wordplay in the title. Eventually, I condensed the three parts into one and arranged it for oboe and cello for the group premiere. I still plan to continue it and create a second part, as some themes were left out.

Omnia: Composed between 2011 and 2012. First released as ‘Omnia in Anima Manent‘ in the áabum ‘Vitae Proelium‘  — a piece with vocals and Latin lyrics, featuring Blanca García on vocals. The title means “Everything remains in the soul.” Later arranged for  piano, violonchelo y oboe, it was included in the 2015 live album. A live recording from 2022 is also available on YouTube.

Solsticio: Composed in 2021. My first composition after the pandemic and a musical hiatus. Its digitally produced version was released in 2023 (album Hiems Aeterna). Performed and recorded live in 2022 and 2023. Initially titled “Solsticio de infierno,” I eventually simplified it to “Solsticio.” Written in G♯ minor, it’s the longest piece so far (7 minutes for the solo piano version, nearly 9 for the full version).

Siberia: Composed in 2022. Its digitally produced version premiered in the album Hiems Aeterna (2023). Recorded live in 2023 (available on YouTube).

Segundo Viaje: Composed between 2006 and 2007. First released as ‘Zweite Reise‘ in the album ‘Itineris I‘, and later as part of ‘Viajes’ (with cello and oboe) in 2015.

Fantasía: Composed in 2008. First released in 2011 (album ‘Itineris I‘).

Dreaming in Darkness: Composed in 2013. Originally a digitally produced vocal piece, which wasn’t released until 2023 (album ‘Hiems Aeterna‘). In 2015, I arranged it for cello and oboe and it premiered in that year’s album and concert.

Upcoming album ‘Solo Piano II’

🎹✨ Exciting news! My new album Solo Piano II will be released on December 12th.
It features some brand-new pieces and solo piano versions of previously released songs.
You can pre-save it on Spotify or enter your email to be notified here 👇

https://show.co/hHNBzL0

I’m planning to record a third part because I still have solo piano versions left, and I already have some new material. But I’d also like to release something with vocals — I think that might come first, but we’ll see…

Additionally, I’d love to briefly share the story behind each piece or song (including the Solo Piano ones); I hope to do that soon.

This album was recorded in July, in the same studio as the previous one (Carlos Marques’ studio). However, due to some complications that arose in recent months, including a health issue, I have experienced delays in the audio editing process, postponing the release. It’s going to be weird releasing the videos (where I’m wearing a tank top) in December, with this cold weather! 😆

Thanks for reading, and see you next time!

✨ Concert for Piano and Voice: Sunday, July 28 🎶

On July 28, we had the pleasure of sharing a very special, intimate, and heartwarming concert in a cozy space where I was invited by a friend. It was truly beautiful to share emotions with those who wanted to and were able to come see us, and I am grateful to each and every one of them for being there with us. ❤

I was accompanied on vocals by Mar, as she was in the previous concert at Espacio Ronda, and I hope she continues to join me in future performances. We shared a program featuring solo piano music, piano and voice music, and a few covers.

On another note, on the 24th I was recording again at Carlos’s studio, and I hope to release Solo Piano II in a few months 🤩

Here are some pictures:

Mar y Olga saludando tras la actuación en CC Emilia Pardo Bazán, 28/07/2024. Aura Noctis Mar Cabello actuando en CC Emilia Pardo Bazán, 28/07/2024. Aura Noctis Mar y Olga tras la actuación en CC Emilia Pardo Bazán, 28/07/2024. Aura Noctis Mar y Olga actuando en CC Emilia Pardo Bazán, 28/07/2024. Aura Noctis Olga actuando en CC Emilia Pardo Bazán, 28/07/2024. Aura Noctis

‘Solo Piano’ reviewed in MainlyPiano.com

I’m delighted to announce that ‘Solo Piano’ has just received a wonderful review from Mainlypiano.com! 😍

The review has been written by Kathy Parsons. I think she has made a very perceptive and sensitive analysis of the album’s emotional nuances. For anyone interested, I definitely encourage you to read it, and for those who like piano music, to visit mainlypiano.com regularly.

MainlyPiano.com is the home site of Kathy Parsons, Michael Debbage, and Steve Yip.
It features 3,300+ album reviews of more than 1,180 artists, in addition to 385+ songbook reviews and more than 270 interviews.


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