Austrian pianist/composer Gerald Krampl returns with Grazioso, a collection of eleven original pieces inspired by nature, country life and the northern woodlands that are often home to hidden lakes with swans living on them. Swans became symbols of grace, elegance, sincerity and transformation during Celtic times and the effortless grace that inspired the symbolism is ever-apparent. It also runs throughout the music on Grazioso (the Italian musical term that means “very graceful”). Fellow pianists will be happy to know that sheet music and a digital songbook are available for all of the pieces on the album!

Gerald Krampl is a classically-trained pianist/composer from Vienna who started his music career in the 1970s playing and composing the music for a variety of Prog-Rock bands. He started exploring the areas of New Age and Healing Music in 2006, returning to his more classical roots to work as a solo artist, composing and arranging neo-classical chamber and solo piano music. He also composes music for various projects including soundtracks for films and online presentations and well as for classic German fairy tales.

Grazioso begins with “Solstice,” a beautiful piece that alternates major and minor key passages as well as contrasting lighter and darker themes. “Spring Awakening” is very light and optimistic, anticipating renewal and new beginnings. “Bringing In the Hay” is a favorite with its sunny mood and lighthearted feelings of having fun while working. “Night of the Leprechauns” is tinged with mystery as well as a rather dark kind of playfulness - I like this one a lot, too! Zephyrus was the Greek god of the west wind and the god of spring. He is associated with flowers and springtime as well as the gentlest of the four winds. With “Zephyrus,” Krampl created a musical tribute to this colorful character with warmth and gentle optimism. “Peace of Mind” soothes and relaxes as it describes a mental state most of us strive for - another favorite! “Hidden in the Grove” is somewhat mysterious but also conveys a lively, adventurous spirit. At under two minutes, “Repose” does a great job of slowing things down and allowing a moment for a deep breath of air. “Under a Strawberry Moon” sparkles like moonlight dancing on a body of water, giving everything nearby a touch of magic. “The Grace of Swans” suggests images of swans moving effortlessly on a lake - nature’s breathtaking ballet. The album comes to a poignant close with “White Lillies (Devotion),” a heartfelt piece dedicated to the victims of the school shooting in Graz, Austria on June 10, 2025.

Grazioso is available to stream and/or download from Amazon, Bandcamp, and Apple Music/iTunes as well as from several streaming services including Spotify and Pandora. The songbook is available to download from SheetMusicPlus.com and SheetMusicDirect.com. Check them out!