Quietude - Music For Shenandoah National Park is the twelfth in Jill Haley's series of instrumental albums inspired by artist-in-residencies at various National Parks around the US. Jill started the series back in 2010, spending extended periods of time living within the natural beauty of various parks while translating her impressions and experiences into music. Known especially for her oboe and English horn mastery, Jill has been including more piano and synth on some of her more recent works, including this one. She often collaborates with David Cullen (her husband) on guitar and bass as well as her son, Graham, on cello, and this time, violinist Jack Bogard adds his musical talents to the group. The instrumentation varies from track to track, depending on the piece, and each of the eleven pieces are gems in their own special way. Jill composed all but one track - her soulful arrangement of the classic folk song, "Shenandoah." I have reviewed most of the albums in the National Parks series and have thoroughly enjoyed them all whether or not I've actually visited the parks themselves. Most of the pieces on this album are very serene and tranquil, inviting listeners to take a deep breath (or two or three!) and get lost in the music - a very pleasant experience, indeed! A few of the tracks are more vibrant, but are still on the quieter and more peaceful side - a very welcome escape from the chaos and confusion going on in the world right now!

Quietude - Music For Shenandoah National Park opens with the title track, "Quietude," which begins with a cello and synth strings prelude and continues as an ensemble piece for piano, synth, cello, violin and English horn - a gorgeous beginning! "The Land Remains" is a haunting trio for English horn (Jill), acoustic guitar and bass (Cullen) - definitely a favorite! On "Ephemeral Traces," Jill plays both piano and oboe - sooooo peaceful! "Shenandoah" has been one of my favorite folk songs for most of my life, and I love Jill's arrangement for piano, English horn, violin and cello. "Forest Palette" is the only piano solo on the album, but what a soulful beauty it is! Suggesting many shades of green as well as blue skies and lazy white clouds drifting effortlessly, it's another favorite! "Emerging Peaks," for piano, synth and oboe, is often very ambient, moving slowly and with grace, suggesting (to me, anyway), flying slowly over the park and seeing occasional mountain tops poking up through the clouds. "The Ubiquitous Oak," a gentle waltz for piano and English horn, suggests the wonder and awe of being in the presence of a tree that has lived for centuries. "Blue Ridge" includes the full quartet and is brighter and livelier than most of the other tracks yet fits in perfectly, telling a different chapter of the story! The next two tracks again pair the piano and English horn. "A Song For Anna" is a soulful duet that feels dreamy and reflective yet gently bittersweet - another favorite! "Rose River Falls" is a bit more upbeat, but still feels dreamy and relaxed. The last track on the album, "A Mountain Meadow," adds Cullen's guitar to the duo to create the perfect soundtrack for the closing credits of a film with a happy or triumphant ending - a great ending for a great album!

Quietude - Music For Shenandoah National Park is available now on CD from Amazon. It will be released for download and streaming on June 6, 2025. More links will be added as they become available. Very highly recommended!