The When All Is Quiet songbook is the companion sheet music collection to Joe Bongiorno’s 2020 solo piano album by the same name and contains all ten pieces from the recording, professionally transcribed by Emilee Hartley. Available as a printed book or a PDF download, single songs are also available from Joe’s website. The music expresses a variety of moods and emotions, but, overall, the book has a quiet, pensive feeling that makes it relaxing to play. Several of the pieces in this collection were composed while Joe was processing the sudden loss of his father; other pieces express his love for his own family, and the title track is about the quiet times when creativity has a chance to blossom. It’s a very personal and moving collection for pianists of any age group.

The printed songbook cover is graced with an enlargement of the album’s beautiful cover artwork and the books are spiral-bound. The layout of the music is roomy and easy to read. There are a few places where I found the notation a little confusing, but I think most pianists will be able to figure those out. Metronome settings and pedaling suggestions are included. There are only a few reaches beyond the span of an octave and none of the pieces are in difficult key signatures. This is a really nice book to sit down and play. All of the pieces are at an upper-intermediate to early-advanced playing level and should bring many hours of playing enjoyment.

The song titles, the keys they are in, and the number of pages are:

I’ll See You Again - Key of A (3 sharps) - 6 pages
Imagine This - Key of Ab/ F minor (4 flats) - 6 pages
Gentleness - Key of F (1 flat) - 5 pages
Crossing Over - Key of A minor (0 sharps or flats) / Eb (3 flats)- 7 pages
Taken - Key of Eb / C minor (3 flats) - 5 1/2 pages
This Is Love - Key of Eb (3 flats) - 5 pages
When All Is Quiet - Key of E (4 sharps) - 6 pages
For the Joy of It - Key of D / B minor (2 sharps) - 6 pages
A Better Place (Marco’s Song) - Key of Bb minor (5 flats) - 4 pages
To Eternity - Key of Eb (3 flats) - 4 pages