Artist Information
Biography
Solomon Keal is a solo piano artist from Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania. He composes all original peaceful solo piano music. His New Age, or Neo Classical music reminds us of the folk piano style of George Winston.
Solomon has a home recording studio which allows him to record and produce his own albums. He just released a new solo piano Christmas album called "Advent." He is also working with his sister Roxanne on composing several pieces for a flute and piano album. Solomon will be increasing his performing within the local area, as well as making his music more available to the public.
Six years of formal piano lessons laid the foundation for his ability to compose an average of 6 solo piano pieces a year since 1993. Solomon has performed his music for weddings, dinners, receptions, charity events, open mic nights, coffeeshops, and concerts.
In 1998, with the extraordinary help of Clark Ferguson (Bearswamp Studios), his family and friends, Solomon made his first self-published album entitled "Thoughts and Affections." Then in 2000, he made his second album, "Heritage."
Solomon is also a songwriter. He submits his songs to TAXI (a company that publishes music industry listings and takes song submission from members and sends them to industry professionals.) He has also taken a Recording Engineering course from the Audio Institute of America, and is now capable of recording his own albums as well as recording for other musicians as well.
Piano performing, composing, songwriting, music teaching, and recording engineering are all fluid parts of Solomon's music career.
Solomon's piano music can now be heard on a couple of different online radio stations including: Whisperings Solo Piano Radio (www.solopianoradio.com), and New Church Radio (www.newchurchradio.org).
Biography:
Solomon John Keal was born in 1977 near Philadelphia Pennsylvania, in a little town called Bryn Athyn. He spent most of his early childhood across the state in Pittsburgh. He was the first in a family of three kids who all grew up listening to, and loving music. His mom is a pianist; both of his parents play the guitar; and they all love to sing.
Solomon started taking piano lessons in 1983, in first grade, from a lady named Polly Schoenberger. He didn't like taking lessons very much, and at the time he never would have guessed that he would grow up to be a composer for the piano. In 1985 they moved back East to Kempton, Pennsylvania, which is near Allentown. There wasn't a piano teacher available, so Solomon's mom taught him and his sisters.
When he was 12 years old, he stopped taking formal piano lessons. But, after about a year he found himself coming back to the piano again. His love of music never disappeared and he loved trying to figure out how to play the songs that he knew and loved. He began to teach himself to play the piano by ear. It was a challange that he still loves. He learned what made a song sound good. He learned the feel of music.
In 1993, when Solomon was 16, he composed his first piano piece entitled: "Thunderstorm." Since that time, he has written, on average, about 5 or 6 pieces a year. His years in college were by far the most fruitful for composition. The intellectual and artistic stimulation brought about a surge of creativity. The process of "coming of age" gave him a need to express himself, which he did most effectively through the piano.
Mostly, Solomon plays solo piano. But, he has also co-written pieces for flute and piano with his sister, Roxanne. Solomon is a Songwriter as well, and writes mostly Country and Christian songs, as well as some love songs with his wife Tirah. Recently he's been teaching himself more about blues and jazz piano.
"Composing is both a powerful and humbling experience. When I play some of the pieces I've written, I can't help but feel that I was not the only author. Talent of any kind is a God-given gift, and I thank the Lord for the privilege to compose music."
Influences:
His parents, Ian and Wellesley Keal, have been a large influence in Solomon's musical background. His mom plays the piano and the guitar. She frequently plays for church services, and has her own small business as a piano teacher. It was through his mom that Solomon learned to love pianists like Scott Joplin, Hagood Hardy, David Lanz, and John Odhner. His dad plays guitar, but his primary influence on Solomon was in the area of recorded music. Ian has excellent taste in everything from Classical to Rock. His dad was the one who introduced him to two music labels which greatly influenced Solomon: Windham Hill, and American Gramaphone. Specifically, the music of George Winston of Windham Hill, and Chip Davis of American Gramaphone. George Winston's music especially inspired Solomon, and assured him of the simple and powerful beauty of solo piano. (Links: www.georgewinston.com, www.windham.com, www.amgram.com)
Film composers have also been a great source of inspiration for Solomon's music, especially composers that use piano, such as James Horner. (Link: www.james-horner.com)
"I remember one specific event in my life that was a huge influence on my love of playing the piano. I was probably in my early teens when one of my mom's cousins, Tom Rose, taught me how to play "Linus and Lucy," that famous Vince Guaraldi theme to the Charlie Brown cartoon. I played it over and over until I mastered it, I still love that piece." (Link: www.vinceguaraldi.com)
Family/Human Interest:
Solomon is married to Tirah Marie Echols Keal. "We met in college when we found we had the same astrological sign (Pisces) and started laughing at the horoscope page together when we read the newspaper in dining hall." They fell in love and were married on June 24th 2001. Their Wedding March, entitled "Angel's Birth," was a piece that Solomon composed. They have a daughter, Thea Clarity, born on February 2nd 2003, and a son, Cirdan Ewan, born on June 13th 2004. They live in Lenhartsville; a little town, about a half an hour west of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Solomon has two sisters: Roxanne and Tamar; both are married with kids. They get to see each other often, and are all still very close. Solomon and Roxanne have composed a number of pieces for flute and piano, which they intend to record. One piece, which they call "Trio" is a flute, recorder, and piano piece written by Solomon and both of his sisters. Solomon's mom, Roxanne and Tamar have also composed some solo piano pieces. Solomon's wife, Tirah, who also comes from a musical family, has a wonderful voice, and has written several songs of her own.
"When I'm not actively engaged in music or being a husband and father, my other interests include drawing and painting, juggling, sailing, Lego, and reading. I'm a huge Tolkien fan, as well as a huge Star Wars fan. I love well-written epic fantasy stories. I've started writing a novel about time travel. Someday my wife and I are going to write a book about marriage. My favorite color is blue-green, my favorite animal is the turtle, my favorite food is breakfast."
Solomon grew up in Kempton, Pennsylvania. He attended third grade through 10th grade at the Kempton New Church School. For his last two years of high school he was part of a group homeschooling program called ASPIRE (Alternative Schooling Inspiring Real Education). He then attended four years of college at Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, and received an Interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Religion. (Link:www.newchurch.edu)
In 2005, Solomon successfully completed - with Honor Student Recognition - a course in Recording Engineering from the Audio Institute of America.
Instrumentation
Solomon Keal: Piano
Discography
"Thoughts and Affections" - 1998
"Heritage" - 2000
"Advent" - 2005
Audio
Video
Press
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Review of "Advent"
[+ Show ]
“Advent” is a collection of sacred Christmas music arranged for solo piano and performed by Solomon ...
Setlist
My repertoire includes any pieces that I have composed.
My standard set list includes about 26 pieces and is a little over an hour and a half of music. But I can play for both more and less time.
My standard set list is as follows:
1. Star Gazing
2. Moving on
3. Family
4. Wellesley's Waterfall
5. Sunset
6. Revelation
7. Coming Home
8. Thinking of you
9. Thoughtfulness
10. Crystal Snowflakes
11. Admiration
12. Memories
13. Friendship
14. Prayer
15. Affection for truth
16. An evening with friends
17. Sweet dreams
18. Peace be to you
19. Baptism
20. Reflections
21. Life after death
22. Wisdom of time
23. Hymn
24. Solitary contemplation
25. Contentment
26. Sleep well
