Joep Beving Releases New EP ‘The London Session’

Acclaimed pianist and composer Joep Beving has digitally released his new EP The London Session. The recording features two different versions of ‘September’, a meditation for piano and string quartet on stillness and concentration, and a new arrangement of ‘An Amalgamation Waltz 1839’, for voice, piano and string quartet, featuring soprano Grace Davidson.

Joep Beving explained, “‘September’ was composed in late summer, early fall of last year, hence the title of the piece. At the time, there wasn’t a bigger thought behind the music. I was invited to come and record two pieces at Tileyard Studios in London and we decided that next to a vocalised version of ‘An Amalgamation Waltz 1839’ we should create a new piece that would fit in well with the feeling of that song. The live premiere of ‘September’, performed with ACME, took place at The Triple Door in Seattle last February, which feels like another lifetime now. The piece reminds me of a time before Covid and the turmoil that it triggered. Let’s pray for love and light to prevail before September 2021.”

Joep Beving has become one of the most prominent and revered figures of the contemporary classical music world. His recordings have received millions of streams making him one of the most listened to living pianists in the world. For The London Session Joep was joined at Tileyard Studios by four of London’s finest string players and soprano Grace Davidson who is featured on the new arrangement of ‘An Amalgamation Waltz 1839’.

“To have that melody recorded with Grace Davidson was a great honour and an absolute treat”

“To have that melody recorded with Grace Davidson was a great honour and an absolute treat,” noted Joep. “She has one of the most ethereal voices I have ever heard, through her work with Max Richter. Her first take during the session was already so beautiful, it had me doubting whether the track needed to be anything more than just her voice.”

The original solo piano version of ‘An Amalgamation Waltz 1839’ was featured on Joep Beving’s second album Prehension, now certified Gold, the central chapter in his recent trilogy of albums which also included Solipsism and Henosis.

“Music is a language which can bring people together”

“Solipsism to me was about the individual, Prehension perhaps is more of a melancholic soundtrack to the unfolding of reality … and our responsibility as humans in that process,” explained Joep. “Henosis means ‘oneness’ or ‘unity’ … In a world of growing separations and the building of walls … we need to start looking for something that connects us all on a deeper level. For myself, and hopefully for others, music is a language which can bring people together and in doing so, maybe prevent them from becoming more alienated from each other and from reality.”

Joep Beving’s new EP The London Session has been digitally released.

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