BEAUTIFUL walks in the Chiltern Hills are the inspiration behind a debut album of piano music, which has a hint of Coldplay and Adele.

Roger Proctor's love for the Hambleden countryside, just South of High Wycombe, led him to produce a collection of music, which he likens to atmospheric film scores.

The other driving force for his work was his one year-old daughter Yolanda and he told Freetime his feelings towards her are reflected also in Summit.

The musician, who trained with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and studied music at Oxford University, said: "The music is largely inspired by walks near Turville, Hambleden, Frieth and Skirmett - The Chiltern hills between Wycombe and Henley.

"I often take photographs of these beautiful places and put them on my piano desk for inspiration.

"There are also tracks on the album that are directly inspired by being a father to my one year old daughter.

"For example, the first track -Why One?- was written for her first birthday and attempts to draw a picture of her character and my feelings towards her in music."

The 37 year-old, whose full time occupation is teaching piano in schools and composing, described who would like his album: "It is music that is meditative, minimalist and easily accessible to an audience who may not be familiar with solo instrumental music. The style of the music draws inspiration from Coldplay/Adele through to Ludovico Einaudi/Philip Glass. There are also influences from my time playing Rock and Folk violin that I bring into the music."

Mr Proctor has created everything to do with the release from his home in Reading - from the design of the CD, through to publicity shots and recording the actual album.

He said: "Im very proud and I've been very happy with the warm responses from listeners.

"My ambition was to create a work that not only is available to listen to on CD, but that listeners can actually try to play themselves since a large part of the project was to create sheet music of the melodies to go alongside the album.

"The music is appropriate for beginner to intermediate pianists.

"It has taken over a year to compose, record and compile the CD and sheet music and my family have been incredibly supportive."

Mr Proctor has performed for many years including recording on numerous albums, appearing live at the World Famous Jazz Cafe in London with band Holton's Opulent Oog. The band's latest album 'Love in the Mist' received favourable reviews in Uncut and Mojo music magazines. He has also toured nationally with his string quartet Cube, which featured in Classical Music magazine.

As for future plans, he said: "As well as beginning to work on my next solo piano album, I am busy performing the work and am organising a series of concerts for 2013."

The album is available via iTunes/CD and Sheet Music from this week and through my website http://www.rogerproctor.com/

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