Paul F. Page is a composer, teacher, and performer of what he calls "hybrid-classical" music, concentrating in this album on music for the piano. His music is played and sung world-wide by choirs and instrumentalists, and is enjoyed by a similarly broad audience through MacJams, the online composers' forum. A member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) since 1973, Paul has been recognized by the organization in each of the past 13 years for his contributions to classical and liturgical music, receiving stipends for his ongoing work through the ASCAPlus program. He has performed for the Pope (John Paul II) in St. Peter's Square, Rome, composed music that he performed in the former Soviet Union (Novorosisk, Russia) and in Japan (Miyakanojo), and has led his ad hoc choir (The Santa Clara Choral Spectrum) in six concert tours of Western Europe. Paul has taught music, journalism, and English at the high school level and has been music and choir director at several churches for over forty five years. Regarding the music on this album (When Pearls Become Wisdom), other composers and performers have offered the following comments: -Gaiety and fun indeed; a very enjoyable listen! — Harald Dastis, France -I am pretty much speechless. What absolute fun. — Shay MacKay, USA -High level of playing and technique on show here. Well arranged and crafted. —Clasm Zenabi, United Kingdom -"...full of whimsy and careless wonder; fully expressive of a jovial dialogue."—J.A. Stewart, USA -Every time I hear one of your piano compositions I am amazed by your creativity and musical integrity. Creativity, because they always sound different from one another, different from any other piano compositions I know, and integrity because they are always excellent compositions. You are in a league of your own, and it is marvelous to be able to hear your works. — Clark Ross, New Foundland -nobody does it mordent you do...I always get a trill listening to you, you arp- always keeping me on the -eggio of my seat. This is gorgeous, gentle, rich, ornate, and stylish, without being showy. Four minutes of perfection. — Eduard Schwan, USA -I greatly admire your playing .Beautiful phrasing. Your rubato is just incredible. You play with genuine emotion — Mark Ibstrat USA -Your piano playing is such a treat to listen to. The compositions always feel so alive, and the carefully crafted musical ideas seem effortless and almost weightless. —Parichayaka, USA -Your music sometimes reaches right inside me and causes some kind of sympathetic vibrations among my molecules: I am the music and the music is me. Far-fetched I know, but I feel enveloped, caressed, nurtured, and eventually, satisfied. How you make these beautiful miniatures is a wonder —Richard Miller, Ontario, Canada -Exquisite. You have a sensibility that is unsurpassed on the keyboard my friend. This is a warm and touching piece that lifts me up and smooths out the wrinkles in my life. —Ed Wemmerus USA -I long ago ran out of things to say about your music, Paul. It continues to be sonorous, inventive, rooted in tradition but able to play against tradition as well.... I never feel pandered to, or "played down to", nor do I feel like your music ever goes for artsy or effete effects.... It always seems real, grounded, and intelligent to me. — Ed Hannifin, USA -This sounds ridiculously difficult to play but you make it sound so easy! This is fantastic to say the least. Your fingers work magic and I, for one, am happy to be among those who can hear them at work. Magnificent. I'm speechless... —Yeman Al-Rawi, USA -Superb musicianship is no illusion. This one has many facets, and also seems to have an introspective quality to it. Engaging throughout, and brilliantly played too. What a treat! —Doug Somers, Ontario, Canada -I am terribly bothered by the notion that it will only be after you're gone and some music journalist stumbles upon a cache of your music that the public at large will 'get it' about we have in this Paul Page fellow. I love your ability to push the limits of forms that COULD be cliche, and inject freshness and intelligence and feeling into them.... The odd dissonant note or a voicing that's a stretch, but then sounds on next listen simply inevitable... It makes intelligence accessible... —Ed Hannifin USA -Elegant and seemingly effortless playing that must be the result of confidence and talent. You do tell stories with your pieces. And you also befriend and console like a guide who is full of wisdom. —Charlene M. Kankiewicz, USA -The complex and yet harmonious structure [of the piece] impresses no less than the virtuoso performance. — Marc Rattue, United Kingdom -You create such vivid and haunting images and colour them with both broad and subtle brush strokes. — Julian Sims, United Kingdom -Your series (When Pearls Become Wisdom) reminds me the novel " The Glass Bead Game " by Hermann Hesse. It's like a kind of synthesis of human learning"in which themes, such as a musical phrase or a philosophical thought, are stated. As the game progresses, associations between the themes become deeper and more varied. Although the Glass Bead Game is described lucidly, the rules and mechanics are not explained in detail.T he truth must be experienced and not be lectured. Is this the whole truth when pearls become wisdom ? :) — Narad, FRANCE -