Reviewed by Brendan O'Regan

I wonder about spiritual instrumentals. If there are no words how can it be spiritual? The composer can write and play prayerfully, can give the pieces spiritual names as Nordhoff does here (eg, "A Light Unto My Path", "Born Of The Spirit"), can be inspired by Scripture (Nordhoff relates all his pieces on the album to New Testament references), and maybe that's enough, but the pieces could just as easily be given secular names and the audience wouldn't know the difference. On another album, 'Quietime: In The Garden', and on some Christmas CDs he plays instrumental versions of well known hymns, and these will surely have more spiritual resonance as we remember in our own minds the words and feelings we normally associate with these hymns. Back to 'Quiet Time: Be Still', these are pleasant pieces, slow and very suitable as a background to reflection unless you're the type who would find any background music distracting! The recordings are extended (most around 11 minutes) so anyone getting into deep thought won't be distracted by a short tune ending. There could be more variety here, and to me at least none of the melodies has yet become memorable, but maybe that's the point - anything catchy would disrupt the meditation.

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