Book of Ways is a double album

Double album

A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....

 of improvised music written by and performed by Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as...

 on clavichord

Clavichord

The clavichord is a European stringed keyboard instrument known from the late Medieval, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. Historically, it was widely used as a practice instrument and as an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger performances. The clavichord produces...

 which was released on the ECM label in 1987.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Richard S. Ginell awarded the album 3 stars noting "Jarrett occasionally tries to stretch the instrument's limited possibilities, hammering percussively on the close-miked strings. Yet for the most part, Jarrett reins in his world-class technique in order to make unpretentiously minimal music on this ancient keyboard. Some of it sounds like folk music, some like new age contemplation, there are convincing neo-baroque musings, and a few of these untitled though numbered selections kick into a higher gear. Sometimes this music is charming; a lot of the time, it gets wearisome".

Track listing

All compositions by Keith Jarrett

Disc One:

1. "Book of Ways 1" - 9:08
2. "Book of Ways 2" - 3:41
3. "Book of Ways 3" - 4:03
4. "Book of Ways 4" - 4:54
5. "Book of Ways 5" - 2:58
6. "Book of Ways 6" - 4:09
7. "Book of Ways 7" - 3:36
8. "Book of Ways 8" - 5:35
9. "Book of Ways 9" - 5:02
10. "Book of Ways 10" - 3:35

Disc Two:

1. "Book of Ways 11" - 6:16
2. "Book of Ways 12" - 4:08
3. "Book of Ways 13" - 4:38
4. "Book of Ways 14" - 7:13
5. "Book of Ways 15" - 5:48
6. "Book of Ways 16" - 7:37
7. "Book of Ways 17" - 3:56
8. "Book of Ways 18" - 7:16
9. "Book of Ways 19" - 5:38
   • Recorded at Tonstudio Bauer in Ludwigsburg, West Germany in July, 1986