Parable of the Prodigal Son is a piano album by Jef de Roode; a musical reflection on one of the most well-known stories from the Bible. A story that feels both ancient and personal.
This album takes you on a journey through distance, longing, insight, and the quiet act of return. It doesn't attempt to preach, but rather creates space for something deeper. Within the parable lies a psychological journey that many of us experience: the need to break away, the search for meaning, and the vulnerability of returning transformed. Each movement of the story touches something we recognize in ourselves.
The album consists of eight piano pieces that follow the emotional path of the story; from leaving, to getting lost, to returning home. What follows are not explanations, but quiet hints that allow the music to speak for itself.
You leave not in rebellion, but in search of yourself. The melody carries your determination as you step away from everything familiar. Sometimes leaving is the only way to discover who you truly are, even when it means temporarily forgetting where you came from.
As you wander, illusions don't announce themselves with fanfare - they seduce quietly. Listen as the harmonies shift subtly, mirroring how easily you begin to lose yourself. These illusions grow in the warmth of others' approval until, wrapped in their embrace, you can no longer recognize your own voice among the noise.
Here the music strips away pretense. You've fallen far enough to encounter what's genuine beneath the surface of things. In this raw, haunting movement, you finally meet yourself in the depths - unadorned, unprotected, and authentic.
Truth arrives gently in this contemplative passage. It doesn't force itself upon you but waits patiently until you're ready to see. The revelation builds slowly, like dawn breaking after a long night. And once you've seen this truth, it cannot be unseen - the music marks this moment of clarity from which there is no return.
The journey homeward proves more difficult than leaving ever was. The tension in this piece reflects your uncertainty; not knowing if those you left will recognize how you've changed inside. Each note is a step on the path of vulnerability, returning not as you were, but as who you've become.
In this emotional centerpiece, you experience unconditional acceptance. The father runs not because you were lost, but because you were always his; even when you forgot. The warm, enveloping themes mirror arms thrown wide in welcome, celebrating not your perfection but your presence. This piece draws inspiration from Psalm 103: "As a father has compassion on his children," reflecting the divine nature of unconditional love.
This darker movement shifts perspective. Now you see through the eyes of the faithful brother who remained. He witnesses your return but cannot see your healing; only the failures that preceded it. The music conveys the complexity of his jealousy, anger, and incomprehension; emotions that remain largely unspoken yet powerfully felt. This piece explores how one person's redemption can trigger another's resentment.
The story ends in stillness. Not because everything is solved, but because you've stopped needing to solve yourself. The final piece invites you into a quiet acceptance where you find peace not in perfection, but in belonging despite imperfection..
If the story behind it speaks to you, take a moment to hear what the music does with it.
Jef de Roode is a Dutch pianist who works with improvisation as his main language. His music is not planned or fixed; it unfolds in the moment.
Sometimes lyrical, sometimes abstract, his playing explores silence, contrast, and emotional depth. Each performance is unique; he never plays the same piece twice.
Want to hear more or explore other albums? Visit jefderoode.com.