"Stampede" -- Improv

[Mayla]

Okay, if you wanted something *different* from my recent stuff, this is it  .  I will say that if ever there were something within me that were going to be unleashed, I at least *peeked* at it here.  If you are not going to listen to the whole thing, I would recommend listening to the abbreviated version -- the second audio file (the last 2:30 mins of the improv) -- that is when I really awaken.

Basically, we have a very rhythmic fabric with a lot of darkness.  A big buildup into some stuff that I have never really even dared before (especially toward the end).  This pulse just took me over completely.  My husband informs me that one needs to be in the "right mood" for it, and, I am pretty sure that I was  .  I would describe this as basically my own version of Prokofiev's percipitato, but with my own (as always) experimental flare ... hee hee.

I am tempted to list all of the things that I don't like about it and learned from it, but, argh ....

Anyway, at one point toward the end, I actually hurt my thumb -- you will hear a change in texture suddenly.

Okay, cheers ... LOL

[opus10no2]

I think this is one of your best, I enjoyed the exploration within the confines of sticking to a kind of ostinato, the style is reminiscent of some soundtracks to battle scenes in movies, I like use of dissonances contrasted with the hollow powerfulness of 4ths and 5ths.

I wonder about the inspiration for this, you come up with interesting stuff.
Here's an idea for future improvs that I'm curious what you'd think about, portraits in music..
Doesn't have to be a long exploration of the whole person, maybe just a character piece for a certain key aspect of their person- as you see it.

[jlh]

Anyway, at one point toward the end, I actually hurt my thumb -- you will hear a change in texture suddenly.

Ouch!  Is it ok?

[jlh]

I wonder about the inspiration for this

I wondered this as well... are you mad at someone? lol

[pianowolfi]

It's soooooo cool Keep it up! Unleash and free yourself! I think you have made an astonishing improvisation journey during the last time and every piece is something very original and very different from the ones before. And every piece is very "Mayla" and every piece is a surprise and brings some new elements.

[liszt-essence]

Cool...

[rach n bach]

Awesomeness Mayla

Love the ending... the last 75 seconds or so... all the pain and tension from the earlier parts explodes, and you quiet back down for a murmur of a close.  Well done. 

RnB

[Mayla]

Thanks for listening and for posting in -- it's really exciting for me to be able to share this with people, and other pianists, no less  .

[Derek]

I enjoyed every moment of it. a visceral, rhythmically driving piece. seems a bit like stravinsky in a way. great job. it also reminds me vaguely of a few keith jarrett improvisations (mainly because of the dissonant but rhythmically visceral playing). have you listened to his music?

my personal list of ear catchers:
1:12 - very cool left hand melody comes in
2:00 - *evil grin* >D
2:57 - I like the counterpoint there, very cool melody in right hand
3:50 - awesome
4:55 - this passage is very cool.
5:35 - awesome chords
7:12 - I seem to perk up when it calms down a bit and becomes more melodically active. provides great contrast to the tumultuously dissonant chordal sections. very cool

[Mayla]

Thanks very much, Derek.  I haven't listened to very many of his improvs (*maybe* three), and not for a couple of years now, either.  One thing that I have realized through this is that I can be easily impressionable, so it may not take much.  I appreciate your comments very much !

[quantum]

I really liked this Mayla.  I've experimented with similar style and I know it is hard to keep the drive and interest going for long periods of time.  I'm wondering if fatigue took any part in your creative process in changing motifs or transforming them?

0:40 - I like the feel of the heaviness in the phrasing
2:04 - Bass notes are wicked
2:33 - hint at deformed dance
3:30 - primal 
6:27 - 
7:05 - I like the Bass & Trebble interplay
7:53 - nice chord
8:20 - I like the chaos
8:40 - fury!
9:28 - madness!! 
end - I like how it dissolves into the abyss

[Mayla]

I really liked this Mayla.  I've experimented with similar style and I know it is hard to keep the drive and interest going for long periods of time.  I'm wondering if fatigue took any part in your creative process in changing motifs or transforming them?

Hi, quantum, thanks for listening and for posting in.  You know, when I was improvising this, I did not feel at all fatigued physically, but felt that I got more and more energetic as I went -- which, actually, was a bit strange when I thought about it after I was done.   I was completely entranced with what I was doing, and I don't remember consciously feeling that I had to create some releif because of physical fatigue.  I do remember wanting to have more variety in sound and texture, though.

However, when I listened to it, my first question was that exact one.  When I heard breaks in the drive, I wondered if I had done that to give myself a physical break because it kind of sounded that way to me -- but if it was, it was completely subconsciously. 

I will say that I stopped because I hurt my thumb and became aware of it after the second large buildup section toward the end (the "madness"  ).  However, at the time, I remember feeling like I was in a very athletic state, and the kind where you are running and finding that although you are at a full steam, you can keep going and going ... that is the first time that I have ever been actually that engaged -- heart pounding and true athletic exertion with the breathing that comes with it -- while playing the piano, so it was a pretty fun experience for me and taught me a lot about where I want to go with my playing, and what I feel is most true to me. 

I do know for a fact that I was using the best form I could probably have used, and that definitely aided in helping me keep it up and even feel like I had more to give.  I was definitely not done yet and felt as though I was just finally reaching the core of what I wanted to say ... but then I decided to stop.  I was ready to launch into something entirely .... more ... the later it got.

Anyway, thanks again for listening in and for your comments .
Mayla

[opus10no2]

Yep, I've had the same feeling of adrenaline while playing, it's a regenerative cycle - you feel energy and call upo n your physical energy, and by doing so you feel more energy, and call upon more, and if you are psycheeeed up for it, it should all be very pleasurable.

Performing pieces that require that adrenaline in recital poses a difficulty and a question, how do you get into the feeling when you're not feeling like it..

This is the beauty of improv though, go with the flow, as opposed to a rectial where you struggle to have the flow go with you