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Piano Board => Audition Room => Topic started by: ted on May 10, 2005, 08:29:04 AM

Title: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: ted on May 10, 2005, 08:29:04 AM
As I was among those who suggested this forum section, I had better put something up. I intend to make recordings shortly but I'm still getting used to my wonderful reconditioned piano and I don't want to rush the process.

This piece captures a visionary day spent frolicking in the waters of Pangasinan, Northern Luzon, Philippines, with the woman who, two years later would be my wife. I used to write a lot of this sort of stuff thirty years ago. It was recorded some time ago but at least it's something to go on with.
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: Nightscape on May 10, 2005, 12:20:16 PM
That's very nice.  I can definately hear the joy in the piece, as well as all of the watery effects.

It reminds me of early Scriabin....
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: Dazzer on May 10, 2005, 12:30:06 PM
the ending reminds me of chopin actually.

its so ... romantic it gives me goosebumps. LOL
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: Antnee on May 10, 2005, 01:17:12 PM
I like it too... It does sound like chopin, But then again early scribin sounds a lot like Chopin too, so it's all good.  I like some of your chord changes. It doesn't get boring, and that's real important. Well done!

-Tony-
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: allchopin on May 11, 2005, 12:16:17 AM
Anyone else hear Islamey in the ending runs?
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: m1469 on May 11, 2005, 01:19:49 AM
Hmmm, well Ted, I think it sounds like YOU  :)

Do you have sheetmusic ?

Thank you very much for sharing with us,

m1469
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: rob47 on May 11, 2005, 01:52:08 AM
It's pretty awesome.  I bet Horowitz would have sounded awesome playing this, not that you don't, but just imagine how Horowitz would apply his legendary colouring to this piece.  It would be incredible.  Or Rubinstein.



Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: paris on May 11, 2005, 11:30:30 AM
i like it, you have pretty much sense for composing  :D
do you have any other stuffs to let us hear?
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: ted on May 12, 2005, 02:11:47 AM
paris:

There's no shortage of stuff. However, I need to take my time learning how to control this new action and how to get the best sound out of what is essentially a new piano. It isn't a process I want to rush. Neither do I want to post old recordings. I'll get back into recording before too long.
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: tds on May 13, 2005, 05:41:07 PM
it's pretty, but rather predictable! i enjoyed it, overall. thanks, ted. tds
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: stevie on September 18, 2005, 05:13:10 PM
im randomly listening to this and its great!

(https://www.personal.psu.edu/users/p/p/ppg5000/bruce.jpg)

this was written down or not?

randomly partially reminds me of islamey indeed
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: JPRitchie on September 19, 2005, 01:11:11 PM
Hi Ted,

    The contrasts in this piece are quite nice. There are lots of pianistics,
runs, scales, etc. through out that convey the picture of a tropical island. In
contrast, there are also uncomplicated, fortissimo statements of the main
theme (dum-dummmmm-da.da-dum-dum) ending at :39 and 2:25. Sounds as
if the whole piece is in one key, the contrast being achieved through a
change between the "pianistic" and "bold" styles. The ending slillfully fuses
the two.

Regards,
Jim
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: ted on September 20, 2005, 06:57:23 AM
Sorry Steve and Jim, I hadn't noticed this had bumped up again. I am pleased you like it.  Yes, it's written out. I hadn't really thought about keys. It starts and ends in Db but the contrasting sections are all over the place.
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: georgey on August 09, 2019, 12:37:38 AM
I hope Ted doesn’t mind my bringing this thread back from the distant past (14 years).

Ted’s composition is a CHARMING piece that I believe is a little gem.  I hear bits of Chopin and other romantic composers as well as popular music of the 1930’s style, maybe even a touch of Tatum.  This piece leaves me smiling.  The performance style and old style recording all ADD to the CHARM.  I see it has been down loaded 200+ times, but I believe it deserves another day in the sun.   :D
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: ted on August 09, 2019, 01:05:20 AM
Thanks for the compliment, georgey. It was actually a wedding present to my wife. We couldn't afford a wedding or much else come to think of it, not if we intended to get somewhere to live. The international marriage aspect was also much more difficult in those days and one had to be a brazen romantic to even consider it. It still goes on but these days it all seems to be based on money and pragmatic transaction of one sort or another.
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: georgey on August 09, 2019, 01:47:02 AM
Thanks for the compliment, georgey. It was actually a wedding present to my wife. We couldn't afford a wedding or much else come to think of it, not if we intended to get somewhere to live. The international marriage aspect was also much more difficult in those days and one had to be a brazen romantic to even consider it. It still goes on but these days it all seems to be based on money and pragmatic transaction of one sort or another.

Ah!  That explains it.  Love being perhaps the greatest source of inspiration.   
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: lateromantic on August 12, 2019, 04:08:40 PM
What a cool piece!  It has all the boisterousness and Romantic flair we associate with the early twentieth century.  I really feel transported back in time.  It would make a great encore, at least for someone with the technical skills to play it.  :)
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: ted on August 12, 2019, 09:49:36 PM
Thanks Robert, it sounds much harder than it actually is. I never create anything I cannot play at once, and my technique certainly isn't anything to write home to Mum about. Pleased you like it though.
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: ronde_des_sylphes on August 14, 2019, 10:59:14 AM
Quite a lot of charm in this. The ending was great fun!
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: ted on August 14, 2019, 09:31:53 PM
Quite a lot of charm in this. The ending was great fun!

Thanks Andrew, it is fairly typical of how I used to improvise and compose thirty or forty years ago, at least in romantic style. I posted the score in the thread of my last improvisation if you fancy playing it, it would be easy for you I expect.
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: ronde_des_sylphes on August 15, 2019, 01:05:40 PM
Thanks, found it. The last page looked more or less as I imagined it, but I'm quite used to that kind of texture!
Title: Re: The Call of the Hundred Islands - Ted Jones (1979)
Post by: quantum on October 04, 2019, 07:25:33 AM
I remember listening for the first time in 2005.  Thanks for bumping this.