Improvisation 6/5/2010

[ted]

It is probably about time I posted another improvisation. Half an hour is pretty short for me these days.

[rachfan]

Hi Ted,

Wow!  That is an extended improvisation--almost a fantasy or rhapsody I think.  There is much variety in there--counterpoint, harp-like passages, unexpected changes in tonal centers, some moments being stark while others are imbued with a romantic tinge, and some lush purple patches of deep bass harmonies and much more.  There are the jazzy, classical and lyrical moments too, sometimes even combined.  I think your dexterity is quite amazing.  I don't know how you do it.  Thanks for posting this improv. 

David   

[furtwaengler]

It will take longer for this to sink in, but the complexities of any given moment don't beg for such an understanding as understanding goes. They are set to be enjoyed at the exact release, and I assure you it is enjoyed greatly. Nobody jives and gels like you.

[ted]

furtwaengler:

Thanks for listening. I have never set out to impress, create intellectual puzzles and profundities, or to illustrate arcane theories. "Feeling good is good enough for me", and if others enjoy it then so much the better.

rachfan:

Thanks for listening. Meaningful heterogeneity can be a difficult quality for a form to have because it is easy to slide via imitation into the merely polyglot. The fact that someone of your background likes the sound and describes it in eloquent and positive terms gives me cause to hope that I have avoided that trap. Thanks for the compliment about my technique, which means a lot coming from you. There is actually much of interest to elaborate on there but I shall leave it until I gather my thoughts.

[pianowolfi]

As Furtwängler has used the term "healthy complexity" for some of my improvs, I am tempted to use the term "unconstrained complexity" for your's, (without denying it healthiness of course).
Cool  
 

[ted]

Glad you like it, Wolfi. Sometimes I like complexity and sometimes simplicity. I never know what is likely to happen and take delight in surprising myself. The most interesting things in improvisations are frequently passages whose effect I am oblivious of while actually playing. If I ever reach a stage of absolute certainty and control then that will be the time to stop improvising as it will have become a pointless exercise. I couldn't imagine anything worse than complete awareness of what I was going to play.  

[chopinatic]

liked your playing with the scales at the start. Nice harmony throughout. Really entertaining and enjoyably unpredictable! Good stuff 

[ted]

Pleased you like it, Chopinatic. I'm getting musically madder with age and haven't a clue half the time what harmony I'm playing, not that I ever had much understanding about it at the best of times. A great comfort which sets in beyond middle-age is that one no longer feels that absurd, youthful fear of admitting absence of ability, lack of grasp of anything, or of appearing ignorant.