My "Dies Irae"

[pianowolfi]

[littletune]

I like it really really a lot!  I can't say anything smart yet (like I would ever say anything smart  ) But it's really cool and I've listened to it I think 5 or 6 times already 

Oh and the related videos are really kinda disturbing  but who cares about related videos anyway 

Well maybe I'll think of something smarter to say later  You're so cool Wolfi! 

[pianowolfi]

Hi littletune, thank you for listening and commenting
You're cool too  And smart anyway

[thalbergmad]

Nice to see you in action as well as hear you old chap. Hauntingly beautiful work. Is there any Rachmaninov influence in parts??

Your taste in music is definately superior to your taste in lampshades. Looks like you have an enlarged version of the Baghdad battery behind you.

Thal

[pianowolfi]

Hi Thal, thank you for your comments and listening/watching

Rachmaninoff first brought me to the Dies Irae theme, so there is certainly this influence.

Haha Baghdad battery   I actually had to look this up. Fascinating thing!

Perhaps I should put this away next time  

[littletune]

Wolfi did you see? You don't have those weird scary related videos on youtube with your video anymore!  Looks like they have changed that, now they're music videos!   

[thalbergmad]

You don't have those weird scary related videos on youtube with your video anymore! 

Regretfully, the word "dies" beings up unwanted matches.

Thal

[furtwaengler]

This had somehow escaped my notice. It is completely different from what I remember. To me Wolfi is not quite like Rachmaninov...more archaic, more stoic. Well, I love Wolfi's music.

[pianowolfi]

This had somehow escaped my notice. It is completely different from what I remember. To me Wolfi is not quite like Rachmaninov...more archaic, more stoic. Well, I love Wolfi's music.

Yes yes that's it

And yes you are right, as there are two versions, and I have changed some things in the meantime. perhaps I will soon rerecord the other one as well, the version with the ending "A la Karli"

[rachfan]

Hi wolfi,

There is a dark beauty to this music.  I like the melodic tone clusters at the outset.  The sound of the Dies Irae theme later played in the low bass brings about an ominous mood indeed.  It's almost like an omen to the damned.  The interplay of the motif between the hands produces an interesting effect along with the creative variations to it.  The cluster harmonies, some in the right hand, are daring. There are many complexities to be appreciated here. Much thought went into this composition. Congratulations on this fine work!

I surmise that when you play/record one of your own works, you actually practice it carefully, as you want to convey--and feel a responsibility--to reveal your intents as composer.  I would guess that some listeners believe that the composer simply sits down and performs the piece impromptu.  I very seriously doubt that, and believe that you study your own score as diligently as one by Mozart, Brahms, or Scriabin.  In my opinion, it shows in the high quality of your performance.  Am I correct?  

David    

[goldentone]

It's a great and surprising beauty that you weave from the darkness, Wolfi.  After three percolations I am much taken by it.  It's a little under 2:00 shorter than Dies Irae 2.  So I assume this is a new version, also from the fact that you've brought it back.  You do move it along faster this time in the beginning at least, compared to Dies Irae 2.  My bet is that this is an important work to you.  Thanks, Wolfi.  

[pianowolfi]

Thank you both for your comments!
This relates back to the following Improv:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=22326.0

And then to the second edited version of it and the related conversations:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=24144.0

@rachfan, yes I have practiced that carefully. But well, I'm still not completely satisfied...

Anyway, I somehow got stuck with this piece a while ago, I knew that something was just not right but I couldn't find the solution. After all I decided to go with the "dark beauty" and the "dark light" inside of the harmonic progressions rather than with huge and fast effects. But as I said, there is this other version which definitely has something to it as well and which has also undergone some changes in the meanwhile. Perhaps I have time to record it this weekend.

[tds]

i enjoyed it VERY much. thank you for sharing wolfie, post more pls..

[pianowolfi]

i enjoyed it VERY much. thank you for sharing wolfie, post more pls..

Hi Tds, thank you very much I feel sorry because I couldn't comment on your beautiful Turina and Mompou yet

I have listened to some of it and I like it very much! I like especially your overall concept of "scenes from childhood"