Rythmassage

[quantum]

by the fading light.

[Derek]

I enjoyed this piece.  As always I'm impressed by your virtuosity and ability to stick with such creative pan-tonality.

[birba]

That was brilliant!  Out of all 4 I liked it the best.  I did enjoy the autumn leaves one, but to me rythm is the basis for all music.  Be it a simple 2/4 or a complex Messiaenesque articulation.  When I hear abstract colors and hues with no rythmic context,  I get sort of antsy and my mind begins to wander...At any rate, that's my personal limitation.  I do hear Messiaen influence in some of the chords.  I'm just curious, how long have you been at this?  because you sound like a master at this art.  I'm SO envious of your talent!

[quantum]

Thanks Derek and birba. 

I've been actively pursuing improvisation for about 8 years.   It's something which was never taught to me.  Any mention of improvisation by the many teachers I've studied has always been of the past tense talking about such masters as Bach.  I practiced improvising at home for some time before sharing such music with anyone else.  It wasn't something I really took seriously, until fellow musicians heard what I was playing and encouraged me to share this music.  Since then I have made improv a significant portion of my practice time. 

Pieces similar to this one posed a challenge to me since I started my improv study.  There is the pianistic challenge of maintaining stamina for the entire piece, and there is the compositional challenge of developing ideas and keeping interest in such a busy texture.  Having rest periods from the strenuous pianistic activity tends to break the unity of the composition, however too much of the same thing gets repetitive.  Changes in material need to strike a balance.

I love Messiaen's music.  He undoubtedly has had an impact on my creative activity.  I've learned a lot about developing abstract sounds by listening to Messiaen. 

[furtwaengler]

Messiaen! Yes!