clavichord experiments

[Derek]

I'm continuing to enjoy the clavichord. I was able to utilize some of the clavichord's virtues later on in this one. Bends, vibratos, and repeated notes with bends. I think listening to Ted's music may have influenced part of this improv, sounds very Crowleyesque.

Also, I decided that the reverb used in the last recording was kinda ugly. The way this was recorded seems to reproduce best how the instrument sounds in person. Just make sure you don't turn the volume up very loud!

*edit* for those in the know, I accidentally vaguely quoted a song by Opeth late in the improvisation.

[furtwaengler]

I am continuing to enjoy your enjoyment of the clavichord, Derek. I love this one the most thus far...the bending of the pitch, the different tonal worlds and repetitions, and especially the effects caused by the repeated notes. This will accompany on my long drives!

[Derek]

I've decided to upload additional clavichord improvisations in this thread, in the interest of not spamming a traditionally piano related forum. I promise I'll put up some new piano improvisations soon, I'm just feeling my oats on this new instrument right now.  

[Derek]

Two more from the same set.

[Derek]

Three boogie woogie pieces for clavichord. I recorded these for my dad's birthday.

[pankrpec]

These last three improvs are great!
It brings to mind an image of some mexican guys playing banjos or something.

[Derek]

Here's a recent baroque inspired improv.

[ic3wall]

wow... this is really beautiful, and impressive at the same time.

I also listened to this, and was even more impressed seriously:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=914720679df72353e0868b794833d25d&topic=35682.0

I was wondering, what kind of musical background do you have to be able to improvise like that ?
I have been playing classical piano for 12 years now, and it's a dream for me to be able to improvise like you do.  Do you have a very good theoretical background ? Perfect  pitch ?

[Derek]

Thanks, I appreciate the kind remark and interest. I don't have perfect pitch, nor has my approach to theory been traditional. I started out noodling in a few minor keys whose sound I liked, and then gradually increased my vocabulary of keys, chords, scales, melodic fragments over the years. I recorded myself often even when I was a beginner. When your improv skills are un-devleoped, you may still sometimes improvise some melody that isn't half bad, and recording yourself helps you realize when you make little leaps of progress.

I have always had an interest in traditional harmony, but I never let this be the "source" of my ability to improvise. Rather, it is something I've been trying to "fit in" to my own intuitive response to sound. The more experience I gain, the more I find that does not, on its own, help to produce interesting musical ideas. I think I've learned more just from listening to music I liked and then experimenting a lot than I have from picking some random music theory example and attempting to apply it.  I think the reason is that music theory distills one independent basis for the final sound of music: harmony. But it is the sum total of harmony, melody, and rhythm that make music good, and it is impossible to explain something so complex with words.

*edit* as for musical background, it was kinda backwards for me. I had a few failed piano lessons as a child, and then got into guitar and keyboard playing concurrently late in highschool. Keyboard led to piano, which led to all the improv stuff. I ended up re-learning how to read notes, and took several years of real classical piano lessons at a university. Never quite got virtuosic, and I probably won't get there now (married, house, and another big hobby), but I have enough to thoroughly enjoy it so I'm happy. Also, I received a lot of encouragement and advice from fellow pianostreet member, Ted, without which I'm not sure what sort of musician I'd be today!

I like to help others learn stuff when I can, so if you felt inclined to ask more I'm a pm away.

BTW, you might check out the index. Check out some music by Quantum, Ted, Pianowolfi, Chopinatic, Furtwaengler, m1469, and others (sorry if I didn't mention you if I've heard your music and liked it, just wanted to list a few "regulars" here ). All are very much worth listening to.

[ic3wall]

Thank you for the fast and complete response.  In fact it's impossible you've already heard me since yesterday was my first post on this forum hehe.  Anyways I didn't really start improvising yet but it is in my plans for sure.

I will for sure check the index and listen to some more improvisations.  I might as well send you a couple of pms later.  I unfortunately don't have much time for the piano right now ( I'm away from home for vacations and have no piano here).

I saw you are currently experimenting clavichord, but I really liked your romantic improvisation on piano, feel free to post more of them !!

[Derek]

Apparently I lied (in other post, about clavichord mania ending). The clavichord impulse reasserted itself this weekend and this is the result. I think I'm going to have to accept a certain level of chaos in my musical hobby and just resign myself to the reality that incorporating traditional repertoire study is always going to be a challenge to maintain long term.