February 4, 2011

[Derek]

Played this after watching the movie: Queen of the Damned. Not sure how much of an influence it had... 

[littletune]

Cool  Well I don't know that movie but it reminded me of water, like rivers running and little and big waves and things like that. 

[ted]

I very much like that cell change at 1:05 - I found myself hoping for more such events - and the use of discontinuous, asynchronous finger groups for orchestral effect. I find these much more vital than smooth, notational accompaniment, even within relatively traditional harmony. "The stones in the old wall by the orchard are all different." Of course it might just be me whose taste is perverse.

[oliversadie]

That's dark and brilliant, like a Debussy vs Rachmaninoff contest.

[Derek]

Thanks for the comments, always appreciated. Ted, your taste is not perverse. I like events like this too but perhaps in smaller doses?  

Little do Debussy and Rachmaninoff know, Bach is waiting in a corner ready to leap out and defeat them both with a huge array of cannons that resemble an organ. just kidding...that had no relation to the piece posted.

[m1469]

Hi Derek,

It's been awhile since I've listened to much of any improvs here (as well as anything in the audition room in general).  I know I've got a lot of catching up to do!  I'm glad you're still here, playing away!  It's hard for me to imagine doing what you do and it's inspiring for me, even if I don't ever end up improvising in a similar style (I just don't know for sure what's lurking inside of me!).  Obviously though, you do spend a great deal of time in your improvisational thinking and I have always admired that.  You show a great sense of command here.

[Derek]

Thanks m1469!

I actually think at this point it is hard for any improviser to imagine doing what any other improviser does. Every compulsive improviser is going to be dramatically different from every other one, unless one makes a concerted effort to emulate. I recall first hearing Ted (first improviser I met at pianostreet!) and wondering WOW, how is that even POSSIBLE!? And I played and played, and developed my own style. I think bits of his influence pop up every now and then though =). The tremendous uniqueness of every improviser even in this small forum is a testament to the utter infinitude of music, and the irrelevance of the 20th century consensus that there was nothing left to say (and all the composers who insist on continuing to say nothing with their music)

I'm glad to have inspired you in some small way, your music does me also! Listening to all the improvisers here gives me inspiration and energy..that's the way it should be!

[utterlysneaky]

Wow! That is really something! Impressed! Monolithic! It shows in the music that you trust yourself, your ability, there is nothing like a self-confident pianistic improvisation. And in all of that maybe ONLY 1 "wrong" note..Jeesus..what planet did you land from, mate ??

[utterlysneaky]

had listen to it again!
0:49 wee too much hammering there for my taste(a question of volume only)
1:02 interesting shift
1:20 beautiful
1:45 YES!!!!
2:13 nice pause and new material
3:14 grandiose statement and I guess your main theme starts here
4:08 jaw dropping at this point...
4:41 is where I would have ended it, probably cuz I would've been out of ideas
6:14 onwards oh my f***ing god are you fo real mate?
7:14 that's confidence for you folks, right there.

Hope you don't mind I wanted to make a sort of map in time to your piece and what amazed me at different points..I think we could probably all benefit a lot from this sorts of feedback. I mean we all hear the same piece of music but taste and opinions will always differ, thus much can be learnt from that sort of diversity. I think this is definitely a Fantasy of some sorts, imo it needs a really good memorable name, just my two cents

[richbatsford]

very impressive Derek - some powerful stuff!