Voices Old and New

[furtwaengler]

The first is my latest recorded improvisation, the last music that was recorded on the departed Tascam DR-07, December 26th, 2010. It is improvisation in the truest sense. I'm sorry that the sound is low and the busted (seriously broken) Clavinova's plastic is very audible. While I am not fond of these instruments (I've never owned a piano, and am so fortunate to work where I can practice on real instruments), it is very possible to make music on them.

Second I just checked - September 28th, 2009...older than I would have thought, but recorded by the old voice recorder on the Baldwin grand in the stuffy practice room. I ran this "low pass filter" on it, and I hate the loss of power, but most would not stand the distortion - I have no idea how to work with that.

Last is an old one, and it sounds old...I'm guessing 2004. It was recorded through a phone line onto blogger, so the audio quality is horrendous - but I think this actually enhances the displaced mood; you'll have to tell me what you think. I've always loved its cold, desolate atmosphere. I did not rename the file which suggests there were some more ones, but these I have no memory of.

Keep improvising, everybody. It's been an important part of my life in many ways, at times therapeutic, but mostly an expression for my love for the piano and love for sound.

[littletune]

That's cool Furtwaengler!      Your improvisations are like stories and movies and that Clavinova's plastic doesn't bother me... cause it seems to me like I hear the rain falling on the roof and windows and sometimes even like the wind moving the windows and like thunder from far away... and it goes really well with your playing    sorry I know I have way too much imagination and all sort of sounds just make me see stories in my head 
And that last one really sounds like it was coming from another planet! Really cool!    

[m1469]

Hi Furtwaengler, I have listened to all three of your improvs in this thread and I appreciate all three of them.  I very much enjoy your style, and something in particular that I appreciate about your playing is that you always seem to know exactly where you are on the piano.  That's what I want to aspire to.  Everything you do fits exactly right and so I can really hear that your flow is free.  Listening to your playing today gave me a new glimpse of improvisation.  Thanks for posting these!

[furtwaengler]

That's cool Furtwaengler!      Your improvisations are like stories and movies and that Clavinova's plastic doesn't bother me... cause it seems to me like I hear the rain falling on the roof and windows and sometimes even like the wind moving the windows and like thunder from far away... and it goes really well with your playing    sorry I know I have way too much imagination and all sort of sounds just make me see stories in my head 
And that last one really sounds like it was coming from another planet! Really cool!    

I always love your positive perspective and great imagination, Littletune. Don't ever lose the wonder! 

[furtwaengler]

Hi Furtwaengler, I have listened to all three of your improvs in this thread and I appreciate all three of them.  I very much enjoy your style, and something in particular that I appreciate about your playing is that you always seem to know exactly where you are on the piano.  That's what I want to aspire to.  Everything you do fits exactly right and so I can really hear that your flow is free.  Listening to your playing today gave me a new glimpse of improvisation.  Thanks for posting these!

Thanks very much, m1469, this is very special. The particular voices here do well to pass the time and are an outlet for the joy of moving the fingers...I guess they are a comfort zone. 

[rachfan]

Hi,

Dunkel, the second improv, is a very intense, edgy piece, at times with some Scriabinesque-like touches.  To me it sounded like Icarus flying toward the sun, only to have his wings burst into flames and melt, causing him to drop into the sea to the horror of Daedalus, his grief-stricken father.  And all of that from one glass of beer!

[furtwaengler]

Hi,

Dunkel, the second improv, is a very intense, edgy piece, at times with some Scriabinesque-like touches.  To me it sounded like Icarus flying toward the sun, only to have his wings burst into flames and melt, causing him to drop into the sea to the horror of Daedalus, his grief-stricken father.  And all of that from one glass of beer!

Wow David, that's more descriptive than I ever could have imagined! But I assured you I was not drinking beer when I played that.

[rachfan]