Recent improvisation

[ted]

I am probably due to post some more improvisation.

CD69, track 2, second half.

[rachfan]

Hi Ted,

Wow, that's an ambitious and very extended improv!  It has much to commend it too.  I especially like the elements of the piece that have those beautiful romantic tinges to them--exquisite harmonies!  You also have some marvelous modulations there leading into unexpected keys.  Some of these seem like flowers blooming from existing flowers.  You also often change the character and mood of the music through interesting rhythmic changes and new accents.  Never a dull moment here.  Altogether, this work sounds quite intricate, demands a fine dexterity, and is most convincing in the playing and hearing.  It's a wonderful improv, Ted!

David 

[ted]

Thanks David, I'm pleased you enjoyed it. "Flowers blooming from existing  flowers", what a splendid analogy ! That is exactly the effect I meant to impart, so your comment pleases me. I think you and I share a broad area of response which could be roughly described as late romantic harmony around some sort of surging, off-beat phrasal intensity. Delius and Elgar were very good at it in that they actually managed to push it into notation - "Walk to the Paradise Garden", "Song of Summer", "In the South" contain wonderful such patches. I think I completely lack the discipline and mental tools to do that through composition but occasionally I can fluke it spontaneously at the instrument.

My old dexterity is indeed returning, finally, after that horrible left hand episode, whose nature and cause I still don't really understand. I'm using a lot more legato than I used to and I think that has helped.  

[rachfan]

Hi Ted,

I'm glad the left hand continues to improve, and yes, your strategy of playing more legato with it should be less taxing until the hand is back to 100% hopefully. 

Some other works of Delius that I like a lot: Sea Drift for baritone and chorus, Cynara also for baritone and chorus, and the Piano Concerto.  There are some great moments too in his opera, A Village Romeo and Juliet.  Actually it's hard to go wrong listening to any of his works.

David