For Béla

[pianowolfi]

This is an improv I did in the context of one of my bigger projects. This sort of improvs are a sort of chillout, or transitions, coming from an immensely concentrated and dense atmosphere of being open, wanting to miss no single note from an inspirational building stone, and from the feeling of letting go and let it happen. I could call it a "chillout improv", perhaps.

It's for Béla Bartók because it's relating to his style in some way, and because I am thankful to this composer, whose music accompanied me intensely during many of my teenie years.

(Edit: I have no clue as to why there are these strange characters in the file name. Perhaps one of those "software updates" on my computer has mixed everything up...I wish they just knew what they're doing..)  

[Derek]

I like this chilled out pianowolfi. This piece actually reminded me of the sunken cathedral by debussy (vaguely). I notice pianowolfi there are few moments of contrasting feelings of joy in your music. Are you as sad and somber as the music you write?    Where's the happy side of pianowolfi?

[pianowolfi]

"Sad" music makes me happy, so I am mostly happy, actually  
Of course everything is in development, and there will for sure come a time where this aspect will have more room within my output

[quantum]

Wolfi, I loved this!   Those harmonic progressions were fascinating.  There are parts that make think of a mix of Brahms and Scriabin.

I find it interesting how a perception of freedom to the performer can produce, a sense of compositional sophistication to a listener. 

[ted]

I was rather reminded of late Frank Bridge, certain of his atmospheric pieces and the sonata. It sounds simple but there is a mind running in top gear behind it all. Yes quantum, that situation has happened to me many times. Somebody insists I was fooling them and my improvisation was worked out. They point out all manner of forms and structure which from my view were not there, at least not in my conscious mind. "You can't fool me !" they say. The more you protest the deeper in trouble you get.

The effect of this piece is very tightly organic, especially with the chords. Serious, yes, but the serenity of the whole thing is in a sense a type of joy, as would be the act of creating it.

[pianowolfi]

Thank you both very much for listening and commenting! That's interesting Ted, I think you mentioned Frank Bridge some time ago, in a similar context, and I listened to some of his compositions back then, as far as I remember, but then I totally forgot about him.

And yes, I think "act of creating" and "a type of joy" are very important characterizations of what happens during an "organized improvisation". For myself I'd add the feeling of "nothing is coincidental" as a criterion for my best ones. Be it that you are feeling in some sort of pain and you are breaking it's power and it's cage through getting creative, or be it that you're in some mere joy of contributing to the "creation" with your creations, or whatnot, there are endless possibilities. And freedom is a keyword in all of them.

[furtwaengler]

Sinking, sinking, buried in deep, lush harmonies... I've had harmony1, harmony2, For Béla, Steps_Realm, and Steps 9 excerpts playing through my speakers. It's amazing how all your ideas flow so seamlessly from one to the next even when there is no intended relationship or order. It is an infinity of thought in which, wherever was that fixed first thought, we have transcended to a deeper realm of language. Had Scriabin's fire been resurrected, I feel even that could not touch the breadth of your expressing (listening to Steps_Realm, you see).

[pianowolfi]

You're amazing, Dave! I feel almost like wanting to hide away, lol! 
On one side I am very modest, on the other side I am of course happy when such experienced musicians like you recognize the potential in this music
There's a lot of work to do, and I wish I could spend more time with it, since, still, after all those 5 or 6 years, it feels like it has just begun yet 

[chopinatic]

I could listen to you play like this all day, simplic but in so many ways complex. Very atmospheric, almost like a black hole slowly pulling you in, slightly hypnotic. At the point where very breifly you played the left had appegiated notes, I got goosebumps. Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece

[pianowolfi]

Thank you very much Chopinatic! I hope I will have time to listen and comment more soon, at the moment I am all busy, I have listened to your latest improv but I didn't yet find the time to comment.