Inspired by the loss of innocent lives.

[lostinidlewonder]

I haven't posted an improv for a while so thought I'd share this one. I was inspired by the terrible event of the April 15, 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing after hearing that people lost their lives including a child. Of course this happens often throughout the world but moments like reminds us that innocent lives can be taken.

I began this improv with alternating hand over chords which ended up driving the playing, I experimented adding different combinations of notes with this. The choice to rise up at the end was supposed to reflect in death rising up to some higher safer place.

Played on my Korg Digital piano with some effects turned on which explains the humming sound you might hear. Recorded from my Ipad I only just realized how to transfer Ipad recordings to PC woot

[ted]

This is interesting because it demonstrates the effective use of a rapid, repeated cycle of notes as an orchestral device. Of course, it is possible to create much more complex cycles than the simple classical trills and tremolos beloved of Liszt and others. Glass uses insistent cells of this type to very good effect, usually ominous in implication, for some reason not immediately apparent. Given your programme, these figurations are a very good choice on your part, and the piece exudes a sort of threatening portent throughout. I like the treble figurations in the conclusion. Curiously, I find it hard to the point of impossibility to create fluently on a given programme. Most of my associations occur on listening after the event, which is itself totally abstract; so I envy you that facility.

Good to see you posting improvisation again. I couldn't comment sooner because I think forum access has been faulty for a few days, and my downloads kept on failing.

[lostinidlewonder]

Cheers Ted for your positive comments. I like to use improvisations to express emotions, it feels very different from playing composed pieces. With improvisations there is that sense of freedom you can only get from composed pieces after you have played them for many many years. Creating this spontaneous freedom immediately has always been the great attractor for me with improvisations.

This particular improv was constructed in a simple fashion which made acquiring the freedom even more immediate for me. Strangely enough I find sad/serious emotions easier to produce on the piano than happy and I am not a depressed sad person!

It was interesting you picked up on Glass since around this point in time I was teaching his music to one particular student. I am sure this improv was effected by some of this music which likes to use cycles of repeated chords.

Often I will sit down to improvise and think I want to produce a kind of emotion or story however something totally different comes out. When I am filled with a more powerful emotion it tends to control the improv more effectively.

[quantum]

I think you have a lot going for this piece.  There was at the onset and persistent throughout, a sense of thematic grounding.  It felt like there was an intent focus or message being sought or communicated.  The changes happen through a large sense of time - sort of like viewing the changing landscapes through a moving vehicle.  Your use of effects suited the music well. 

[lostinidlewonder]

Thanks quantum for listening and offering your perspective