Piano Improvisation on René Magritte's "Not To Be Reproduced"

[kalospiano]

Once again I've felt inspired to improvise at the piano after seeing a painting. This time the source of the inspiration is "Not To Be Reproduced" by Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte. I see this image as the attempt of an inner analysis, an introspective journey in which the man looking at the mirror is trying to find his true self, but is scared that he might not like what he'll see, so he keeps turning his own back at himself, hiding his real face. This image instilled me with a sense of uneasiness and angst which immediately made me think about Erik Satie's compositions, whose influence might be easily recognizable in my notes, especially his Gnossiennes, but also his Gymnopedies in some instances. The harmonic structure, oddly enough, is largely based on a sort of contrafact of the jazz tune "Blue Bossa" by Kenny Dorham, where the quality of most chords is converted to MinMaj7th or Dim7.

[ted]

If the intention was to create a sinister atmosphere, perhaps numinous or eldritch, then you have succeeded admirably. How much this effect owes to your insistent use of subsets containing the augmented triad is debatable. Many musicians do ascribe universal associations to particular harmonies, sad minors, happy majors and so on. I find that far too limiting myself but the conviction, whether innate or acquired, is too widespread to ignore completely. I am inclined to think the slow, limping rhythm of your piece is a much greater influence on its psychic quality than harmony, but then I suppose I would, given my obsession with rhythm and ignorance of theory. I have always liked Magritte’s art, my favourite being the “inverse mermaid”.

[kalospiano]

Hi Ted, that was definitely my intention so I’m glad I succeeded. I guess I wouldn’t ascribe the eeriness of the music to one characteristic only. I’d rather say that the slow pace, the use of the harmonic minor, the diminished and augmented chords (not only for a supposed “innate dark quality” of theirs, but also for the lack of a clear harmonic direction that a massive use of these chords entails), all contribute together to the ominous atmosphere of the piece.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I enjoyed the ambiguities in this and liked the idea of consistent stepwise movement in the treble.

[kalospiano]

Thank you very much Ronde