Old romantic improvisation

[ted]

I am in the process, following Derek Andrews' suggestion, of uploading all my improvisation since about 2006 here: https://archive.org/details/@superoso
I still have around 200 to do and I remain uncertain what to do about the three suitcases of tapes from earlier decades I found in the cupboard.

I've been listening while doing it and as I'm overdue to post something here is one which took my fancy, overblown as it probably is.

[quantum]

Ted, there are some really beautiful moments in this.  What struck me most are the numerous key modulations which at times were unexpected but resulted in pleasant surprises.  There were also moments where you went from pronounced romantic figuration to quickly pivoting to minimalist inspired passages.  I sense inspiration from Liszt and even Scriabin.  Of course, there is a lot of Ted in here - I hear your creative voice in the way you shape melodic line and use scalar passage work. 

I have listened three times so far. 


Interesting idea to upload to archive.org.  I would encourage you to digitize those tapes, at the very least to ensure they do not suffer data loss due to degradation of the media.

[ted]

Thanks for listening so perceptively three times, Neil, that's a real compliment coming from you. My teacher in my youth fed me a lot of Liszt to learn and play, the more noise and action the better in his view. In retrospect I am uncertain about its value but I guess it did give my technique a solid foundation if nothing else. Later on he sold me his Virgil Practice Clavier, which he had rebuilt himself. That device has preserved my technique independently of pieces and allowed my mind to concentrate solely on idea generation while at the piano. Yes, I know they are disapproved of these days but I doubt I would be playing as I am at seventy-eight had I not used mine regularly.  I have never played any Scriabin but I have listened to most of it so an unconscious influence could indeed be there. My main listening these days, aside from my own playing, is orchestral music, particularly the English group: Elgar, Bax, Ireland, Bridge, Finzi and Havergal Brian. I like to think that the rapid finger work and double notes I am so fond of have an orchestral purpose rather than empty piano dexterity but no doubt I do miss the bus occasionally !

You are right, tapes deteriorate, and in fact I have digitised several already. I might upload them to the archive if I think the contents have enough musical value.

Thanks again, I always pay attention to what you say.