One of the perks of being a staff accompanist at a small university is it allows me to practice on the school's different pianos. The Yamaha (C3 I think?) represented here is not my favorite piano, mainly because it lacks the sostenuto pedal function (instead lifting all the bass dampers...now who needs that?). Yet even with this lack, and the problems the classroom's faulty climate control presents, it is an instrument capable of producing a variety of colors and many variations of sounds. One of the best ways to discover and unlock this depth of sound is in the realm of improvisation - a real time exploration of thoughts and sounds. Forever these thoughts and sounds would die away had not the Zoom H2 captured the moment providing it with a degree of permanence and importance. What I am sharing now was recorded September 21, 2012. It is one piece in two parts. The motives are easy to spot, and there development is natural and seamless...like watching a cloud build in to a storm. It's one of life's fascinations for sure. Yet, how does this happen? It's one of life's mystery for sure. Here is the piece:

Part 1: https://app.box.com/s/vtomstdz9ca41m6tjtqy
Part 2: https://app.box.com/s/8rg8d71k0vo1h8km8u4g

Now another interest is how a specific instrument deals with specific things, the challenge of a set composition vs. the free exploration of sound afforded in improvisation. So to compare on this instrument, I offer two more pieces:

Debussy Claire de lune: https://app.box.com/s/gm76qqpdoqz7g577mv5b
Chopin Nocturne op. 9 no. 2: https://app.box.com/s/radkosd1h7w2svcr1c3l

(Both of these were being prepared for a wedding. I had received some flack for playing the Chopin at the tempo my score indicated, 1/8 = 132...seems the opposite problem of driving in speed zones...the don't really mean 30 mph do they? lol)

Bonus! A different piano...in fact a different school. A better school...a horrendous instrument. Well, what can improvisation do with an instrument in this condition? The result here is a hilarious and virtuosic adventure I call Splash! Funny, that same day I had recorded some music on Horowitz's majestic Steinway...how did I end up unwinding here?

Splash! https://app.box.com/s/wzbdkuq2d3a0xmb0l64i

Please! Do enjoy...

Music does not have to be understood;
It has to be listened to.
- Hermann Scherchen.