A Minimalist Piano Improvisation Inspired by Arvo Pärt

As we look around at the state of the world, the prospect of humanity’s future doesn’t always seem bright. But perhaps, there’s hope in our smallest, most essential friends: bees. In this piano improvisation, I’ve imagined what it would sound like if bees ruled the world. And of course, every new kingdom needs its national anthem!

This improvisation, titled Bees’ Anthem, draws inspiration from both the serene, minimalist style of Arvo Pärt and the quiet strength of bees. I limited myself to playing exclusively in the key of B-flat major, without modulation and without a time signature. This self-imposed constraint became a personal challenge, pushing me to explore new ways of creating interest and movement within these boundaries.

I also decided to use the soft pedal throughout the piece, which gave it a muted, dreamlike quality—a sound that bees, after all their hard work, surely deserve. The result is a slow, contemplative improvisation that, I hope, captures the essence of both minimalism and nature’s fragile beauty.

For the best listening experience, I recommend using headphones. 🎧

If you enjoyed this, you might like my other improvisations using the soft pedal, like this one. Feel free to share your thoughts or suggest what theme I should improvise on next!

What is Minimalism in Music?

Arvo Pärt, often cited as a key figure in minimalist music, inspired this piece not only through his characteristic use of simplicity but through his ability to evoke profound emotion with very few notes. Pärt’s tintinnabuli style, for instance, emphasizes clarity, harmony, and a spiritual kind of austerity. In Bees’ Anthem, I attempted to incorporate some of these principles, focusing on minimal changes in harmony and using repetition to create a meditative atmosphere.

Why the Soft Pedal?

The soft pedal is a technique I use when I want to create a more intimate, introspective sound. In this improvisation, it helped to maintain a soft, flowing quality throughout, adding a layer of texture that evokes the gentle hum of bees at work. I’ve used this approach in other improvisations as well, and it’s an interesting way to blend the mechanical aspects of the piano with organic themes.