Hungarian Christmas Carol

-


This is an improvisation on a wiener Adolf Kraus grand piano (from the 1920s). Mennyböl az angyal (Angel from Heaven). A peaceful session last summer in the house of my beloved granny-in-law.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Makes Music 'Good'? Insights from Leonard B. Meyer

-
Image
Leonard B. Meyer was an influential musicologist known for his exploration of how we experience music emotionally. Meyer’s work, Emotion and Meaning in Music, tackles complex questions about why certain compositions resonate deeply with listeners, while others fall flat. His theories provide a lens through which we can better understand how elements like musical tension, release, and expectation play crucial roles in shaping our emotional responses to music. According to Meyer, the effectiveness of a musical piece hinges on the balance between surprise and predictability. Music that meets every expectation might be pleasant, but it often fails to leave a lasting impact. Conversely, music that defies expectations entirely risks feeling chaotic or unsatisfying. Meyer argues that the ideal lies somewhere in between: a composition that subtly challenges listeners, keeping them on their toes without overwhelming them, ultimately provides a more profound and memorable experience. As a music...
Read more

Piano improv with the soft pedal on

-
Image
Bossa nova-inspired piano improvisation, played on an upright piano with the soft pedal throughout. The soft pedal doesn’t just save your neighbors: it adds a beautiful, muted nuance to the sound. This improvisation blends classical jazz harmonies with bossanova rhythms. Bossa Nova, a slowed-down samba rhythm developed in Rio de Janeiro in the late 1950s, is something I’m a fan of, and its influence sneaks into my playing from time to time. This isn’t a tutorial though, just a vibe video. I had a lot of fun, although I had no idea of what key to press and when.
Read more

Improvisation on Finlandia

-
Image
Black Friday Special: 50% off Hope. Feeling miserable one day, I sat down at the piano and started playing something as usual, but accidentally ended up with the Finlandia theme by Jean Sibelius. Finlandia is a song about the dawn of a small and cute nation, and also about hope and the joy of being Finnish. Unfortunately, I couldn't play Finlandia that way, my improvisation took a darker turn. So, I recommend watching a cat video instead. Next time I'll play better or worse, but not exactly like this.
Read more