Improvisation #15
Recorded on Sing For Hope Pianos. Piano named “City Reef” painted by Nick Stavrides in Riverside Park: Pier 1 - June 2013
Every piano has its own sonic personality. Some sing like angels! Others honk like geese! But, even if a piano is a honker, a pianist can find some quality in that instrument that has musical beauty. My improvisations in this series were played on pianos that were left outside during one of the rainiest periods of a New York summer. Even though they were covered, the elements wore them away. Notes didn’t work or would stick, pedals clicked and rattled, and the tuning of each instrument varied greatly. My goal was to play to the elements surrounding me and at the same time find some life quality within these instruments to make music from. I found myself having a great time. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed playing!
This piano was on the 72nd Street pier facing the Trump apartment houses. Traffic going by on the West Side Highway and a beautiful day. Some notes were broken and the pedal made a loud banging noise.