Abstract piano improvisations

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I was somewhat emboldened to post this after seeing the thread on here about abstract music and people with AS. If you gravitate towards this kind of sound, I would like to see your input on my playing.

http://www.soundclick.com/colinwhite

In truth, I was actually attracted to this sound after pounding on the piano in fury and frustration about learning the classical repertoire (which I have failed miserably at).

If you like this sound I'd recommend looking into the composers from the Second Viennese School such as Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg, as well as Karlheinz Stockhausen, Xenakis, Ligeti, Messiaen, Sorabji, and late Scriabin.

I'm not sure why there is such a stigma about this kind of music. Inaccessible, yes, but so are the complicated works of all the classical composers. I suppose classical music has gained its own kind of stigma, as the most you'll hear from someone about it is "it's relaxing." I think that's quite a shame.

I must emphasize Sorabji here. The man was obsessed with writing hugely complicated music in non-tonal forms. They were often enormous in scope, with many of his works reaching well beyond multiple hours in duration. Check out Jonathan Powell's recordings of Sorabji and Sorabji's biography.

Wrong planet, indeed.

-Colin

I've been reading a biography about the pianist Glenn Gould, who was apparently very much into abstract music and was a fan of the Shoenberg school. Gould also has a lot of characteristics of AS, and I mean A LOT, but this biography starts the book out by saying that he doesn't think that Gould had Asperger's. But I'm only about a third into the book, and it sure seems like he fits the profile. A very interesting artist to read about.

Kris

Man, that was nice!
I"m a jazz and blues player myself (guitar and bass), but I love all music that hits my soul, and that did. Abstract music is awesome in its power. Some of it reminded me of some of the abstract themes in the music of Miles Davis, and also reminded me in places that the spaces between notes, if used correctly, can be more powerful than the notes themselves.
It also has me wanting to pick up my bass and experiment, which I can't do cause I'm at work. Thanks a lot! (kidding)
Thank you so much for sharing this music. You play beautifully.

Thank you!

Speaking of jazz, I really enjoy the work of Miles Davis, Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Keith Jarrett, Eldar, and Ornette Coleman. Coltrane's recording "Interstellar Space" in particular is absolutely fantastic. Definitely the antithesis of the stereotyped "sexy saxophone." I love that guy's music.

-Colin

It doesn't get much more abstract than Ornette! I love his stuff. Miles and 'Trane are giants. Keith Jarrett is the bomb, and Eldar I don't know. Just checked out his website, though, and loved what I heard.
You are the second person I've ever known who has ever heard of Ornette Coleman, and the first was the college teacher who turned me on to his stuff.
Still itchin' to play that bass, too, when I get home, I'm gonna see how far 'out there' I can get.
Duncan

Keep up that abstract exploration, man. That piano you are playing is IT!

I agree wholeheartedly on the stigma of classical music as "relaxing." That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I don't think classical music is inaccessible, though.

The idea of 20th Century music being inaccessible vs. classical stems from classical music being tonally and driven by tonal principals and procedures. Atonal music has its own procedures resulting in an aesthetic that is pleasing in an entirely different way. Schoenberg's music and that of his stricter emulators maintain an organic unity you just won't find with much other atonal approaches. The other problem with the inaccessibility of atonal music is so much of it is so poorly done. I've heard the argument that you won't walk away from an atonal concert humming the tune. Maybe not an entire phrase, but much of atonal music is built on short motives, not unlike the way J.S. Bach constructed his inventions and fugues. Often these short motives are catchy and memorable.

I also think dodecaphonic music has been too soon abandoned by contemporary composers (the ones that are still breathing). Atonal music in general still has much to offer and needs to be presented more often.

Sorry about the rant, but it had to be said.

Keep up the improv!

I definitely rate this stuff. Keep it up!