Swans flying over the sea

This is another improvisation I did on Saturday.. Slightly 'mournful Shostakovich'.. I must write some of these down!!! (but that's another challenge...)

Hotel for dogs

Been too busy to improvise this week. Took Izzy to cinema to see 'Hotel for Dogs'. Was dreading it, but really enjoyed it. Arrived home to find Astrid had come up to Manchester by surprise. Good Weekend!

Part-Notated Improvisation

I've done some improvisations part-notated before, but this one, I simply notated a single melodic line (full piano compass) very rapidly on paper. With this in front of me, I improvised. Now the question is whether this improvisation can be used to refine what it was that I wrote on paper. That will be interesting.

No improvisations over the last week because birthday (40!), family, and getting drunk.

jazzy relaxation

Feeling a bit more relaxed today.. good day yesterday.. things sorting themselves out at work. Good meetings today (very busy) - particularly one in didsbury. So this is perhaps symptomatic of my more relaxed mood...

Slightly emotional improvisation

This is a Purcellian improvisation - haven't done one of those for a while. There's a lot of emotion flying around at the moment: unregulated variety ends up as emotion in one way or another in the end! (which is of course individual regulation, but collectively it's dangerous)

Improvising around notation

I want to do more of this. This is an improvisation around the score of the song that I wrote to Astrid's words ('collaborative creation'). It's very different to the computer performance of the piece. I find little bits of interest with my fingers... Now the challenge is to see if I can translate the nuances into a revised notated version...

did this earlier this evening. watching baftas with astrid. must get bed early. 4am start...

Saturday improvisation

I'm pleased with this one.. it gets wild, the big downward scales are very passionate. A bit Janacek-like. Although it seems a bit tragic, I think it really expresses the joy of being able to express something.

Friday's improvisation...

This was done yesterday (before Astrid arrived and I tidied up, removing drying underwear from radiators!). Interested in 'Britten' chord (sharp-flat 7th), which gives rise to some interesting bitonal effects, combined with classical alberti-style bass...

Bonkers politics!

It's been a day of mad people, in one form or another. Positioning people properly is hard sometimes, but I've had to do a lot of it today. I'm not really that good at it, but I think I'm better than I used to be. Basically, the distinction isn't hard: there are 'zappers' (thanks, Bill!) out there who will suck out your blood, and frankly, they're a real problem.
Mad improvisation which is a bit like the intimacy and eroticism one, except that I think this really is madness... (what's the difference?)

more strategising...

Another busy day.. possible european bid (don't know if this will take off..) and an important meeting regarding strategy - the two activities very similar in what they are arguing for: cultural change. Difficult. Need to relax a bit..

New Piano... !

Busy day today.. Take Izzy to school - she's not well enough.. Doctor's appointment (trying to sort out cough!).. then collect new piano (Casio PX720). I've been researching it.. I really needed something that would sound consistent with the grand in the mansion. Roland's DP990 has great sound but hugely over-priced. Didn't really consider Casio until I heard sound samples on youtube. Very good (but still not quite the same as the real thing!).. hugely better than they used to be, though!