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  1. #1
    Master
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    New piano

    I mentioned on the "best bought / given item 2017" thread that I had bought a new piano. In case anyone is interested in hearing this, I managed to find time to make a recording yesterday evening:

    Last edited by jwillans; 9th January 2018 at 22:43.

  2. #2
    Grand Master Rod's Avatar
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    Very nice indeed! That's a lovely Steinway and played by a talented pianist... well done you

  3. #3
    Grand Master AlphaOmega's Avatar
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    Really enjoyed that.

    Were you improvising or do you have a fair idea of where you're going to go before you start?

    I'll definitely listen to this a few times.

    I must get our upright tuned this year...

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by AlphaOmega View Post
    Really enjoyed that.

    Were you improvising or do you have a fair idea of where you're going to go before you start?

    I'll definitely listen to this a few times.

    I must get our upright tuned this year...
    Many thanks. This is a written arrangement that I recently put together with a (sparse) improvisation in the middle section.

  5. #5
    Grand Master AlphaOmega's Avatar
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    ^Even more impressive.

    It's a beautiful arrangement.

    Thank you for posting.

  6. #6
    Beautiful!! What a lovely sound and gorgeous arrangement.

  7. #7
    Grand Master oldoakknives's Avatar
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    Lovely looking piano and beautiful playing, thanks for posting that.
    Ian

  8. #8
    Master doug darter's Avatar
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    That's very impressive. I enjoyed it immensely.

  9. #9
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    Many thanks for all your kind comments - I will endeavour to do further recordings in the new year.

  10. #10
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    Many thanks for the kind comments. I put the videos for my own enjoyment but it is nice that others enjoy them too.

  11. #11
    Master brigant's Avatar
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    That's a very nice version of one of my favourite melodies. My wife plays (but not to that standard) so I'll show it to her. Don't suppose you can do one of Autumn Leaves??

  12. #12
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    Beautiful, many thanks.

  13. #13
    Master BEZELBOY's Avatar
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    Piano

    Beautifully and musically played on an equally beautiful Piano.

    Thanks for the performance and sharing, I enjoyed that immensely.
    Please play and show more!

    Andy

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by BEZELBOY View Post
    Beautifully and musically played on an equally beautiful Piano.

    Thanks for the performance and sharing, I enjoyed that immensely.
    Please play and show more!

    Andy
    Thanks Andy - I have made other YouTube recordings although on an inferior piano and using poorer recording technology:

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjZPKBqCi7b5f_TzAVmdfaQ

  15. #15
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    This morning I recorded this improvised version of "Close to Home" composed by Lyle Mays who died a few weeks back. Seems particularly apt given we are all in isolation!


  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by brigant View Post
    That's a very nice version of one of my favourite melodies. My wife plays (but not to that standard) so I'll show it to her. Don't suppose you can do one of Autumn Leaves??


    A trio version I recorded last night of Autumn Leaves. Bonus points awarded to identifying the artists on drum and bass!

  17. #17
    Craftsman Byron's Avatar
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    that is brilliant.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Byron View Post
    that is brilliant.
    Thanks Byron - I'm rather pleased with this latest recording. It is a while since I have done any trio work. The freedom it gives us quite liberating!

  19. #19
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    An impending house move has been sapping all my energy and I've not had much time at the keyboard recently. Here is a short improvised arrangement I recorded yesterday evening.

    Last edited by jwillans; 29th April 2019 at 12:13.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by jwillans View Post
    An impending house move has been sapping all my energy and I've not had much time at the keyboard recently. Here is a short improvised arrangement I recorded yesterday evening.

    Thanks for making the time, very enjoyable

    Good luck with the house move and hoping the piano also gets there safely

  21. #21
    Master
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    Many thanks for the kind comments chaps they really are appreciated.

    Quote Originally Posted by brigant View Post
    That's a very nice version of one of my favourite melodies. My wife plays (but not to that standard) so I'll show it to her. Don't suppose you can do one of Autumn Leaves??
    I've played Autumn Leaves many times - I'll consider recording it in the near future.

  22. #22
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    Just to add to the other compliments above, that was excellent. Full of musicality and a pleasure to listen to.

  23. #23
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    Smashing! do you do requests? a bit of Scott Joplin next time

    Sent from my [device_name] using TZ-UK mobile app

  24. #24
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    Thank you for the kind comments - here is a further recording I made yesterday evening.


  25. #25
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    Recording a piano is definitely an art and I've been tinkering with some new microphones to see if I can improve the audio quality.


  26. #26
    Brilliant, I could listen to that all day

  27. #27
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    A rather impromptu on-the fly arrangement and improvisation on a Disney classic (subscribers to my channel always welcome!).


  28. #28
    Just listened to the first piece, didn't expect myself to want to play through the whole thing but am now going to play through the other two as well.

    Very talented! Is there a watch under that cuff or do you prefer to keep your wrists unweighted?!

  29. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by Complex View Post
    Just listened to the first piece, didn't expect myself to want to play through the whole thing but am now going to play through the other two as well.

    Very talented! Is there a watch under that cuff or do you prefer to keep your wrists unweighted?!
    Many thanks. I tend to hide watches under my jumper and wear a 14060m (4-liner). While I have a small number of other nice watches, I always seem to wear this one - partially because it sits well on my puny wrists!

  30. #30
    Master Skier's Avatar
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    Nice on both counts: playing and piano. You could have bought a nice Patek for that

  31. #31
    Grand Master AlphaOmega's Avatar
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    Really enjoyed the latest pieces.

    Hope you upload more - perhaps some organ works as well if you have time? I expect they'd be difficult to record though...

  32. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by Skier View Post
    Nice on both counts: playing and piano. You could have bought a nice Patek for that
    Thanks - yes (at least!)

    Quote Originally Posted by AlphaOmega View Post
    Really enjoyed the latest pieces.

    Hope you upload more - perhaps some organ works as well if you have time? I expect they'd be difficult to record though...
    Thanks you. The digital organ is easier to record because it will record direct to disk as played, whereas the piano microphones setup which can takes a little while. Here is an example of one of my organ recordings recorded in this way:


  33. #33
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    Something a bit different - my composition "Dreamcatcher". Written in a few mins last weekend and then hastily recorded before I forgot it!


  34. #34
    Love the piano, if I could play I'd take that over a Patek!

    Not that keen on organ music TBH but I admire your ability - doesn't look easy!

  35. #35
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kingstepper View Post
    Love the piano, if I could play I'd take that over a Patek!

    Not that keen on organ music TBH but I admire your ability - doesn't look easy!
    Thanks - what I would say about church organ music is that - even if you're not religious - hold judgement until you've heard it played live in a large space on a good organ with a great organist. Call into a large cathedral such as St. Paul's before Evensong and listen to the quiet improvisation of the organists and listen to how it moves the building. Both as an organist and listener it can be a marvellous sound and feeling.

  36. #36
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    I love the sound and the especially the feel the low notes make, when you hear an organ played live in a big space.

  37. #37
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    This Thursday is the 88th day of the year and is therefore piano day! By way of my contribution here is a recording I made of Billy Mayerl's "Marigold". Enjoy!


  38. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by jwillans View Post
    This Thursday is the 88th day of the year and is therefore piano day! By way of my contribution here is a recording I made of Billy Mayerl's "Marigold". Enjoy!

    After a long day that was most pleasant to listen to, thanks for the time and effort to post


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  39. #39
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    Quote Originally Posted by LRB255 View Post
    After a long day that was most pleasant to listen to, thanks for the time and effort to post


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Many thanks!

  40. #40
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    Blimey! We've got some talent in this place, haven't we?

    Interesting to see an organ with 'digital' stops too. Neat.

  41. #41
    Administrator swanbourne's Avatar
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    I'd love to hear Widor's Toccata on that digital organ (at the correct speed).

    Widor was 88 when he recorded this.



    Eddie
    Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".

  42. #42
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    Impressive playing - particularly without moving his arms! I've played Widor's Toccata although not frequently enough to memorise it and page turning is impossible therefore I end up using a tiny score which is not fun. I may record it at some point in the meantime here is someone else's recording using the same technology and sample set (complete with page turner):





    Quote Originally Posted by swanbourne View Post
    I'd love to hear Widor's Toccata on that digital organ (at the correct speed).

    Widor was 88 when he recorded this.



    Eddie

  43. #43
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    I had the recording equipment setup for another reason last Sunday, and unplanned sat down and recorded an albums worth of improvisations on Jazz standards:

    https://soundcloud.com/james-willans-373120325

    Hope you enjoy!

  44. #44
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    Late night port-fuelled improvised arrangement. This time on a digital piano would you believe!


  45. #45
    Grand Master AlphaOmega's Avatar
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    Thank you J, that was beautiful.

  46. #46
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
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    Really lovely again.

    I'll get a few more months under my belt on the CLP785 and then I might start uploading some of my tunes. Won't be at your level but I'm nearly at the stage where I can fool people into thinking I can play a bit of piano. The years of learning the organ have for sure helped significantly but the expressiveness of touch (and the judicious use of the sustain pedal without making it sound like you are playing underwater!) is something I'm trying to practice upon as that is significantly different from the organ.

  47. #47
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    The piano tuner has been - the day is hot - so here is an improvised version of Gershwin's Summertime that I recorded this evening. I hope you enjoy!


  48. #48
    Master Skier's Avatar
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    Fantastic. What a talent. My father used to love, and play in the style of, Oscar Petersen. He's 82 now and fading which is heartbreaking for me to witness.
    Last edited by Skier; 25th July 2018 at 22:32.

  49. #49
    Master Maysie's Avatar
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    Op. You Sir, are a very talented man indeed.

    Thank you for taking the time to post those clips, which I have thoroughly enjoyed watching/listening to.

    I would love to have been able to play the piano, which has only really appealed since I was around 35YO. However, my arthritic fingers, total lack of musical talent, lack of available time and predisposition for giving up on things far too quickly mean I am very happy to watch others who can play the piano instead!

  50. #50
    Master
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    Many thanks for the kind comments - the more I work with great musicians the more my limited abilities pale into insignificance, but I am delighted that you enjoy the recordings.

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