April Monday piano improvisation

[Tim Fatchen (tim_fatchen)]

If cliche chord progressions inside your head are driving you nuts, you can always get rid of them by doing a fast improvisation and exhausting them (Then you can try something different without the cliche re-emerging!) As I havent been on board for a while, here is one such done yesterday morning. Audio file is at http://www.soundclick.com/flyingtadpole, go to "music" and look for "April Monday". Here is the raw .not file; other than cutting the blank bars out, removing four bars in the middle and speeding up a bit from the original MM=120, .not file is as played in at the piano.
<center><table border=1><tr><td>http://www.notation.com/discus/icons/attachment_icon.gifApril Monday raw .not file
16apr07.not (http://www.notation.com/discus/messages/35939/16apr07-34285.not) (365.7 k)</td></tr></table></center>

[Tim Fatchen (tim_fatchen)]

Forgot to add. Time is actually 4/4, not 2/4. I find it easier to input as 2/4 because when I get time out of whack the cleanup is a lot simpler, fewer barlines to shift. When it's all cleaned up I can do a global change to 4/4!

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Tim,

Good technique suggestion, both for getting rid of the "cycling chords in my head" as well as for entry/cleanup. The hotel computer doesn't have speakers, so I'll have to take a listen somewhere else, but I have a feeling I'm going to like it http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Tim Fatchen]

This has been cleaned up and reproduced, using Garritan Personal Orchestra's Steinway and strings with Notation COmposer as the sequencer (as well as for editing)

Use www.soundclick.com/flyingtadpole (http://www.soundclick.com/flyingtadpole) and look for April Monday (4) or go direct:
http://tinyurl.com/24zkvf


Tim
www.myspace.com/timfatchen (http://www.myspace.com/timfatchen)

[Djim Tio (djimtio)]

Hi Tim
I enjoyed listening to April Monday,makes me feel happy.This song reminds me of a beautiful April sunrise,full of promises of a nice day.
The Steinway sounds terrific in my set up.Quite a performance !
Thanks and regards
Djim

[M G Jacobs (mgj32)]

Hi Tim,

Nice. I like the changing moods, the handling of the strings and especially the control of dynamics, which makes it sound live. I agree with Djim--that is a great piano.

all best,
mgj

[Tim Fatchen (flyingtadpole)]

testing testing (does this work now Sherry? ;)

Yes, I'm impressed by the sound of the GPO steinway too. MG, this was live, originally an improvisation. I've had to do various edits to kick the time into place and get rid of fumbles, and also change dynamics, but I left the piano as live as I possibly could. Strings needed a lot more manipulation.

Djim, I find the outcome of GPO very impressive but it's taking a lot of getting used to. I suspect the same will be true of GEM when it comes out, but I'm buying that also because I need the electronic gear as well (basses, though the Medeli has good basses, but saxophones, electric piano and so on as well).

[Sherry Crann (sherry)]

Howdy Tim,

I guess the question is were you able to get on the forum without any problems, and it appears you did. This is good http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

Re. April Monday, I've been enjoying it, along with your "February" pieces, immensely.

The GPO library has some great sounds, but you're right that handling those sounds takes some getting used to, especially if you've been used to manipulating sounds using the "standard" MIDI controllers. I for one am really glad that Mark has implemented the "Graph Over Notes" approach, because it makes it so much easier for me, being very visual, to draw things out rather than try and play those controller changes at the same time I'm trying to bang out rhythms on my MIDI keyboard. I'm waaaay behind you, Tim, in keyboard skills http://www.notation.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

ttfn,
Sherry

[Tim Fatchen (flyingtadpole)]

Sherry, I can now get on to the forum, yes, but my emails to you earlier today in reply to your query bounced back! But I'll settle for being able to access the forum again...

Re GPO, I wouldn't survive without the "Graph Over Notes" facility. The mod wheel on the Medeli keyboards has a "kick" which results in quite a jump in volume as it first comes into play. Also the mod wheel is spring loaded so that it returns to zero (!) if you take your hand off it. I spose I should bite the bullet and get a volume pedal and re-assign the controller to it.

Keyboard skills don't matter Sherry, its the GPO skills here and I must admit, it was your GPO dissertations and examples that "sensitised" me, so I went for GPO when everyone started to nag me to get better samples...this is probably the wrong thread for a GPO discusson, perhaps our latter posts should move! 8-)