Piano Journeys

I piece without a theme when I was feeling especially creative. Sometimes (perhaps often?) even I don't know where these melodies will go until I try to play them.

Named "Take Four" because when I looked at the recorder, the time was exactly 4:00 (though a few empty seconds got shaved off this when I prepared the final file).

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A complex atonal piece that is more about atmosphere than any clear melody lines. I composed this with the feeling of being background music for some sort of movie.

I haven't done many pieces like this and am curious how it sounds. Let me know what you think.

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I'm really happy to have made it to episode 50! Thank you very much to all the listeners who have checked out this podcast.

I'm curious to hear feedback about the songs so far and any requests you have (genres, etc.) Please email me at "jdpianojourneys@gmail.com".

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A dramatic piece of contrasts, which I felt quite inspired during, and overall feels somewhat cohesive as a story.

While listening to it the word "fantasy" came into mind, hence the title.

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An odd piece with various rhythms and chord structures that somehow pulls itself together as a song.

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A peaceful, pondering piece that is one of the more melodic and structured than the majority of my recent works.

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An jazzy improvisational melody based on a free-flowing right hand, backed up by major chords in the left hand.

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An improvisation session where I felt particularly inspired.

By the way, near the end of the song the microphone fell off the piano lid onto the strings, making a horrible sound. I managed to cut around a second so that you can't hear it, but at the very end there is a strange tinny sound when I try play one of those strings.

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Non-themed improv where I tried to use some of my usual patterns in a different way.

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Sometimes you just want to express, without any specific ideas in mind.

Fun Fact: the little clunking sound at the end of the song was my head banging lightly against the stand sitting behind me.

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A song with a simple melody that brings to mind a player piano.

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A simple, upbeat melody that is heavy on structure and light on improvisation.

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A lively piece loosely inspired by an Irish Jig. (Note: there is no connection to the Will Smith song with a similar name.)

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This song is more about the physical aspect of extending my fingers than the mood created by that, though perhaps you can also think of it as an extension of my ability.

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A slow, methodical piece that focuses on a sense of expectancy and tension. But does it ever resolve?

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A short piece focusing on a catchy main melody, interspersed with contrasting parts.

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A dramatic piece involving a recurring theme and various diversions, painting a complex picture over time.

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Playing with tired hands and a tired mind, I tried to make a piece that expresses my recent struggles in a way that allows me to let them go.

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A dramatic piece with strong intention that changes from minor to major.

(The name is a pun on the words "Minor Major")

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A lanky, random jazz piece with no pedal (very rare for me!)

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All I'll say about this one is that I think it tells a story, which I invite you to take part in.

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A frenetic, offbeat piece that mixes elements of Jazz with other genres.

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A brooding, atmospheric piece.

I think it's been over a year since I've recorded something in this style (if ever?)

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Honestly I'm not sure how to describe this one, but I hope you like it. (:

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A nostalgic melody inspired by 80s pop songs.

(Yes, the name is a play on words)

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An experimental piece emphasizing a dark low-register and mostly black keys, with irregular rhythms.

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An experimental piece that tries to mix many styles and feelings, with frequent changes and very little in the way of a central theme.

After giving the title, I realized the clash with the genre of music called "New Age" that is a part of many of my songs. But the intention here was not the genre, but the feeling of a new age, in other words some big change.

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At the end of a long day, my hands tired from work, I sat in in my piano room with no light but the remainder of the dim sky through the windows.

After a few minutes of playing, I felt somehow rejuvenated.

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A light, upbeat jazzy piece I made on a Sunday Monday when snow blanketed the ground outside.

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A wistful piece, something like staring into the sunset on a beach.

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Contrasting greatly with my last two pieces, this is a very short piece with a simple, peaceful melody and a pretty straightforward structure.

I hope you like it!

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Another crazy freeform mix of genres and styles.

I think this one of my more creative attempts, with a pretty wide variety of stuff I haven't done in recent songs. But what do you think?

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A longish freeform work that was my first recorded work of the year.

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An electic piece that starts out with a simple jazz line and proceeds to move through various different styles.

While weak on theme, it's heavy on passion.

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A dark piece filled with dissonance, based on a running repetitive left hand pattern.

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A powerful, aggressive piece build upon octaves.

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A song with a disturbing, unsettled feeling, like someone slowly pacing back and forth

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An improvisational piece based on a simple upbeat melody with variations, and a slower murky part in the middle.

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A piece that at times sounds a bit like a horror/suspense movie's soundtrack. (Don't worry, it has a happy ending.)

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The title says it all.

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A frenetic, chaotic Jazz improvisonal piece that got my heart beating to perform.

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A chaotic, abstract piece that can be likened to exploring a crypto labyrinth or an alien city scape.

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An upbeat piece focusing on a simple melody line with variations.

While some of the rhythms are a little awkward (especially in the beginning), overall I like how it turned out.

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A piece with a bright melody and waltz-like feel that takes some inspiration from classic Anime music

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A piece in G-minor with a simple melody that has a feel of a round (though isn't quite one).

I was thinking of a scene of Ireland when I was playing this, somewhere in the countryside with rolling hills and maybe ancient walls here and there.

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I didn't start this with much more than the idea of making something very different from my previous pieces.

By the end, the word "royal" popped into my head, and I think it's a fitting title.

I think the style is fairly different from my other pieces on this podcast, so I'm satisfied (:

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I piece made without in any specific intent that ended up being a mix of various styles. There are some places that I would like to have redone, but overall I think the minor mistakes are worth it because the overall product feels more creative (and is perhaps the best of the songs on this Podcast in that sense).

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An experimental piece that begins with a mysterious atmosphere and eventually transforms into something more solid.

The first few notes came from when I was just playing a few random keys to test the volume on my mic, and I liked it so I went with it.

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A pensive, atmospheric piece that features a flowing line over a few repeating chords.

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A bright, upbeat piece with much movement, based on a simple theme with embellishments and variations.

For those who are familiar, I think you can clearly my influences from David Benoit here.

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In the middle of a hectic day I decided to sit down and make a short, pensive song like an eye of the hurricane.

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The mid-morning sun was bright, but my blinds were mostly closed, allowing in a beautiful halflight that illuminated the piano room in just the right way.

This first recording, done on the first try with no editing (except noise reduction) covers a variety of styles and tones. I think this is a good sample to hint at what will come on this channel.

Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy the music!

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