Category: Improvisation

I’m really happy with this one! There’s a moment at the end where I tack an extra coda, but it worked out well. Especially since I changed the tonality of the chant from phrygian to Major (much like Bach did for O Sacred Head). What I particularly like about this improv is that it bridges the aspects of the Psalm 89 (88) which reads:

My faithfulness and mercy will be with him;
through my name his horn will be exalted.

I wasn’t particularly ‘horning’ a theme, but the rather adding another layer. That’s what the swell with the celeste and viole do. Add to that the particular chant mode and I think it turns into something profound. Or at least, I like to think it does. Enjoy!

Today’s improvisation, from earlier this afternoon, is based on the chant for Communion with a text from Matthew 13:45 and 46. Simply put, the verses describe the kingdom as a pearl of great price. I was trying to capture those two particular images, the Kingdom of God and a pearl, juxtaposed by earth. It’s always fun to try and capture an idea and put it into musical form. One quick note about the improvisation: I wasn’t expecting things to go on longer and there’s a point where you can tell that I just said to myself, “Well, I gotta keep things going!” Those moments are always fun moments to have.

Much of the study of improvisation follows a simple idea: imitate the masters.  Today’s improvisation is an attempt at an improvisation like a Vierne Scherzo.  I like the use of scherzos and other fast paced pieces during communion processions because I don’t think of them as always being reflective; but more often, they should be joyous, maybe even in a rambunctious way.  It’s a solid improvisation, though I certainly could have use another 5 minutes to the paltry 2 or so that I had, thus the abrupt ending.  Though,when one is given lemons, make lemon pie (that’s what my Mom says after all!).

UPDATE: I just realized that this post is identical to another post recently. I have no idea how they got mixed up, but I like this improvisation, so I’m happy to share it twice!

I cut loose a little today.  There is sometimes (or self imposed, as is my case) difference between concert improvisations and liturgical improvisations.  Generally speaking, I reserve more traditional forms and styles for the liturgy, but today I went for a slightly freeform postlude based on the chant Lauda Zion.  It was the last Sunday the choir sang and I figured it was time for a bang.  A small bang at least.

I can certainly go more tonally crazy than this, but this is a liturgical improv on Pittsburgh’s South Side.  One doesn’t need to go full France-1960 and I’ll leave it at that.  There’s a bit of noise in the background, but hey, it is a postlude.  Enjoy!

Now that I’m done teaching for the semester and the choir season has ended, Ive had a bit more time to do things like, well, post on this blog!  Another example of catching up, I’ve updated the list of compositions.  It’s rather huge – I apparently hadn’t looked at it recently.  I had a chance to catalogue it all and get it edited and ready for public consumption.

Today’s improvisation is an attempt, emphasis on attempt, to do something more in the style of Vierne.  One of the fun aspects of improvisation is trying to mimic those you admire most.  It, in turn, also has an affect on my compositions as I learn about new things I like to hear and incorporate.  The one thing that is missing, is a chromatic sequence of some kind.  Maybe next time!

Today is the Feast of Seven Founders of the Order of Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Quite a name for a feast.  I had this idea to end one improvisation, the offertory, and continue it during the communion.  I’ve used this before but it doesn’t always work with the various chants or hymns.  Today it worked!  Or at least, I like to think so.

On another note, someone approached me after mass and said that he thought that a phone was ringing at the beginning of the offertory.  That was until he said that he realized that it was the organ.  We both found that pretty funny.  Enjoy!

Happy New Year!  I’ve clearly haven’t posted anything in a while and that may seem a shame.  Really, I missed ALL of Christmas!  But that’s not the whole story: I did record a number of improvs, but I didn’t feel that they were good enough.  And the improvs that were good enough, I didn’t have the camera going.  Ah well.

Today, I had the camera rolling for the Novena Masses at the Monastery.  These two improvs are both relatively short as things go during daily Masses.  But I feel they compliment each other well, which is why they’re both there.  Enjoy!

Happy Advent!  One of the great things about the Advent/Christmas season is that there is so much good music.  Even the propers are, in some way, exceptional to the average chants.  It particular are the chants for the First Sunday of Advent.  This communion chant sets Psalm 85(84):13 where the Lord brings forth the earth’s fruits.  And hopefully, I have represented that well, especially with a fairly think registration.

There are certain, presiders, that like to keep things moving.  What’s funny about this particular improvisation, during the communion procession, is that there was a Eucharistic minister serving the wine that took longer than the rest of the ministers.  From my vantage point, I didn’t notice this.  That caused me to tack on an extra coda ending as the priest was waiting for things to move on.  I have often thought that this sort of improvisation is all about how to extend an ending.  It is an art to make an ending not sound like an ending.