Category: Improvisation

Ah, the Ordinary Time.  I really enjoy these particular chants.  On a rather humorous note, I did some excellent improvs (better than the ones in today’s video) all because Sr. Agatha Ozah showed up to Mass.  I told her following the Mass, “Well, I figured that since you showed up to Mass, I better show off.”  Sr. Agatha is quite the chant scholar, so she very much enjoyed hearing the chants improvised upon.  Nothing particular to note about these improvisations, except that I have a rather long reach with my hands.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted!  I had to listen to about 60 juries between Duquesne and CCAC (Community College of Allegheny County), which is A LOT.  Add to that Christmas and all that goes along with the planning and preparation (plus a little down time) has left me with not following up on posting videos.  Well, here’s something from today’s Mass.  As an interesting point about improvising, it takes a certain kind of memory to remember what textures you have done in order to bring it back later.  Much practicing is involved in that, just like anything else!

Happy Thanksgiving!  This little improvisation comes from the vigil Mass on Wednesday night before Thanksgiving and it is always one of my favorite Masses to play.  During the Offertory, people bring up goods for the food bank that the Monastery runs, which is always great.  The closing hymn is of course THE standard Catholic hymn and I thought a Toccata would be most appropriate.  It’s not my best toccata, it took a bit to get it going, but I think it’s quite a bit of fun.

It’s, again, been a while since I’ve posted something.  Many apologies.  Teaching really takes much of my time.  It was worth the wait!  I’m here to post a rather exciting improvisation from the CMAA and Duquesne University’s Charles Tournemire Symposium.  The Symposium focused on improvisation and I was given the opportunity to play for the Monday daily Mass for 15 MINTUES.  Epic.  Especially since the chapel organ leaves something to be desired.  But that is the challenge of the musician, to make the instrument sing as best as it can.  Enjoy this rather lengthy improvisation.

Even though this is a week old, I wanted to share as I was very happy how it turned out.  This improvisation was based on the homily given at the 10 AM Mass for the Feast of the Transfiguration.  Being that this improv happened on a Monday, the postlude is rather reserved.  There’s usually quite a line for confessions at this time.  The reading for the day can be found here:

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/080612.cfm

And here is the improvisation:

This past weekend I just happened to improvise at the Offertory for both Masses (Saturday and Sunday).  That usually doesn’t happen on Sunday for the choir would be singing the proper.  But it’s summer and they’re taking a break, or I’m taking a break, or something like that.  So here are two improvisations, back to back in one video.  I think it’s interesting to watch them back to back seeing how the same theme is treated differently.

I’m back!  After the lengthy vacation for this summer, I’ve got a nice short improvisation today.  What I love in particular about some of the chants is the inclusion of repeated notes.  Like all music, this is a device found in many chants, including today’s Alleluia.  Thought it would make a nice short, exciting postlude.  Enjoy!

The last post is what I’ll call a VWF: that’s Vaughan Williams FAIL.  Not only did I get the tune wrong, I spelled Vaughan without the second “a”.  In case you’re wondering, it was “Lasst Uns Erfreuen” and not “Sine Nomine.”  BUT this week’s improv is actually on “Sine Nomine” for St. John the Baptist.

At the time of the improvisation, I was in Alaska visiting my family.  Usually when I go there my mother and I play Mass together and this trip was no exception.  You might say, “but I’ve heard you do this before!”  And yes, that’s true.  My simple three-variation form is one of the things I do often.  But here in Alaska, they HAVE NOT heard it.  In fact, the music at the Cathedral is, honestly, less than stellar.  So I thought I would show off, as best I could with little practice.  Hope you enjoy it!

(And yes, I’m wearing shorts.  I didn’t bring any dress clothes and it was 87 degrees.  It does get pretty toasty in Fairbanks, Alaska.  Also really cold.  Like -51!)

Happy Pentecost!  This week I did a trio on the tune “Sine Nomine.”  There are few hymn writers whose tunes never need more and Vaughn Williams is one of them.  The trio is certainly one of the more difficult forms to improvise in, but that’s what challenges are for.  Didn’t the immortal Bach himself write his Trio sonatas so his son could have complete control over all his limbs?

As mentioned before, I have decided to retitle these pages with just the simple “Improvisation.”  This weeks entry is an interesting one that requires a little explanation.  Usually, these this are straight forward: there’s a tune and I use it.  This week, I decided to use the homily as my jumping point.  Fr. Vincent gave a wonderful talk and I used specifically his idea that we are saints and sinners and represented that with two motifs: a descending half step for sinners (like the sighing motif of Bach) and an augmented 4th chord for saints.  To use the two together, one based in half steps and the other in whole, was a good challenge.  This being the Offertory, it was kept on the quiet side, but it stands pretty well.  Wish you could have head the homily!