Neo-Classical Piano anyone?

Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2002 7:28 pm

A piano piece I recorded, wrote and performed; dove-tailed with concert flute, french horns, and strings.
I call it "December's Mist"
http://artists3.iuma.com/site-bin/mp3gen/14927/IUMA/Bands/Michael_Jones/audio/Michael_Jones_-_Decembers_Mist.mp3
Comments welcome.
Thanks in advance.

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 5:11 pm

That is real nice Michael!

I use to record Wilson Turbintons Yamaha concert grand at 2 meters with two Bruel&Kjaer Microphones spaced at 11 inches. I got a shade less of the 90hZ sound and I recorded it with the mic's behind him so the fingernails could be heard on the keys. He does all genres of music.

Your capture is nice.
More air hole sound on the flute and keys clicking....is the giveaway of real vibe.

Nice arrangement.

Frequency balance, the piano is a shade dark like a hall..which, if that is what you are shooting for...great!

I like a piano to sound like it sounds to the artist when performing.

I love the arrangement and instrumentation of your piece.

I sincerely hope the above microphone technique proves positive for you. Try it. If this was an electronic piano...you had me fooled!!

You local College or University has players to give a two or three part to strings..and perhaps harmony flutes with the air.. I am sure they will be happy to come by and read your scores for a disc of the works.

Would not mind having a copy of the score and getting with the local Orchestra...me doing some arrangement with you and making a huge piece of it...as an interlude.

You game?

I enjoyed it. May it evolve wherever you wish.

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 6:05 pm

Thanks Bill, for the words of encourgement.
The piano is a 7'-2" Boston Semi-concert grand. It was close-miked using a pair of TLM-103's, so yeah, it's a real piano. Smile

No processing or effects were used on the piano, just some very minor eq to cut the lows a bit.
The piano is, by it's very nature, rather dark, but that's what I liked about it most, and aided my decision to buy it. I have attempted to record this piano at further distances, around 2 meters, like you suggested, but my results were rather dissappointing, and made the piano sound distant, and less intimate. (More work on my part needed there.

I wanted some air hole sound from the flute to try and add a "spacial" quality to it.

The strings (wave form synthesis) were purposely panned slightly left because, well, strings are on the left side of an orchestra, and I thought it important to add that authenticity.

The collaboration, of sorts, you speak of is very inticing. I think this piece could become a grand orchestration, and a more refined arrangement is definately the direction I'd like for it to move towards.

I'll be in touch in that regard.

Thank you so much for your time and effort.
~Michael~

Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2002 9:08 pm

I enjoy this type of interaction.

Some background:

I conducted some mighty strong orchestras as a guest conductor of many works. I like Percy Grainger (Lincolnshire Posy) and especially love doing wind scores (Symphony) and arranging.

As a trombonist, bassist, (and keep even keel with most string instruments, double reeds and brass), it is a pleasure to help in any "vibe" I can on arranging, location and body, with attack in capuring the essence of the composition.

There is a Contra Bassoon in Arkansas that gets passed around that I had a pleasure to meet named "Lucie". She had an "F" that was to behold! (DBL)

The introduction of wind instruments and live strings added to your compositions are "on-line", once you dig in the University scenes. They are dying to gig some with a mic.

Nice Man..lets hear some more!

PS (wish I was not so tired at this hour)

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