Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

Cyprien Katsaris – Paraphrase on Piano

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY POST

This month marks the fourth anniversary of this blog

which was started in August 2015.

During this time I am pleased to have completed the transcriptions of

 three of my favourite two-piano jazz arrangements. 

All three are highly energetic and creatively improvised.

These were first mentioned in earlier posts,
with a note that perhaps one day someone will transcribe them!
The transcriptions have been posted recently but individually.

We feature them again here in this commemorative post.

1. 'SWonderful

 Composed by George Gershwin.

Improvised by Dave Grusin and Chick Corea

in "The Gershwin Connection" Album
 

2. Cherokee

Composed by Ray Noble.

Improvised by Olaf Polziehn and Rossano Sportiello.

3. Sleigh Ride
 

Composed by Leroy Anderson.

Improvised by Stanley Collins.

'SWonderful (Two Pianos) - Transcription

'SWONDERFUL (TWO PIANOS) - TRANSCRIPTION

Classic piece by George Gershwin.

Amazing improvisation by Dave Grusin and Chick Corea
in the album "The Gershwin Connection".
First referenced in earlier blog post here.

This has now been transcribed by The Geometric Pianist!

Cherokee (Two Pianos) - Transcription

CHEROKEE (TWO PIANOS) - TRANSCRIPTION

Jazz standard by Ray Noble.

Brilliant improvisation by pianists Olaf Polziehn and Rossano Sportiello.

This has now been transcribed by The Geometric Pianist!

See also earlier post on this piece here.

Selamat Hari Raya

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

Catchy Hari Raya favourite by Ahmad Jaafar (1955),

sung originally by Saloma.

Arrangement by The Geometric Pianist (2019)

for 4 keyboards, harmonica obligato and percussion

  

Saloma (Version 1)

One of the early original versions.
Upbeat version with strings.

Contains signature introduction and and coda passage.

 

Saloma (Version 2)

Another early/original version. 

More laid-back tempo, with cha-cha rhythm.
Jazz band, with trumpets featured prominently.

Nyango Star

NYANGO STAR

Interesting challenge between one half of TwoSet Violin and Nyango Star.

Nyango Star is a cat-apple mascot character from Japan.

Highly skilled at the drums.

 

Gong Xi Gong Xi - for Violin and Piano

Gong Xi Gong Xi

(Original Arrangement for Violin and Piano)

Arranged by The Geometric Pianist (2019)

In the style of virtuoso solo violin pieces of the romantic period.

Inspired by Paganini, Kreisler, Wieniawski and Rachmaninoff. 

 "Paganini and Rachmaninoff jamming. 
If they had been born in the same era. 
And in China. " 
An observation by Quantum, a friend of the Geometric Pianist.

More information on the original piece in a previous blog post here.

Sleigh Ride (Two Pianos) - Transcription

SLEIGH RIDE
(TWO PIANOS)

Brilliant jazz improvisation by Stanley Collins (2012) on this festive favourite. 

Original composed by Leroy Anderson (1948).

Featured in earlier blog entry here.

Recently transcribed by The Geometric Pianist!




Transcription by The Geometric Pianist (2018)
with running score.

Original Version here:

Stanley Collins (2012) - Two-Piano

An exhilarating, invigorating and refreshingly jazzy take on this classic.

Very tight two-piano chordwork and voicing. 

Exciting reharmonization and rhythmic ideas.

Melodic and temporal fidelity preserved amidst jazz complexity.

A brilliant arrangement and performance!

(comments above from earlier blog entry) 

 

National Anthems - Piano Transcriptions

NATIONAL ANTHEMS - PIANO TRANSCRIPTIONS 

It is sometimes necessary for a pianist to perform 

the national anthem before the start of a recital.

Here is a collection of some transcriptions.

_____

NEGARAKU

(National Anthem of Malaysia)

Arranged by The Geometric Pianist (2018)

In the style of Rachmaninoff's piano transcriptions.

Starts off with pure octaves and then standard chords.

Inner melodies and suspensions added incrementally.

Live performance of this arrangement by a well-wisher can be found here.

_____

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER

(National Anthem of the USA)

Arranged by Rachmaninoff (1918)

 Brilliant arrangement. 

Very well-balanced.

Clever use of suspensions especially the last few bars.

With running score. 

Arranged and Performed Live by Van Cliburn (1994)

Unembellished but rousing.

_____

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

(National Anthem of the United Kingdom)

Arranged and Performed Live by Horowitz (1982)

Steady and solemn.

Je Te Veux

Je Te Veux

Charming waltz for piano solo composed by French composer Erik Satie in 1897. 
Was fascinated by the melody whilst in a Muji store and managed to track it down online. 
Reminscent of a bygone Parisian era.

Wiki link here. 

ORIGINAL  - Piano Solo

Original composition by Satie.

Played by Jean-Yves Thibaudet. 
With running score. 
 

MUJI BGM 12 
(Accordion, Piano, Guitar)

 Beautiful arrangement for accordion, piano and guitar. 

Background Music for Muji, the Japanese store. 

The bal-musette style captures the mood of the piece perfectly.

 More details from Muji website here.

Jean Wiener (Piano)

Elegant paraphrase for piano solo in the grand romantic tradition.

Tastefully enriched, harmonized/reharmonized and textured. 

Someone should undertake a transcription of this beautiful arrangement.

Major 13th Chord

MAJOR 13th CHORD

A selection of music with

the Major 13th Chord in a catchy II-V-I context.

STARS IN THE SKY (2017)

by David Cutter

A catchy loop with interesting synths.

FINDING PARKING (2017)

by Joey Pecoraro

Similarly catchy loop with lively beat.

SUNDAY MORNING  (2004)
by Maroon 5 

A wistful yet catchy classic by vocal group Maroon 5.
Wiki entry here.

(added June 2019)

IT'S NEAR (2017)

by DJ Quads

Technically only a 9th, not 13th. 

But nevertheless, a catchy II-V-I loop.

Gong Xi Gong Xi (恭喜恭喜)

Gong Xi Gong Xi 

(恭喜恭喜)

(This post is made in conjunction with Chinese New Year 2018.)

A Chinese New Year favourite.

Translates literally to "Congratulations" 

but contextually probably "Best Wishes"would be more appropriate.

Composed by Chen Gexin in 1945 in Shanghai

to celebrate the defeat of Japan 

and liberation of China at the end of WWII (per Wikipedia).

Now almost exclusively associated with Chinese New Year.

Wiki entry here. 

Happy Chinese New Year!


The Geometric Pianist (Three Keyboards) (2018)
Original transcription for three keyboards.
Playback instruments: Tines, Clavinet and Piano. 
Inspired by Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Bach.
With jazzy interlude at 0:52.
Easter Eggs:
0:28 - Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor
 1:25 - Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 4 in C# Minor
Underlying figures - Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F

Happy New Year! 2018!

Happy New Year!

2018!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Some interesting new posts.

June Lee - Acappella Christmas Medley (2014)

 Brilliant arrangements of popular of Christmas songs. 

With creative reharmonization and perfect voicings.

 June Lee - Transcription of 
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
by Jacob Collier and Tori Kelly
A very complex transcription. 
With microtonal harmony.
An incredibly challenging and near-impossible feat. 
Brilliant work! 

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (2)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (2)
 See earlier post here.

Latest addition:

Highlight
 
Jacob Collier and Tori Kelly - Multitrack Acappella (2017) 
At last!
The perfect acappella version.
With superjacobian reharmonization.
'nuff said.

June Lee - Live Transcription of the above (2017)
A very unique clip - live transcription of the very complex harmonies of Jacob C!
By the very talented June L.

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Popular Christmas Carol.

Melody by Felix Mendelssohn.

Lyrics by Charles Wesley (1739).

Adapted by George Whitefield (1758).

Adapted to a melody of Mendelssohn's by John Cummings (1855).

Charming melody. 

Many opportunities for reharmonization.

Wiki link here.

HIGHLIGHT

Take 6 - Acappella
The right balance, tempo and texture.
With creative trademark reharmonization.
Perfect.

The Blenders - Acappella (2011)
Excellent live performance.
Some creative reharmonization.

St Paul's Cathedral Christmas Concert (1997)
Grand traditional setting. 

Pentatonix - Acappella (2011)

Traditional opening with rhythmic contemporary makeover second time round.

Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing

Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing

1973 Single by Stevie Wonder
Catchy tune and Latin beat, with motivational lyrics.

Interesting modulation trajectory.

Highlight

Jacob Collier - Multitrack (2013)

Arranged and reharmonized by superhuman Jacob Collier.

Mind-blowing reharmonization, acappellization and instrumentation.

ORIGINAL
Stevie Wonder (1973)
From his 1973 album Innvervisions.






Incognito (1992)
Steady beat.






Arrangment by Paul Murtha - Jazz Band (2017)
Published by Hal Leonard 
Interesting treatment.
With running score.






Highlight 2
Jacob Collier (Live) (2017)
Live at Lincoln Hall in Chicago.
Jacob Collier performs multitrack live with himself!

Wave

Wave

A bossa nova song from the album by the same name.

Composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Catchy melody, upbeat tempo, and interesting modulations.

A favourite candidate for jazz improvisation. 

 Wiki entry here.

ORIGINAL
Antonio Carlos Jobim (1967)
Tasteful and elegant.
Classic Jobim.

VOCALS AND GUITAR

Marina Maiztegui (Vocals) and Eduardo Mercuri (Guitar) (2015)

LARGE GROUP ACAPELLLA

Perpetuum Jazzile (2010)
Live at Vokal Xtravaganzza 2010 concert in Ljubljana, Slovenia

HIGHLIGHT

Antonio Carlos Jobim and Herbie Hancock (1993)

At a Jobim Tribute concert. 

Brilliant improvisation by Hancock.

(The above, with running score)

Herbie Hancock's solo

Transcribed by Aaron Lehrian (2017)

Great job!

Tritsch-Tratsch Polka

Tritsch-Tratsch Polka

A lively polka by Johann Strauss II.

Written in 1858.

Wikipedia entry here.

[Symphony Orchestra]

Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela (2016)

Conducted by Gustavo Dudamel

[Orchestra and Choir]

Vienna Philhamonic and Vienna Boys Choir (2012) 

New Year Concert 2012 in Vienna

Conducted by Mariss Jansons

HIGHLIGHT 1
 

[Solo Piano]
Paraphrase by Cziffra
A supervirtuoso arrangement!

Performed by Yuja Wang (2010)
At the Verbier Festival 2010

Energetic and exhilarating.
Breathtaking technique, at breakneck speed.
Perfectly executed!

Paraphrase for Solo Piano by Cziffra
Running Score by tomekkobialka

HIGHLIGHT 2
 

[Piano Duet (Four Hands)]

Arranged and Performed by Scott Brothers Duo (Jonathan and Tom Scott)

Lively arrangement and tight performance. 
Very nice texturing with twinkly bits keeping up the momentum of the piece.
 Captures the mood of the polka perfectly.

Minute Waltz

Minute Waltz

Probably the most popular and well-known
of all piano waltzes by Frederic Chopin.

Technically known as Waltz in D-flat major Op 64 No 1.
Some interesting paraphrases. 

Wiki link here.