Last week I posted some new tracks onto my SoundCloud page. Most of these tracks are recently recorded organ and piano improvisations, several of which I recorded as Christmas gifts for various family members and friends. These improvisations were recorded between December 23rd - 28th. I've discussed several of these improvisations in previous posts. Today I want to mention two newly posted tracks, both of which were recorded the same time as the above-mentioned improvisations.
The first track is "Five Organ Improvisations in the Antique Style." You can find a link to the recording here: https://www.reverbnation.com/michaelcalabris/song/31467339-five-organ-improvisations-in-antique
Regarding the title: I used the term "antique" quite loosely. In this instance the term is used in reference to both the modal and triadic/tonal harmonies the improvisations employ as well as to the styles the improvisations imitate.
(This is in contradistinction to another improvisation I recorded at that same time, "Climate Change: Christmas Day in Ohio, 2019" - a completely "modernist-/academic-style" improvisation. You can hear the recording of this latter improv here: https://www.reverbnation.com/michaelcalabris/song/31587860-climate-change-christmas-in-ohio)
The title of the individual five pieces are:
- Prelude
- Galant
- Improvisation in the Lydian Mode
- Improvisation in the Phrygian Mode
- Improvisation in the Mixolydian Mode
The "Prelude" is, appropriately, a rather grand piece which features a nice circle-of-fifths progression. "Galant" is, as the name implies, an improv in a sort of neo-galant style. This improvisation features prominently the organ's MIDI harp stop. "Improvisation in the Lydian Mode" is a melancholy song without words, while "Improvisation in the Phrygian Mode" is a mystical-sounding improvisation based on Latin plainchant. Like "Galant," "Improvisation in the Phrygian Mode" features the organ's MIDI harp. "Improvisation in the Mixoydian Mode" is very much a neo-Renaissance dance-like piece.
The second recently posted improvisation is entitled "For Nicole and Sofia." This recording was a gift to my sister and my young niece. For this improvisation, I used the organ's MIDI celesta. You can here a recording of this improvisation here: https://www.reverbnation.com/michaelcalabris/song/31587855-for-nicole--sofia-organ-improvisation.
Like "Five Improvisations," "For Nicole and Sofia" employs some classical elements, but, for the most part, it has a popular music-like sound. At one point in the improvisation I added a rather sweet-sounding I-vi-IV-V chord progression; a progression of which I am very fond.