improvisation
Das Leben ist Improvisation – spontanes Reagieren auf scheinbare Zufälle. Man macht Pläne, und dann kommt doch alles ganz anders. Im günstigsten Fall folgt man der jeweils höchsten Eingebung. Die besten Momente sind jedoch nicht planbar – man muss bereit sein, sie sich schenken zu lassen.
Im Konzert ist Improvisation ein Abenteuer. Man kann Glück haben und inspiriert sein - oder auch nicht. Jahrelanges Experimentieren hat mir gezeigt: Je mehr ich loslasse, desto mehr kann ich Neuland betreten und mich selbst überraschen. Wenn ich mich das traue ...
John Cage hat gesagt: „I welcome whatever happens next“ – „Was auch immer gleich passiert – ich freu mich drauf“ (Ist das nicht ein schönes Lebensmotto?)
Die folgenden Aufnahmen sind solche Live-Erlebnisse aus verschiedenen Konzerten. Sie sind völlig unbearbeitet und auf charmante Weise unperfekt. Dafür erzählen sie Geschichten, die ich vorher selbst nicht kannte.
free style piano
improvisations 2004 (live recordings from various concerts)
(01) night in paderborn part one
(02) night in paderborn part two
(03) night in paderborn part three
CHRISTIAN NAGEL, piano
CD-Text (english version)
Paderborn I-III were recorded at a late night concert at a 1000 year old castle in Paderborn. The three pieces are completely improvised, without any previously made concept. I was inspired by the great hall, the lighting and the relaxed atmosphere of that night.
Groove No.1 is a study on a 7/8 rhythm, which is among my favourites because it "swings". It is improvised on a very simple, standard-like tune that "appeared" in one of my earlier concerts. In this live recording, the tonality gradually shifts away ...
Orpheus in Hades is an improvisation based on the ancient myth of Orpheus going down to Hades to rescue his beloved Euridice. Playing the harp and singing beautifully, he is bringing the wild creatures at Hades to tears. Inspired by the story, I am using various techniques on the inside the piano, such as "harping" the strings ...
Es and Intensitaet are free style pieces played after improvisation concepts made by the German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen ("from the seven days"). Es requires playing completely without thinking, to allow the music to transcend and go beyond mere thinking. Intensitaet requires playing single notes and hereby focusing on intensity, warmth and energy.
Heaven meets Earth (Begegnung II) is improvised after a concept by Joshua Jung and symbolizes a meeting between heaven and earth, between Man and God. There are four characters in the piece, the heavens (high register, star-like), the earth (lowest register, bass notes), Man (melody, song-like) and God (cluster, powerful). At the beginning all characters are separate and uneasy, but as the piece progresses it turns into a joyful dance.
Tokyo City Hall is improvised after an experience I had visiting the City Hall Tower of Tokyo in 2004. Escaping from an extremely busy and stressful street atmosphere, the elevator takes you high up to the panorama platform where quiet baroque music is played and you easily forget about the things down at the ground ...
Praise the Lord is a famous German traditional praise song. Praise songs are pieces I like to play in different concerts as encore pieces. In each case I ask the audience which piece they liked to hear, and improvise on the respective tune.
I got rhythm is one of my favourite tunes from the classical jazz repertoire. Unlike most arrangements, my improvisation tries to imitate various styles, such as swing, stride piano, funky and "big band" style ...
(c) 2004 by Christian Nagel. download for personal use only.
