Original Solo Piano (Podcast) http://www.originalsolopiano.com Freestyle solo piano improvisations by Matthijs Hollemans Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:31:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 en ©Matthijs Hollemans matthijs@hollemansproductions.com (Matthijs Hollemans) matthijs@hollemansproductions.com Music 1440 music, piano, solo piano A new piano composition every week. Pianist and composer Matthijs Hollemans publishes a new solo piano composition every week. Matthijs Hollemans Matthijs Hollemans matthijs@hollemansproductions.com No no http://www.hollemansproductions.com/cover-small.jpg Original Solo Piano http://www.originalsolopiano.com 144 144 The End http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/29/the-end/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/29/the-end/#comments Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:29:24 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/29/the-end/ All good things must come to an end, including this one. :)

I’ve decided that the challenge has run its course. These past months I had a lot of fun composing and recording a new tune every week, but now I want to spend that time on other things.

Not that I spent an entire week on each tune: often they were done in a few minutes, or were even spontaneous improvisations.

At first, I intended to post only improvisations from now on, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen either. No time, and I don’t believe the vast majority of my improvisations are good enough yet.

The songs will stay on the site, but don’t expect any more updates.

Thanks everyone for listening! :)

]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/29/the-end/feed/ 37: Chopsticks Remix http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/25/37-chopsticks-remix/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/25/37-chopsticks-remix/#comments Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:12:28 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/25/37-chopsticks-remix/ A few weeks ago over at the Adult Beginners Forum on Piano World, some of us recorded variations of that horrible tune Chopsticks.

Here is my version:

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/25/37-chopsticks-remix/feed/ 3:00 A few weeks ago over at the Adult Beginners Forum on Piano World, some of us recorded variations of that horrible tune Chopsticks. Here is ... A few weeks ago over at the Adult Beginners Forum on Piano World, some of us recorded variations of that horrible tune Chopsticks. Here is my version: Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 36: Silent Night Chill Out http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/18/36-silent-night-chill-out/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/18/36-silent-night-chill-out/#comments Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:56:56 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/18/36-silent-night-chill-out/ When I was updating my page at SoundClick.com, which is a web site where musicians can upload and share their music, I noticed they were running a contest for Holiday Cover Songs.

Just for fun, I recorded a jazzy version of Silent Night. It was harder than I thought but that’s because I’m new to voicing chords this way. The timing is a little off, but it’s still a fun tune.

It looks like my song didn’t make the second round, but here it is anyway: :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/18/36-silent-night-chill-out/feed/ 2:00 When I was updating my page at SoundClick.com, which is a web site where musicians can upload and share their music, I noticed they were ... When I was updating my page at SoundClick.com, which is a web site where musicians can upload and share their music, I noticed they were running a contest for Holiday Cover Songs. Just for fun, I recorded a jazzy version of Silent Night. It was harder than I thought but that's because I'm new to voicing chords this way. The timing is a little off, but it's still a fun tune. It looks like my song didn't make the second round, but here it is anyway: :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 35: Ballad Schmallad http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/15/35-ballad-schmallad/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/15/35-ballad-schmallad/#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:57:14 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/15/35-ballad-schmallad/ This is my contribution to the November 15 Adult Beginners Online Recital from the Piano World forums.

Originally I wanted to send in an improvisation but I was unable to record anything satisfactory. But I did come up with some nice bits so I glued them together to make the following composition.

As always I’m not entirely happy with the recording, but these recitals are about pushing yourself, so they aren’t meant to be easy. :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/15/35-ballad-schmallad/feed/ 2:45 This is my contribution to the November 15 Adult Beginners Online Recital from the Piano World forums. Originally I wanted to send in an improvisation but ... This is my contribution to the November 15 Adult Beginners Online Recital from the Piano World forums. Originally I wanted to send in an improvisation but I was unable to record anything satisfactory. But I did come up with some nice bits so I glued them together to make the following composition. As always I'm not entirely happy with the recording, but these recitals are about pushing yourself, so they aren't meant to be easy. :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 34: Jazzy Tune http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/08/34-jazzy-tune/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/08/34-jazzy-tune/#comments Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:14:18 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/08/34-jazzy-tune/ The past few days I’ve been trying to record something for the upcoming Piano World Adult Beginners Online Recital (next week Thursday) and this is one of the tunes that didn’t make it:

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/11/08/34-jazzy-tune/feed/ 2:03 The past few days I've been trying to record something for the upcoming Piano World Adult Beginners Online Recital (next week Thursday) and this is ... The past few days I've been trying to record something for the upcoming Piano World Adult Beginners Online Recital (next week Thursday) and this is one of the tunes that didn't make it: Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 33: Things Change http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/29/33-things-change/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/29/33-things-change/#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:56:31 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/29/33-things-change/ When I began this one-composition-a-week thing back in May, I expected it to last until right about now because I estimated that my savings would be depleted by this time and I would have to go look for a real job, leaving me less time to the piano.

It hasn’t quite come to that yet, but I’m going to make some changes anyway.

A little over two years ago I took up piano playing with the idea to finally take music seriously, but other than that I had no clue what exactly I was going to do. Before that I did some songwriting so it seemed logical to begin composing for the piano too. I planned to record my own solo piano CD and in fact, that is why I started doing the weekly compositions: to gather a whole bunch of rough source material.

Fun as those things may be, what I like best is improvising everything on the spot, so that is what I will focus on exclusively from now on.

I will still be uploading new tunes regularly — improvisations, obviously — but not necessarily once a week. Sometimes more often, sometimes less. I record almost everything I play, so there will be more than enough material to choose from. But I’ll spare you the really bad ones. ;)

Today’s tune is also an improvisation, recorded a while back:

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/29/33-things-change/feed/ 3:31 When I began this one-composition-a-week thing back in May, I expected it to last until right about now because I estimated that my savings would ... When I began this one-composition-a-week thing back in May, I expected it to last until right about now because I estimated that my savings would be depleted by this time and I would have to go look for a real job, leaving me less time to the piano. It hasn't quite come to that yet, but I'm going to make some changes anyway. A little over two years ago I took up piano playing with the idea to finally take music seriously, but other than that I had no clue what exactly I was going to do. Before that I did some songwriting so it seemed logical to begin composing for the piano too. I planned to record my own solo piano CD and in fact, that is why I started doing the weekly compositions: to gather a whole bunch of rough source material. Fun as those things may be, what I like best is improvising everything on the spot, so that is what I will focus on exclusively from now on. I will still be uploading new tunes regularly -- improvisations, obviously -- but not necessarily once a week. Sometimes more often, sometimes less. I record almost everything I play, so there will be more than enough material to choose from. But I'll spare you the really bad ones. ;) Today's tune is also an improvisation, recorded a while back: Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 32: Cold As Eyes http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/22/32-cold-as-eyes/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/22/32-cold-as-eyes/#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:54:03 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/22/32-cold-as-eyes/ I had a terrible cold these past few days and it’s still not gone yet, so I wasn’t in the mood for much piano playing. Therefore, a simple improvisation for today. It sounds kind of similar to something else I played, but I can’t remember what. :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/22/32-cold-as-eyes/feed/ 3:57 I had a terrible cold these past few days and it's still not gone yet, so I wasn't in the mood for much piano playing. ... I had a terrible cold these past few days and it's still not gone yet, so I wasn't in the mood for much piano playing. Therefore, a simple improvisation for today. It sounds kind of similar to something else I played, but I can't remember what. :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 31: October Monday Morning http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/15/31-october-monday-morning/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/15/31-october-monday-morning/#comments Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:35:28 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/15/31-october-monday-morning/ The sun shines and I slept in, so a relaxed tune for today. This is literally the first thing I played this morning.

Recorded as MIDI and converted to MP3 using the trial version of Pianoteq, a software piano. Last week’s tune was done using the demo version of TruePianos, a competing product.

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/15/31-october-monday-morning/feed/ 3:28 The sun shines and I slept in, so a relaxed tune for today. This is literally the first thing I played this morning. Recorded as ... The sun shines and I slept in, so a relaxed tune for today. This is literally the first thing I played this morning. Recorded as MIDI and converted to MP3 using the trial version of Pianoteq, a software piano. Last week's tune was done using the demo version of TruePianos, a competing product. Music Matthijs Hollemans no No Interesting Articles on Music and Computers http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/10/interesting-articles-on-music-and-computers/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/10/interesting-articles-on-music-and-computers/#comments Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:24:04 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/10/interesting-articles-on-music-and-computers/ Besides a whole bunch of solo piano pieces, my web site also has several interesting (I hope!) articles about music and computers:

How to Record Your Piano or Keyboard on the Computer explains how to hook up your piano or keyboard to the computer in order to make MIDI and audio recordings. A comprehensive introduction with many pictures.

How to Convert MIDI Files to MP3 and Make Them Sound Good explains how to turn crappy-sounding MIDI files into wonderful MP3’s using free software, with an emphasis on great piano sounds.

How to use Virtual Instruments with Your Digital Piano explains how to add new sounds to your instrument using MIDI and software plugins.

Free and Inexpensive Music and Audio Software is a list of free music software that I use and recommend.

Red Dot Forever is my favorite recording tool. It’s a program that I wrote because I wanted a MIDI recording tool that was incredibly simple to use. I like it so much that I use it almost daily. :D

Other unrelated stuff that I want to pimp too:

My web site is powered by WordPress, an amazing program for hosting your blog. I created the WordPress Macro Expander Plugin to make it even easier!

And finally for some fun there is Fnurgletoe, a game that seems easy but that is very hard to beat! :)

]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/10/interesting-articles-on-music-and-computers/feed/ 30: Humans vs Pumpkins http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/08/30-humans-vs-pumpkins/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/08/30-humans-vs-pumpkins/#comments Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:59:35 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/08/30-humans-vs-pumpkins/ Over on the Piano World forums, Mr. Super Hunky came up with a challenge to compose a haunting/creepy Halloween tune.

That turned out to be harder than I expected. Usually when I compose, I don’t set any parameters for myself, I just let the music come to me. But now it was supposed to be “scary music”. Well, I hope I succeeded… :)

The recording was made with the demo version of TruePianos and I added some additional reverb. Sounds pretty good, though I still like my CP33 better.

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P.S. 30 tunes already! :D

]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/08/30-humans-vs-pumpkins/feed/ 3:55 Over on the Piano World forums, Mr. Super Hunky came up with a challenge to compose a haunting/creepy Halloween tune. That turned out to be harder ... Over on the Piano World forums, Mr. Super Hunky came up with a challenge to compose a haunting/creepy Halloween tune. That turned out to be harder than I expected. Usually when I compose, I don't set any parameters for myself, I just let the music come to me. But now it was supposed to be "scary music". Well, I hope I succeeded... :) The recording was made with the demo version of TruePianos and I added some additional reverb. Sounds pretty good, though I still like my CP33 better. P.S. 30 tunes already! :D Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 29: It Is Getting Late http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/01/29-it-is-getting-late/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/01/29-it-is-getting-late/#comments Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:45:37 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/01/29-it-is-getting-late/ Time flies by like you wouldn’t believe it… Already time again to upload a new tune, yikes!

I spent all day at the piano but no inspiration, until just now (late in the evening) when I decided to just do an improvisation and see what happens.

Find out for yourself: :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/10/01/29-it-is-getting-late/feed/ 4:25 Time flies by like you wouldn't believe it... Already time again to upload a new tune, yikes! I spent all day at the piano but no ... Time flies by like you wouldn't believe it... Already time again to upload a new tune, yikes! I spent all day at the piano but no inspiration, until just now (late in the evening) when I decided to just do an improvisation and see what happens. Find out for yourself: :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 28: Bruises http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/24/28-bruises/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/24/28-bruises/#comments Mon, 24 Sep 2007 13:53:32 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/24/28-bruises/ Paintball bruises, that is. We had my brother’s bachelors party last weekend and I’m still sore from the paintball game. Those paintball bullets hurt! Still, I got off pretty decently with only one bruise. :D

The tune is in minor except for the bit that sounds like Bob Dylan. :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/24/28-bruises/feed/ 3:24 Paintball bruises, that is. We had my brother's bachelors party last weekend and I'm still sore from the paintball game. Those paintball bullets hurt! Still, ... Paintball bruises, that is. We had my brother's bachelors party last weekend and I'm still sore from the paintball game. Those paintball bullets hurt! Still, I got off pretty decently with only one bruise. :D The tune is in minor except for the bit that sounds like Bob Dylan. :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 27: (Someone Should Write A) Song About You http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/17/someone-should-write-a-song-about-you/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/17/someone-should-write-a-song-about-you/#comments Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:02:20 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/17/someone-should-write-a-song-about-you/ Today I recorded about 90 minutes of improvising and today’s song is the part I like best from that session:

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/17/someone-should-write-a-song-about-you/feed/ 2:39 Today I recorded about 90 minutes of improvising and today's song is the part I like best from that session: Today I recorded about 90 minutes of improvising and today's song is the part I like best from that session: Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 26: Suo Gan Variations http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/10/26-suo-gan-variations/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/10/26-suo-gan-variations/#comments Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:01:22 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/10/26-suo-gan-variations/ Wow, another week went by just like that. I’ve been very busy so no time to compose but today I played a bit with the Welsh tune Suo Gan.

Over on the Piano World Forums we have a little challenge going to create variations on this traditional lullaby. I spent a few minutes on it tonight and here is the result:

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Download the sheet music (free)

]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/10/26-suo-gan-variations/feed/ 2:35 Wow, another week went by just like that. I've been very busy so no time to compose but today I played a bit with the ... Wow, another week went by just like that. I've been very busy so no time to compose but today I played a bit with the Welsh tune Suo Gan. Over on the Piano World Forums we have a little challenge going to create variations on this traditional lullaby. I spent a few minutes on it tonight and here is the result: Sheet,Music,,Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 25: For April http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/03/25-for-april/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/03/25-for-april/#comments Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:19:30 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/03/25-for-april/ This is an “oldie”, written back in April (hence the name). I really like this theme, so that’s why I’m adding it to my blog.

Originally I recorded it with an electric piano sound and posted it in the April Piano Bar over at the Piano World forums, but now I used a real piano sound for it. It’s really the same recording from April played back with samples from a different instrument, thanks to the magic of MIDI. :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/09/03/25-for-april/feed/ 2:37 This is an "oldie", written back in April (hence the name). I really like this theme, so that's why I'm adding it to my blog. ... This is an "oldie", written back in April (hence the name). I really like this theme, so that's why I'm adding it to my blog. Originally I recorded it with an electric piano sound and posted it in the April Piano Bar over at the Piano World forums, but now I used a real piano sound for it. It's really the same recording from April played back with samples from a different instrument, thanks to the magic of MIDI. :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 24: Sleepy Improv http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/29/24-sleepy-improv/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/29/24-sleepy-improv/#comments Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:27:06 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/29/24-sleepy-improv/ A simple improvisation this time. I recorded this last night before I went to bed because I wasn’t sleepy enough yet. :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/29/24-sleepy-improv/feed/ 2:38 A simple improvisation this time. I recorded this last night before I went to bed because I wasn't sleepy enough yet. :) A simple improvisation this time. I recorded this last night before I went to bed because I wasn't sleepy enough yet. :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 23: Prettier Than Stars http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/22/23-prettier-than-stars/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/22/23-prettier-than-stars/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:30:30 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/22/23-prettier-than-stars/ Here is a short, but sweet, lullaby that I don’t want to keep from you.

I included the sheet music if you want to play this for yourself, although the recording is slightly different than what is notated.

There are lyrics too but they’re so corny (if the title didn’t give that away yet) that I’m too embarrassed to show them. ;)

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Download the sheet music (free)

]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/22/23-prettier-than-stars/feed/ 1:44 Here is a short, but sweet, lullaby that I don't want to keep from you. I included the sheet music if you want to play ... Here is a short, but sweet, lullaby that I don't want to keep from you. I included the sheet music if you want to play this for yourself, although the recording is slightly different than what is notated. There are lyrics too but they're so corny (if the title didn't give that away yet) that I'm too embarrassed to show them. ;) Sheet,Music,,Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 22: Harley Day http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/19/22-harley-day/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/19/22-harley-day/#comments Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:52:27 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/19/22-harley-day/ Just a simple tune I recorded to play around with a new technique I’ve been learning: chucking with the right hand. It gives faster tunes a little “ooomph” or slower tunes a kind of reggae flavor.

It was a lot of trouble to record this one, not because the tune is so difficult to play, but because today is Harley Davidson Day and there are a couple of thousand bikes and bikers roaming the city. They make so much noise I can’t even hear myself play the piano!

Anyway, it’s fun to see all those Harleys parked throughout the city. :)

Download the MP3

]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/19/22-harley-day/feed/ 3:30 Just a simple tune I recorded to play around with a new technique I've been learning: chucking with the right hand. It gives faster tunes ... Just a simple tune I recorded to play around with a new technique I've been learning: chucking with the right hand. It gives faster tunes a little "ooomph" or slower tunes a kind of reggae flavor. It was a lot of trouble to record this one, not because the tune is so difficult to play, but because today is Harley Davidson Day and there are a couple of thousand bikes and bikers roaming the city. They make so much noise I can't even hear myself play the piano! Anyway, it's fun to see all those Harleys parked throughout the city. :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 21: Almost There (Improv) http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/13/21-almost-there-improv/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/13/21-almost-there-improv/#comments Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:36:59 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/13/21-almost-there-improv/ This is an improvisation over a more or less fixed chord progression (C Am Gm C7 F Adim7 Bb7 Eb Em Dm G7 for the curious).

It’s called “Almost There” because I’m almost… 31. Tomorrow is the “big” day, although I’m saving the party for later this month. :)

The improvisation isn’t nearly as good or interesting as I’d like it to be, but that’s the thing about improvisations: you never know how they will turn out beforehand. ;)

But I guess this is currently what I’m capable of as far as improvisation goes, so that’s what you get.

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/13/21-almost-there-improv/feed/ 3:14 This is an improvisation over a more or less fixed chord progression (C Am Gm C7 F Adim7 Bb7 Eb Em Dm G7 for the ... This is an improvisation over a more or less fixed chord progression (C Am Gm C7 F Adim7 Bb7 Eb Em Dm G7 for the curious). It's called "Almost There" because I'm almost... 31. Tomorrow is the "big" day, although I'm saving the party for later this month. :) The improvisation isn't nearly as good or interesting as I'd like it to be, but that's the thing about improvisations: you never know how they will turn out beforehand. ;) But I guess this is currently what I'm capable of as far as improvisation goes, so that's what you get. Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 20: With The End In Mind http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/07/20-with-the-end-in-mind/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/07/20-with-the-end-in-mind/#comments Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:03:37 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/07/20-with-the-end-in-mind/ Whoops, I just noticed that it has been a week since I uploaded a new composition. Well, no matter… let’s quickly throw something together. ;)

I’ve been busy working on my sight reading for the past week and with arranging and recording a version of Duke Ellington’s Solitude for the Online Recital from the Adult Beginner’s Forum over on Piano World.

Anyway, here is the new tune… It’s a little short, but sweet. :D

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/08/07/20-with-the-end-in-mind/feed/ 2:09 Whoops, I just noticed that it has been a week since I uploaded a new composition. Well, no matter... let's quickly throw something together. ;) I've ... Whoops, I just noticed that it has been a week since I uploaded a new composition. Well, no matter... let's quickly throw something together. ;) I've been busy working on my sight reading for the past week and with arranging and recording a version of Duke Ellington's Solitude for the Online Recital from the Adult Beginner's Forum over on Piano World. Anyway, here is the new tune... It's a little short, but sweet. :D Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 19: Ode To Mangoes http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/31/19-ode-to-mangoes/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/31/19-ode-to-mangoes/#comments Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:11:49 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/31/19-ode-to-mangoes/ This weekend I discovered a technique that was new to me but that’s probably obvious to anyone else who plays the piano: between spaces in the melody, you can arpeggiate additional tones in your right hand.

It sounds very cool (and kind of classical), although I’m not sure yet what to do with my left hand besides playing bass notes.

Here’s a fresh tune that uses this technique, dedicated to my favorite fruit. Even though it sounds pretty easy, it was a real hassle to record. But I like the main theme, so this one may be worth spending more time on. :D

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/31/19-ode-to-mangoes/feed/ 2:32 This weekend I discovered a technique that was new to me but that's probably obvious to anyone else who plays the piano: between spaces in ... This weekend I discovered a technique that was new to me but that's probably obvious to anyone else who plays the piano: between spaces in the melody, you can arpeggiate additional tones in your right hand. It sounds very cool (and kind of classical), although I'm not sure yet what to do with my left hand besides playing bass notes. Here's a fresh tune that uses this technique, dedicated to my favorite fruit. Even though it sounds pretty easy, it was a real hassle to record. But I like the main theme, so this one may be worth spending more time on. :D Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 18: The Black Keys http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/27/18-the-black-keys/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/27/18-the-black-keys/#comments Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:37:04 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/27/18-the-black-keys/ This is an improvisation of me playing on just the black keys of the keyboard (that was the only “rule”). There isn’t much structure to it, but I like it anyway. :D

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/27/18-the-black-keys/feed/ 5:09 This is an improvisation of me playing on just the black keys of the keyboard (that was the only "rule"). There isn't much structure to ... This is an improvisation of me playing on just the black keys of the keyboard (that was the only "rule"). There isn't much structure to it, but I like it anyway. :D Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 17: Earthlings http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/25/17-earthlings/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/25/17-earthlings/#comments Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:26:04 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/25/17-earthlings/ A few years ago I became a vegetarian for health reasons. Since then I’ve also come to realize how badly animals are being treated, not just to provide humans with food but also in most other respects. So these days I’m also a vegetarian for ethical reasons.

This tune was written (well, mostly improvised) after I watched “Earthlings”, a documentary that you can view for free online that exposes just what a lousy deal most animals are getting.

I don’t mind people eating meat, but if you do eat meat then at least have the courage to learn where your food comes from: watch the movie here.

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/25/17-earthlings/feed/ 2:47 A few years ago I became a vegetarian for health reasons. Since then I've also come to realize how badly animals are being treated, not ... A few years ago I became a vegetarian for health reasons. Since then I've also come to realize how badly animals are being treated, not just to provide humans with food but also in most other respects. So these days I'm also a vegetarian for ethical reasons. This tune was written (well, mostly improvised) after I watched "Earthlings", a documentary that you can view for free online that exposes just what a lousy deal most animals are getting. I don't mind people eating meat, but if you do eat meat then at least have the courage to learn where your food comes from: watch the movie here. Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 16: Spend No Tears http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/24/16-spend-no-tears/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/24/16-spend-no-tears/#comments Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:30:53 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/24/16-spend-no-tears/ This is an older tune that I re-recorded this morning. I haven’t made it public before, so here it is.

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/24/16-spend-no-tears/feed/ 3:07 This is an older tune that I re-recorded this morning. I haven't made it public before, so here it is. This is an older tune that I re-recorded this morning. I haven't made it public before, so here it is. Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 15: In The Dream World http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/19/15-in-the-dream-world/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/19/15-in-the-dream-world/#comments Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:59:36 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/19/15-in-the-dream-world/ This is a semi-improvisation based on the chorus from a song I wrote a couple of years ago when I just had my first keyboard. Sometimes this happens: an old melody that I played many years back and never since suddenly pops into my head again. Weird.

I call it a “semi” improvisation because when I press “Record”, I have more or less in mind the two sections I’ll be using but nothing’s fixed. I keep changing the melody slightly and sometimes also the chords. Often this happens out of necessity because I hit a wrong tone somewhere and then I have to improvise my way back — and pretend that it was intentional. ;)

The title for this piece is from that old song too. The chorus went like this, see if you can match the words to the melody:

In the dream world
Everything makes sense
In the real world
Nothing ever does
So what’s the point
Of waking up?

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/19/15-in-the-dream-world/feed/ 3:04 This is a semi-improvisation based on the chorus from a song I wrote a couple of years ago when I just had my first keyboard. ... This is a semi-improvisation based on the chorus from a song I wrote a couple of years ago when I just had my first keyboard. Sometimes this happens: an old melody that I played many years back and never since suddenly pops into my head again. Weird. I call it a "semi" improvisation because when I press "Record", I have more or less in mind the two sections I'll be using but nothing's fixed. I keep changing the melody slightly and sometimes also the chords. Often this happens out of necessity because I hit a wrong tone somewhere and then I have to improvise my way back -- and pretend that it was intentional. ;) The title for this piece is from that old song too. The chorus went like this, see if you can match the words to the melody: In the dream world Everything makes sense In the real world Nothing ever does So what's the point Of waking up? Music Matthijs Hollemans no No Yamaha CP33 Digital Piano Demo http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/17/yamaha-cp33-digital-piano-demo/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/17/yamaha-cp33-digital-piano-demo/#comments Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:28:35 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/17/yamaha-cp33-digital-piano-demo/ In a comment on my previous video, George asked whether I could show off my Yamaha CP33 piano some more. So today I recorded this short demonstration of my digital stage piano. I play and improvise some simple tunes to show off the various sounds and voices of this instrument.

]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/17/yamaha-cp33-digital-piano-demo/feed/ 14: After The Bicycle Trip http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/15/14-after-the-bicycle-trip/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/15/14-after-the-bicycle-trip/#comments Sun, 15 Jul 2007 18:08:01 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/15/14-after-the-bicycle-trip/ Another improvisation, from start to finish. Of course, I used the good old 1645 chord progression in C major.

This is the first thing I played when I sat down after I came home from today’s bicycle trip. Because I’m kinda drained the improv is rather slow and simple. It’s not particularly super, but what comes out is what comes out. ;)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/15/14-after-the-bicycle-trip/feed/ 2:54 Another improvisation, from start to finish. Of course, I used the good old 1645 chord progression in C major. This is the first thing I ... Another improvisation, from start to finish. Of course, I used the good old 1645 chord progression in C major. This is the first thing I played when I sat down after I came home from today's bicycle trip. Because I'm kinda drained the improv is rather slow and simple. It's not particularly super, but what comes out is what comes out. ;) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 13: Lucky Number http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/09/13-lucky-number/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/09/13-lucky-number/#comments Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:52:07 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/09/13-lucky-number/ I’m currently learning to play with more jazzy voicings, rather than using the same arpeggios over and over. So I was practicing today and out popped this tune so I figured I might as well put it up on the blog.

It’s fairly basic — again a 1625, the most common chord progression in music — but even with this simple chord structure and melody I still sometimes struggled for the right keys to press, as you can hear. These voicings are pretty easy in theory, but damn hard in practice. ;)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/09/13-lucky-number/feed/ 3:15 I'm currently learning to play with more jazzy voicings, rather than using the same arpeggios over and over. So I was practicing today and out ... I'm currently learning to play with more jazzy voicings, rather than using the same arpeggios over and over. So I was practicing today and out popped this tune so I figured I might as well put it up on the blog. It's fairly basic -- again a 1625, the most common chord progression in music -- but even with this simple chord structure and melody I still sometimes struggled for the right keys to press, as you can hear. These voicings are pretty easy in theory, but damn hard in practice. ;) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 12: Forever Pouring http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/04/12-forever-pouring/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/04/12-forever-pouring/#comments Wed, 04 Jul 2007 12:36:28 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/04/12-forever-pouring/ Today, I happened to play a “C augmented” chord instead of a regular C and suddenly I found myself modulating through all kinds of keys. Sweet.

I think this one has promise but it needs more work. The arrangement is a little simple and I probably need to slow it down. The current recording is a little sloppy, because some of these chords are new to me. ;)

The title refers to the typical Dutch summer vacation weather.

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/07/04/12-forever-pouring/feed/ 3:16 Today, I happened to play a "C augmented" chord instead of a regular C and suddenly I found myself modulating through all kinds of keys. ... Today, I happened to play a "C augmented" chord instead of a regular C and suddenly I found myself modulating through all kinds of keys. Sweet. I think this one has promise but it needs more work. The arrangement is a little simple and I probably need to slow it down. The current recording is a little sloppy, because some of these chords are new to me. ;) The title refers to the typical Dutch summer vacation weather. Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 11: Sunny Improv http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/28/11-sunny-improv/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/28/11-sunny-improv/#comments Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:36:24 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/28/11-sunny-improv/ One of my goals is to learn how to improvise entire pieces (and even concerts) a la Keith Jarrett. I’ve posted semi-improvisations before where I’ve had some theme in mind already, but today’s tune is 100% improvised from start to finish.

In fact, I recorded about a dozen improvisations over the past few days but I had to pick one so why not this one. It’s far from great, but I never said I was anything but a beginner. ;)

My main issue is to move away from the 1625’s. This is the name of a common chord progression (C-Am-Dm-G7 in the key of C) that is easy to improvise over and I have a habit of always using it. :D These chords sound great but if you use them all the time then everything you do begins to sound the same.

Let me know what you think!

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/28/11-sunny-improv/feed/ 3:48 One of my goals is to learn how to improvise entire pieces (and even concerts) a la Keith Jarrett. I've posted semi-improvisations before where I've ... One of my goals is to learn how to improvise entire pieces (and even concerts) a la Keith Jarrett. I've posted semi-improvisations before where I've had some theme in mind already, but today's tune is 100% improvised from start to finish. In fact, I recorded about a dozen improvisations over the past few days but I had to pick one so why not this one. It's far from great, but I never said I was anything but a beginner. ;) My main issue is to move away from the 1625's. This is the name of a common chord progression (C-Am-Dm-G7 in the key of C) that is easy to improvise over and I have a habit of always using it. :D These chords sound great but if you use them all the time then everything you do begins to sound the same. Let me know what you think! Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 10: For The Good Times http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/23/10-for-the-good-times/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/23/10-for-the-good-times/#comments Sat, 23 Jun 2007 13:39:05 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/23/10-for-the-good-times/ This was the first tune I wrote after joining Piano Magic and for the first time I actually knew what I was doing. I remember the thrill it gave me when I was matching the chords to the melody I had just made up. Of course, I had written songs before but that was all by trial-and-error, but now I was actually reasoning my way through the chord changes and it all made sense. So here is another “oldie” for you to enjoy. :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/23/10-for-the-good-times/feed/ 2:45 This was the first tune I wrote after joining Piano Magic and for the first time I actually knew what I was doing. I remember ... This was the first tune I wrote after joining Piano Magic and for the first time I actually knew what I was doing. I remember the thrill it gave me when I was matching the chords to the melody I had just made up. Of course, I had written songs before but that was all by trial-and-error, but now I was actually reasoning my way through the chord changes and it all made sense. So here is another "oldie" for you to enjoy. :) Sheet,Music,,Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 9: In A Minor Mood http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/20/9-in-a-minor-mood/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/20/9-in-a-minor-mood/#comments Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:28:11 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/20/9-in-a-minor-mood/ A short one this time. My goal was to make each piece at least 2:30 minutes long, but I’m about a minute short on this one. :)

I was playing with rootless left-hand voicings in the key of G minor and this came out. It doesn’t sound quite finished to me — I just play simple variations on the same theme several times in a row so it could use a “B” section — but I’m all out of inspiration now.

(By the way, I’m not really in a minor mood, but I never know what to call these things. :D )

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/20/9-in-a-minor-mood/feed/ 1:36 A short one this time. My goal was to make each piece at least 2:30 minutes long, but I'm about a minute short on this ... A short one this time. My goal was to make each piece at least 2:30 minutes long, but I'm about a minute short on this one. :) I was playing with rootless left-hand voicings in the key of G minor and this came out. It doesn't sound quite finished to me -- I just play simple variations on the same theme several times in a row so it could use a "B" section -- but I'm all out of inspiration now. (By the way, I'm not really in a minor mood, but I never know what to call these things. :D ) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 8: Looking At Each Other http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/14/8-looking-at-each-other/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/14/8-looking-at-each-other/#comments Thu, 14 Jun 2007 10:17:34 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/14/8-looking-at-each-other/ To make today’s composition I used one of my favorite tricks and that is to take (part of) an existing song as the foundation but play it with different notes and chords. As you go along, you also modify the rhythm until it no longer sounds anything like the song you started out with. Et voila, you have a new song!

Tonight I’m going to see The Undeclinables, which used to be one of my favorite punk rock bands back when they were still called The Undeclinable Ambuscade. So I took their song “7 Years” (because it was stuck in my head) and used that as the inspiration for today’s tune. I even took the title from their lyrics. ;)

If you know the original you might “recognize” some bits but only because I told you what to look for. :D

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Update: Over at the Piano World Forums, me and some other composers have made their tunes available for others to play. The tune from this podcast has been played by several other people already and they’re doing quite a good job of it. I think it’s really cool that others are playing my music! :)

Check it out (I am “mahlzeit” on those forums)

]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/14/8-looking-at-each-other/feed/ 3:04 To make today's composition I used one of my favorite tricks and that is to take (part of) an existing song as the foundation but ... To make today's composition I used one of my favorite tricks and that is to take (part of) an existing song as the foundation but play it with different notes and chords. As you go along, you also modify the rhythm until it no longer sounds anything like the song you started out with. Et voila, you have a new song! Tonight I'm going to see The Undeclinables, which used to be one of my favorite punk rock bands back when they were still called The Undeclinable Ambuscade. So I took their song "7 Years" (because it was stuck in my head) and used that as the inspiration for today's tune. I even took the title from their lyrics. ;) If you know the original you might "recognize" some bits but only because I told you what to look for. :D Update: Over at the Piano World Forums, me and some other composers have made their tunes available for others to play. The tune from this podcast has been played by several other people already and they're doing quite a good job of it. I think it's really cool that others are playing my music! :) Check it out (I am "mahlzeit" on those forums) Sheet,Music,,Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 7: When Your Sad Eyes Meet Mine http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/11/7-when-your-sad-eyes-meet-mine/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/11/7-when-your-sad-eyes-meet-mine/#comments Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:45:09 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/11/7-when-your-sad-eyes-meet-mine/ This is a piece from earlier this year — the first one I recorded for my website, actually. The idea for it is even older than that and started as a guitar ballad, but I think it works much better as a piano piece.

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/11/7-when-your-sad-eyes-meet-mine/feed/ 2:52 This is a piece from earlier this year -- the first one I recorded for my website, actually. The idea for it is even older ... This is a piece from earlier this year -- the first one I recorded for my website, actually. The idea for it is even older than that and started as a guitar ballad, but I think it works much better as a piano piece. Sheet,Music,,Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 6: Familiar http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/07/6-familiar/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/07/6-familiar/#comments Thu, 07 Jun 2007 10:43:10 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/07/4-familiar/ Here’s a new one for you: I called this piece “Familiar” because certain parts sound very much like “The Blower’s Daughter” by Damien Rice (the “I can’t take my eyes of off you…” part). Oh well, can’t be 100% original all the time. ;)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/07/6-familiar/feed/ 3:26 Here's a new one for you: I called this piece "Familiar" because certain parts sound very much like "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice (the ... Here's a new one for you: I called this piece "Familiar" because certain parts sound very much like "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice (the "I can't take my eyes of off you..." part). Oh well, can't be 100% original all the time. ;) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 5: Tonight We Dance http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/05/5-tonight-we-dance/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/05/5-tonight-we-dance/#comments Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:30:32 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/05/bonus-tonight-we-dance/ This was written for the Adult Beginners Online Recital of May 2007 over at the Piano World forums, and I thought I’d put it in my podcast too. Enjoy! :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/05/5-tonight-we-dance/feed/ 2:22 This was written for the Adult Beginners Online Recital of May 2007 over at the Piano World forums, and I thought I'd put it in ... This was written for the Adult Beginners Online Recital of May 2007 over at the Piano World forums, and I thought I'd put it in my podcast too. Enjoy! :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 4: Southbound http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/01/4-southbound/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/01/4-southbound/#comments Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:12:43 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/01/3-southbound/ This morning I was out running and on the way back I kept going towards the sun. It was around noon by then, so I was heading more or less south, and I thought: “Let’s write a tune called Southbound”. :)

Usually I play in the key of C, but this one is in the key of F. I did make a few tiny mistakes, but perfect recordings don’t exist so I left them in. ;)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/06/01/4-southbound/feed/ 3:16 This morning I was out running and on the way back I kept going towards the sun. It was around noon by then, so I ... This morning I was out running and on the way back I kept going towards the sun. It was around noon by then, so I was heading more or less south, and I thought: "Let's write a tune called Southbound". :) Usually I play in the key of C, but this one is in the key of F. I did make a few tiny mistakes, but perfect recordings don't exist so I left them in. ;) Sheet,Music,,Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 3: Londonderry http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/30/3-londonderry/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/30/3-londonderry/#comments Wed, 30 May 2007 15:53:02 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/30/bonus-londonderry/ Yesterday, while riding the mountain bike I traded my brother for my old kickboxing gear, I heard Keith Jarrett play “Danny Boy” on my iPod and I thought: that doesn’t sound too hard, I can do that!

Well, not quite, but it ain’t too bad either. Of course, my arrangement is of Londonderry Aire, not Danny Boy. Same tune, no copyright. :)

Just for the fun of it, I made an overhead video of me playing my Yamaha CP33 digital stage piano, and recorded the audio at the same time on my computer, and then mixed the two together. If I hadn’t recorded the audio separately you would have heard cars racing by my appartment all the time instead of some funky piano playing. ;)

Here it is, hope you like it. Tomorrow or the day after I’ll post a brand new composition.

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/30/3-londonderry/feed/ 1:55 Yesterday, while riding the mountain bike I traded my brother for my old kickboxing gear, I heard Keith Jarrett play "Danny Boy" on my iPod ... Yesterday, while riding the mountain bike I traded my brother for my old kickboxing gear, I heard Keith Jarrett play "Danny Boy" on my iPod and I thought: that doesn't sound too hard, I can do that! Well, not quite, but it ain't too bad either. Of course, my arrangement is of Londonderry Aire, not Danny Boy. Same tune, no copyright. :) Just for the fun of it, I made an overhead video of me playing my Yamaha CP33 digital stage piano, and recorded the audio at the same time on my computer, and then mixed the two together. If I hadn't recorded the audio separately you would have heard cars racing by my appartment all the time instead of some funky piano playing. ;) Here it is, hope you like it. Tomorrow or the day after I'll post a brand new composition. Sheet,Music,,Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 2: Whenever http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/25/2-whenever/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/25/2-whenever/#comments Fri, 25 May 2007 12:53:20 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/25/2-whenever/ The last two days I’ve been so busy with setting up this web site that I haven’t had any time to play the piano. To make up for that, I put this semi-improvisation together. It’s not a real improvisation because I already had the theme, but the way I put it together was done on the fly.

It’s a very sparse piece and played in a very free-flowing manner, and it suited my lazy mood perfectly this morning. :)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/25/2-whenever/feed/ 2:56 The last two days I've been so busy with setting up this web site that I haven't had any time to play the piano. To ... The last two days I've been so busy with setting up this web site that I haven't had any time to play the piano. To make up for that, I put this semi-improvisation together. It's not a real improvisation because I already had the theme, but the way I put it together was done on the fly. It's a very sparse piece and played in a very free-flowing manner, and it suited my lazy mood perfectly this morning. :) Music Matthijs Hollemans no No 1: Before We Sleep http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/23/1-before-we-sleep/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/23/1-before-we-sleep/#comments Wed, 23 May 2007 14:03:03 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/23/1-before-we-sleep/ This is a piece that began as an improvisational video for my fellow students at Piano Magic. Mike, the teacher of that course, urged me to turn it into a complete song and to put it on my site. So here it is. :)

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Buy this song ($0.99)

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]]> http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/23/1-before-we-sleep/feed/ 3:27 This is a piece that began as an improvisational video for my fellow students at Piano Magic. Mike, the teacher of that course, urged me ... This is a piece that began as an improvisational video for my fellow students at Piano Magic. Mike, the teacher of that course, urged me to turn it into a complete song and to put it on my site. So here it is. :) Sheet,Music,,Music Matthijs Hollemans no No Welcome to my new site! http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/23/welcome-to-my-new-site/ http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/23/welcome-to-my-new-site/#comments Wed, 23 May 2007 13:26:40 +0000 Matthijs http://www.originalsolopiano.com/2007/05/23/welcome-to-my-new-site/ Hi there,

My name is Matthijs Hollemans and I’m a composer of solo piano music. To give myself an incentive to increase my creative output, I’ve entered a challenge with myself.

From this day on, I will create at least one new piano composition every week and upload it to this web site.

You will be able to download these MP3 files for free. In fact, I will license these files under a Creative Commons License, which allows you to share the file with others as well.

I “borrowed” this idea from Jonathan Coulton, who did a similar thing although with completely different kind of music.

His challenge lasted a whole year, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep it up that long considering my savings only last until November. :)

If you want to support independent artists, I encourage you to buy the songs you like for $0.99 a piece. Not only will that make my day, but you’ll also get a higher-quality MP3.

Those of you who play the piano can also get the sheet music as a PDF file.

Enjoy the music! I’ll be posting the first piece in a few minutes.

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