While going through some old audio files, I discovered this sketched piano composition I recorded in 2007. It was performed live on a Kawai baby grand piano. Although the audio file recording was titled Monoprint, I do not recall its significance or intent. Listening to the track years later, the sketch seems nostalgic and slightly melancholy, with some basic elements of classical, ragtime, and jazz explored. It features a somewhat interesting walking bass line at times nicely balanced by melodic and lyrical turns.
Monoprint employs a relaxed tempo, with some slight, unfortunate hesitancy and pauses as I transitioned between sections. At times, the sketch delves into a swinging compound rhythm with extended chords that frequently lean into major 7ths, diminished transitions, and classic jazz cadences that resolve with a less contemporary warmth. The track begins with soft, sparse block chords that establish a quiet, contemplative mood. This minimalist introduction transitions into a flowing melodic line marked by gentle arpeggios, syncopated chord placements, and a mix of expressive and somewhat awkward pauses that a more seasoned performer could easily overcome.
My best guess for the title Monoprint is that it had something to do with color theory—which I am much more knowledgeable about than music theory. For instance, secondary dominants and “chromatic”1 passing tones give the recording a classic “storytelling” quality. The sketch resolves with a quiet, lingering chord.
Media
Footnotes
- “Chromatic” may refer to color [chroma] or a musical scale [the chromatic scale moves entirely by half steps, or “semitones” across all twelve pitches in an octave]. ↩︎