Night Studies by Malcolm Smith

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A set of piano pieces ideally suited for the twilight hours (1993-1999) ~32'00"

An Unseen Gathering (Under Silent Trees) (1993-11-15 - 1999-08-01) 5'18"
Depths (1995-11-07) 1'30"
Snowfall (1994-04-16 - 1994-08-30) 3'57"
Untitled (1994-04-20) 1'06"
Destiny & Resolution (1994-01-07 / 1997-09-13) 1'48"
Repetitions (after Erik Satie's Vexations) (1993-01-15) 2'51" x8 or 3h48'00" x640 (!)
The Quiet Place Within (1997-10-19) 2'40"
Night (1994-09-18 / 1997-09-18) 1'23"
The Teacher (1993-04-01) 1'50"
Homecoming (1994-06-12) 1'37"
Jewels (1999-06-30 - 1999-08-01) 4'15"...5'03"
She Looked Again (1995-12-16 - 1998-12-25) 3'05" (a reworking of She Looked Becalmed)

Play/Download "Jewels" (Stunning Slow Ambient Version) [6MB .ogg file]

Tags: restful, radiant

[Recorded 2001-07-26 22:00 in Studio 10, Dartington Hall using two AKG C1000S mics into Tascam DA-P1 portable DAT recorder]
{Steinway wooden grand piano - Malcolm Smith}

This piece is based on a simple canon and revels in the rich timbre of an undamped grand piano. This recording is left dry, avoiding the temptation to add reverb, since it's so closely mic'ed that the infinite sustain pedal gives a rich wash of harmonics simulating a vast reverberant space. It's so quietly played that some notes disappear (e.g., missed bass note at 1'27") due to too gentle a keypress not triggering the hammer. My s-l-o-w playing here is a bit hesitant and some chords take a while to find, but I was more keen to remain relaxed and not hit wrong notes and shatter the atmosphere. Best served chilled... ;-)

[Scores (and more recordings) will eventually be available]

Your feedback is appreciated (but no need to bother asking "Where are the MP3's?")