Askland Piano Nocturne #6

• Title: Nocturne #6
• Album: Piano Nocturnes (Askland)
• Composer: Conrad Askland
• Released: 2002?
• Copyright: © 2002 Conrad Askland
• Style: Classical, piano, instrumental, nocturne

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Askland Nocturne #6

Music Only – No Lyrics

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The Piano Nocturnes album was one of my favorites to record. All the pieces are improvisations on an old Chickering grand piano. The recording was done late at night in a church sanctuary. I did about 25 or so improvisations and then picked my favorites for the album.

Deb Carole was the “assistant producer”. She sat in the sanctuary and listened while I played. Then she would say “Oh I like that” and help give me feedback.

Like a nocturnal animal, a nocturne in music is a piece to be played at night. And I think this album is perfect to listen to late at night when the listener is alone. It captures a mood that I am very satisfied with. This is one of the few releases I have recorded where I never get tired of listening to it. And I listen to it each time like I’m hearing it for the first time.

Recording was done in Hesperia, California. I don’t remember the year. Sometime around 2002 I think. Maybe someone can post the year if they remember.

The Nocturne also ties in to a great historical legacy from Chopin and other great composers. To me the improvisations are a mix of melodic elements Chopin might use, but with more of a Baroque feel to the execution. And of course not as complex as Chopin in my opinion. But the goal for this recording was not to be complex – but to be beautiful and simple. In that regard I feel the recordings hit the mark.

I am very happy that I recorded these on a real piano. If I had done the recording on a digital piano I would not like to listen to it as much. A real piano has such a great texture of overtones.

I chose the #6 nocturne from the album at random. There are other nocturnes that I also like very much from this project.

One final thought – one of the reasons I treasure this recording so much is that it was just something I did because I wanted to. There was no marketing or sales drive behind it like with my other studio projects. In fact I never did any marketing or sales on it. It is like my secret. I treasure it. It’s pure…

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