The Muppets' Theme in the style a of Bach fugue.

[dkelzenb]

Hello @11Kralle-- Methinks you are wrong. I am familiar with almost every note of Bach, and I heard no specific references. Could you please cite specific examples? It is true that the pianist does not wander into as many keys as Bach typically does, but he certainly does a good job with the "style" (not at all like Pachelbel or Buxtehude, but more like earlier Bach, Haendel, or Fischer) and the counterpoint is not bad; more like early Bach than late.

dk

[animalsongs2011]

And I thought only organists did this sort of thing! Do you have the children's show In the Night Garden over there? Iggle Piggle's theme makes an excellent fugue subject. Thanks for posting all these, and even more so for not switching off comments. I hope you are able to ignore the remarks of utter arseholes who know not what they are talking about. I'll keep it a secret that fugues are probably the easiest things to improvise so long as you can remember a few rules :)

[Bosmon1]

Really marvellous fugue! I listen to it again and again. Particularly lovely and ingenious coda... truly "INSPIRATIONAL, MUPPITATIONAL"

[krummhornregal]

So many musicoloist and experts out there...but we can't just listen and appreciate the art of improvisation! geez....

Thank you Mr. Grayson...i thought it was awesome!!!!

[11Kralle]

This is not impovised - he is citing much phrases from various Bach-pieces. If Bach would have done an extemporation over that very muppet-theme (knowing the original and the changes of music aesthetics as well) he would have gone through way more dominant-tonalities. So it is not `style of Bach´ - it is citing Bach.

[slightlygrouchy]

@11Kralle - Prof. Grayson is of course citing, alluding and referencing. That is the whole point when you play something "in the style of a Bach fugue." That does not mean, however, that the piece is not improvised. The Muppet theme pops up throughout the entire fugue and the selection and assembly of all the components happened on the spot and was not preplanned. Grayson has impeccable improv credentials and your negativity is uncalled for.

[11Kralle]

@slightlygrouchy

I have to counterdict You. The so-called `style´ of a Bach fugue is not about citing themes of various Bach-pieces! It is more within the composition - within the counterpoint. I do not want to `hate´ Prof. Graysons efforts, but I think this could also be named as `late-baroque-style´. To do as promised, on should take the Muppet-theme and make a STAB-score out of it - I am a purist and a musicologian, so please understand my remarks.

[kaduisaui]

Nyan nyan cat!

[kaduisaui]

Do the theme from Batman!

[Dihelson]

I don´t really believe Mr Grayson is improvising the whole thing. Looks very planned and structured. I do my own improvisations on public on themes offered by the audience, indeed, I didn´t know Mr. Grayson till yesterday, but the problem with improvising is that not always sound good, depends on inspiration. I´d like to know his method, how he plan structure in order to not sound boring or go to wrong ways. I will upload some improvisations to youtube later. Mr. grayson is very talented.

[improvelectronic]

@Dihelson Thank you for the compliment. Of course they are improvised, which means that many things happen that are unexpected. Still, it is important to try to give a sense of harmonic direction, motivic unity, and formal structure as well as to stay close to the intended style. There is no way to learn it in advance since I never know what themes or styles will be suggested.

[Dihelson]

@improvelectronic Mr. Grayson, thank you so much. I read carefully what you said about planning and harmonic direction. I´m 45. I´m a Jazz pianist who play some classical music. Of course, I studied a lot about the different styles for improvisations. Every composer has his own sound, and we took those for using on our mimics of the style, for example, Liszt and Wagner, and all those modulations, and abuse of diminished chords. Chopin´s peculiar way of constructing chords...continues...

[Dihelson]

@improvelectronic continuing... Mozart and his triads on arpeggios... I´m researching Scriabin´s style which is very interesting. He often use major chords like C#7#9add13 and then changes root to G ( tritone ), but for me improvising this way is unstable, some days when I am inspired, I do things I´ve never imagined, but some other days, inspiration don´t come and it´s dangerous, could be a disaster trying to improvise Beethoven´s way. Do you have some special exercise on concentration ?

[Dihelson]

@improvelectronic continuing... So, I´m very very happy to finally find someone who can make what I tried ( and sometimes did ) all my life. Your knowledge about styles are fantastic. I listened carefully your improvisations and there´s no flaw, look like you think ahead. Every single note from the beginning to the end is chosen. That´s good. Your music doesn´t sound like a cheap copy as many other do. It has deep content. I think you got there. I´m very happy to know you and I´m proud of you.

[Alienworkshopjoe]

@improvelectronic Your counter-point skills blow my mind. You play on the line of harmony and counter-point through and through, and it is just beautiful. As a composition student, I admire you greatly. Thank you for sharing your gift. One day I hope to repay you :)

[gepi112]

Hans Liberg!!!

[justtheoneanne]

This is utterly fabulous.

[gtelm]

The one dislike must be from Bruce Wayne.

[AnimaxRules]

Lol the dislike one must be deaf...

[EliGioCic]

amazing

[ToTouchtheFuture]

I love it! I think, with permission from RG of course, I would like to play this for my kids as part of a music lesson plan and compare it to the OK Go's version of The Muppet Show Theme Song. The kids will love it! TY RG!

[realar]

An impovization that even Rowlf would love.

[ariastoteles]

Tender, magic and magistral!

[bromaine34]

I didn't know Robin could play the piano so well!

[GrauenausderTiefe]

oh this man is too good ! i will watch some other video. He is way to talented !

[brettv72]

O, O, O to the X! Thank you, Richard, for an awesome performance.

[preppychrisbou]

1 person didn't recognized the muppets theme and prefers justin bieber instead.

[TheRobertRau]

rock on boy wonder

[DanDanTheBassman]

...This guy just improvised a fugue. I can't even write a fugue yet. Wtf.

[BrianF1967]

He just wishes it was fake so he could better justify his own sad lonely existance.

[futurestar94britfan]

march 4 1994? whoa thats 25 days before i was born! (march 29 1994)

[bkwilsey]

It's fake

[brunnjon]

@bkwilsey – How do you figure it's fake? This man is a master.

[monkayfeesh]

I don't know what makes this guy more awesome, the fact that he has the same name as a superhero or these awesome improvs.

[AbsoluteZ3R0]

@monkayfeesh definitely the improvisations.

[noteverhere]

As expected from Dick Grayson.

[clubmedspirit]

WOWWWW

[Jonnithekabute89]

Awesome!

[wackiland]

Thanks, Dr. Grayson, from a former student. 

[bontempo01]

This is the work of a brilliant mind. Richard Grayson, you must be a genius.

[DJsunkid]

This is about the most insanely clever thing I've ever seen. How in the...? Wow.

[EaiteRandjamee]

So crazy! This guy is good, why Haven't I heard of him before? I'm sure if the Muppet show was around back in Bach's time, the theme would sound just like that.

[wkriski]

thanks for reposting