West Side Story Impromptu - Barry Sindlinger, Concert Artist

Back in 2007, before leaving PianoDisc but after accepting a corporate teaching gig, I took the opportunity to show students a couple of examples of the modern improvisational impulse flowing through the hands of a traditionally-trained concert pianist. These examples, a spontaneous accompaniment and piano solo, inspired our group of voracious music students.

As an impromptu, I chose to play a piano solo improv on "One Hand, One Heart (w/ Allusions to 'Maria' and subliminal reference to 'Somewhere')" This rendition was a mental wisp, a transient phantom. (The former improvised accompaniment is found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Zg0ELlUGKA .)

The "rote music" world has few stellar examples of breaking out into real artistic Flow, e.g., John Bayless and Earl Wild (impromptu) - and pseudo-creativity (extemporaneous, from notes) illustrated by Thibaudet and Hough, etc. - but too rare was the "classical" artist who transcended mere "reciting," reaching to actually "making music".

Musicians today have forgotten the days of Bach and Chopin - when it was unthinkable that even a student wasn't a Music Maker. From industry experience and with much sadness, I report that the music world today has barely inched back to recovering the natural days of Bach, where every Musician was a maker...innovator...Creator.

Are we really as progressive as we suppose?

For more information on developing the "improvisation impulse," contact Barry Sindlinger at:

Barry Sindlinger
Ph: 503.451.5965
Email: barry@compleatpianist.com
Snail Addy:
1115 Madison Street NE #206

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[6trak]

Pay attention to the dynamics.

This is the sort of performance that makes you forget you're not listening to an entire symphony — just one soloist pouring himself into a single instrument with an incredible dynamic and emotional range. He can make the piano do on its own what a composer leans on an entire string section for: delivering soundscapes that can span from lush and full, to "booming" and all the way back to completely tranquil.

Masterful stuff.

[fluffkitteh123]

I think that his sense has a deep root in many classical styles. I would like to see him play live.

[amkloss]

The dynamics and passion of this perfectly flowing improvised piece are incredible! It is clear that Mr. Sindlinger is a professional who loves what he does, and has an amazing ability to create melodic beauty using the pieces from several different puzzles at once. Truly, impressive!

[rawars]

Sindlinger's improvisation breathes new life and drama into Bernstein's classic work. The references to Mara and Somewhere are so-well conceived that they seem to grow organically from the original composition. The execution is tender yet strong. I could listen to this for hours. - Dr. Richard Warshak, co-producer of Welcome Back, Pluto.

[nickelmusic3]

WOW!!! I've missed your impromptu stuff...and this is equally as great as I've always known you to play!! How gorgeous! You truly are amazing!

[1TameShrew]

This is so beautiful. I love the part at 3:29 where you transition into "Maria". I just want to hear MORE!! Thanks for sharing.

[nickelmusic]

Love this, beautiful, magical!

[laynebeller]

well done!

[dnhellekson]

Very impressive!

[circuschaser]

nicely done.