Aere's Improvisations On The KeyMusician Keyboard

After developing the KeyMusician Keyboard application, I began to enjoy using it in performances.

It is compact, and easy to transport, yet very capable as an instrument. It allows me to concentrate on the orchestral musical ideas, rather than concentrating so much on the mechanics of performing.

It's very easy to change instruments – even in the middle of a piece, and while holding out a chord.

The pieces in this album were improvised for the purpose of seeing (and showing) what the instrument can do. We self-produced a number of CDs of this album.

I used the following picture for the album cover, which is a picture of me performing one of the pieces in the album at First Unitarian Church, in Salt Lake City:

In the album below, the name (and track number) of each piece is the link you can click-on (or right-click on and download) to listen to the piece. Use your browser's back-button to return to the index (here).

You are free to use this work in any way you want to, as long as you attribute me as the author. Depending on the scope of the use, it would be nice if you could also tell me about it, at: aere@keymusician.com

So with no further comments, here is my Improvisations On The KeyMusicias Keyboard album.

Improvisations On The KeyMusician Keyboard

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The KeyMusician Keyboard is an application that converts a computer with just a typing-keyboard, into a performance-quality musical instrument.

This album was mostly done on Lubuntu Linux, using the Qsynth (FluidSynth) software synthesizer, and the FluidR3_GM soundfont, except where otherwise noted.

All of the music was composed and performed on the KeyMusician Keyboard by Aere Greenway.

Track	File-Name	Time
01	KMK-ImprovForMarch2014-Part1 This piece was composed as a demo for the KeyMusician Keyboard, showcasing the seamless transition to different instruments. It was quite long, and therefore split into two separate pieces. This part uses Piano (melody only, then melody+chords), Cello, Oboe, Flute, and French Horns (brass).	05:03
02	KMK-ImprovForMarch2014-Part2 This (2^nd part of the above) piece uses Guitar (steel string), Choir Aahs, and Choir Pad.	02:37
03	KMK-ImprovOnMac-GrandPiano-Pad-Choir This piece was performed on Mac OS X, using the MainStage application as the sound generator, and its “GrandPiano Choir Pad” sound. It was performed entirely using the melody section of the keyboard (both hands).	01:57
04	KMK-OrganChoir-Improv This is done entirely in the melody section of the keyboard. It uses a Cathedral Organ sound, with the Choir Pad sound in the background. The compactness of the keyboard allows me to perform what would be on the pedal keyboard of an organ with the thumb of my right hand.	02:34
05	KMK-TrumpetVoluntary This piece uses the Trumpet sound, of the GM SoundFont for MuseScore (TimGM6mb). It mostly alternates between the G major 7th and G minor 7th chords, then branches out into other chords toward the end, becoming a Trumpet duet. Aere played trumpet in high school band.	02:56
06	KMK-StringsPiano-Improv This piece uses the String Ensemble sound (with piano in the background), and is done entirely on the melody section of the keyboard. Notice how I can improvise very high, and very low notes at the same time, using just my right hand. The album-cover picture was of me performing this piece.	03:29
07	KMK-Oboe-Improv This piece uses the wonderful Oboe sound, of the GM SoundFont for MuseScore (TimGM6mb). It has a Choir Aahs sound in the background (of the FluidR3_GM soundfont).	02:21
08	KMK-ChoirStrings-Improv This piece uses the Choir Aahs (Choir Pad) sound, and in played entirely on the melody section of the keyboard. It was fun improvising music with a wordless choir – all of the parts.	02:35
09	KMK-TheZenOfZyn This piece uses the ZynAddSubFX synthesizer, on Linux. It uses the “Fantasia” sound, of the “Collections” bank. The chords use the “Rhodes Strings1” sound of the “Dual” bank. It starts out entirely in the melody section of the keyboard, then switches to melody+chords. Zyn is the nickname of the ZynAddSubFX synthesizer.	03:52
10	KMK-ImprovOnMac-SilkyStrings This piece was performed on Mac OS X, using the MainStage application as the sound generator, and its “Silky-Strings” sound. It was performed entirely using the melody section of the keyboard (both hands). Notice how I can simultaneously improvise both very high, and very low parts.	03:26
11	KMK-TurningTowardHome This piece uses the Distortion Guitar sound for the melody, and the String Ensemble 1 sound for the chords. This is my attempt at doing a rock-piece (if a new-age musician can do such a thing).	01:21
12	KMK-ImprovForMarch2014-Part1-Win This is an alternate version of the first piece, but performed on the Windows OS, using the DimensionPro sounds, available from Sonar X2 Essentials. The different sounds used, change the character of the piece considerably. I have since then learned how to use DimensionPro better, and can do a version more similar to track 1, and of better quality. The different character of this piece, using different instruments and a different key-signature, still warrants its inclusion here, however.	05:01
	Total=	37:12

I hope you enjoyed the album!

If you would like to learn more about the KeyMusician Keyboard, you can click on the following link:

The KeyMusician Keyboard web-site

Or you can click on the following link to return to Aere's life in music.
Back To "A Composer's Life in Music"