Here’s another post where some music may soothe a fractious state of mind.
These two Elijah Bossenbroek pieces are different enough in mood and style from his more typical”modern classical” compositions that they may surprise you (unless you have been investigating his work following my earlier post, Pianistic Thunder [etc].*)
Both are short (3:18 and 4:28). Enjoy!
“Spinning Nowhere” has a distinctly jazzy feel; definitely not “modern classical.”
Those of you who got turned on to Elijah Bossenbroek by my previous post, “Pianistic Thunder [etc.]”* may have already come across this sweet little piece on your own. In case you missed it, here is, as played by Roberta lovepiano69 . . .
If Bossenbroek’s “I Give Up” is a Niagara of epic strain, this tune is more a clear, slender brook cascading down gentle waterfalls in a sun-dappled forest.
(OK, OK, I’m so badly smitten I am impelled to gush.)
If Bossenbroek had composed no more than these two pieces, he’s already deserved worldwide applause. IMHO.
For those of you have not tired of versions of “I Give Up,” here’s an interesting take by a pianist who is not as skilled as the rest, but perhaps because of it often puts the melody in the foreground, whereas in other performances it tends to blur with the signature motif. An awful lot of pedal with the big bass chords, and drastic shifts in tempo make it a bit heavy-handed, but you might like it. Try Christian Starup at Christian Starup plays “I Give Up”
21st Century Classical Music Thrives, Thunderously
Elijah Bossenbroek
When Elijah Bossenbroek’s “I Give Up” obtruded on one of my usually tranquil Pandora background music stations, I was jolted, amazed, thrilled, thunderstruck . . . and secondarily subjected to a wave of nostalgia for classical piano music.
(My apologies to readers who do not usually warm to classical music, but I do urge you to give a listen to Bossenbroek and maybe the others if you like him. They are all short—the Beethoven is the longest at 6:47. They are best played loud; I advise donning headphones. )
Without further adieu, I recommend three YouTube videos of Bossenbroek’s “I Give Up” (The title is a bit cryptic, but apparently has something to do with giving up the mundane and petty concerns that distract and clutter the soul.) Comments follow the videos.
(Addendum June 30: After listening to “I Give Up” about 70 times (literally!) I highly prefer OPTION THREE below (VikaKim), not just because of the visuals of her keyboard wizardry, which are great. VikaKim’s interpretation, especially near the end, emphasizes the most brilliant elements in a way that Bossenbroek’s himself does not. (IMHO)
