Pink Floyd

Released in January 1977, "Animals" is a concept album presenting a highly critical view of the socio-political conditions in Thatcherian Britain. While this album is somewhat different in musical style from Pink Floyd's earlier albums, the songwriting, production and  musicianship are superb as usual. 

This interpretation of the electric piano solo in "Sheep" was performed using a vintage Hohner Pianet T as a tribute to Rick Wright's memorable bluesy and haunting Fender Rhodes solo. 

Pink Floyd - Sheep

The closing section of "The Musical Box" by Genesis has a delicate sounding arpeggio played together by Tony Banks and Steve Hackett. A spacey harpsichord-like sound would make an interesting alternative arrangement to try.

The Musical Box [Closing Section]

"Awaken" is one of my favorite Yes songs. Rick Wakeman's dazzling piano prelude is the perfect introduction for the metaphysical themes to be explored. The seamless blending of numerous time signatures in this brief introduction is characteristic of Rick's exciting performances. Here I have added a synth string undertone to my interpretation. 

Yes - Awaken Prelude

The keyboard solo sections in "Firth of Fifth" by Genesis highlight the compositional and performance skills of Tony Banks. Banks applies the 18th century technique called fortspinnung or "spinning out" which is a musical idea based on a figuration in the first few measures. The interpretation presented here begins with a few slow arpeggios and a solid  bass foundation joined later by a wistful flute melody (composed by Peter Gabriel). In the second section, the piano, echoed by an electric piano, spins out a theme based on a motif from the flute melody. The synthesizer solo of the third section shows a dazzling array of Banks' compositional and virtuosic qualities by using shifting meters, modal mixtures and daring modulations while maintaining thematic unity by keeping the figuration and general shape of the original idea.  Finally, the coda which revisits the theme is added to finish the song.

Firth Of Fifth - Genesis

This is an alternative interpretation of the electric piano solo in "Sheep" recorded using the virtual (physical) model of a Fender Rhodes Stage Mk1 electric piano. 

R.I.P. Richard Wright and thank you for the music!

ebsynth

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