Well, the song‘s title is relatively straight-forward. Due to the harmonies that sound (at least for me) quite oriental and the unsquare metra at some parts, this song reminds me of one of my all-time most favourite books. I leave it up to you, dear Listener, to imagine, how this specific tale evolves .

Composition-wise: The piece is in a scale (a-a#-c#-d-e-f-g-a) that is not an ecclestical mode but rather influenced by oriental scales. I read a bit about Persian music and though this scale also does not seem to occur in the Persian Dastgah system with its microtonal intervals, it still it reminds me of 1001 nights – can‘t help the cliche, hope, this is not understood as cultural appropriation ;-). 
The first minute until 1:07 the piece oscillates between just two harmonies (based on a and a#). Thereafter, the track shifts to the more lyric Dorian mode (d-f-g-a-b-c). The arpeggios starting @ 1:37 are meant to resemble a Persian tar. Thereafter, @ 2:11 the track reverts to the finish with the original tune but 1 tone lower (ie, the scale starts with g instead of a) and some minor rhythmic variations vs the beginning. 
The base rhythm is a 4/4, though this is interrupted frequently by syncopes to allow for a more free floating rhythmic texture. Moreover, the underlying 4/4 is at times interrupted by beats of length 6/4 (e.g. @ 0.14, 1:11, 2:25, 2:44,… ). 

The track has been recorded on a Roland FP-90 and mastered in Cubase by adding compressor, reverb, a Stereo enhancer and fiddling a bit with the EQ.
The picture was created with Stable Diffusion. I find it fascinating that most of the figures upon closer inspection make little anatomic sense but still our brain accepts them upon a short glance as a perfectly valid picture.

Scheherazades Tale (Solo Piano)

You can find this track also on Youtube where I filmed myself while playing this. https://youtu.be/s5ytA3aeu6w 

I just wanted to try out whether I could do a Boogie. This is the outcome. Hope you like it and it gives you good energy. 

Composition-wise: The left is a consistent 1/8th Boogie base line throughout the piece and typically consisting of a lower chromatic line and an upper constant note (e.g., C0-C1-D0-C1-Eb0-C1-E0-C1). The right hand dances over this with a partly Staccato theme that is loosened up by repeated Syncopes, Delays and advanced notes. The piece starts in a joyous C and modulates over its course to the minor third and ends in the warmer (and for me richer) Eb. 

The track has been recorded on a Roland FP-90.
The Cover art was created with Stable Diffusion which I continue fuddling around with. I think it is already a far jump from my previous „Sheherazades Tale“ Cover art but still not perfect. In particular, I continue to wonder what kind of music might be played with the very peculiar arrangement of white and black keys on the keyboard.

Danc'n On The Low Keys (Solo Piano)

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/album/3ROhTHrVNxzfcoLKJvhTbY
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjIFwZ_Puog


The inspiration for this track is a vision where I am not sure whether it is a faint memory from some childhood holiday or whether I have dreamt it  :
Standing on the edge of a rocky cliff, gazing out at the tumultuous ocean below. The waves crashing against the rocks with a thunderous roar, the force of the water sending a spray of mist and foam high into the air. In the distance a lone lighthouse
overlooking the scenery. A glimps of the power and majesty of nature and our own smallness in comparison. 

Composition-wise: The piece consists of three parts (@0:01, @0:59, @1:45) that always start with the same 5 note-motive but then develop into three distinct variations with different characteristics but throughout the track there is a certain sense of dramatic scenery.
The left hand is throughout the piece mostly in octave jumps (which became quite challenging condition-wise at the end of the piece) that segment the 4/4 beat into groups of 3-3-2 (the only notable exception is the part @0:35ff with its chromatic baseline).
The right hand alternates between lyric parts such as in the beginning or @0:59ff and rhythmic syncopic parts such as @2:30ff that leads to the final where the right hand preceeds the left hand by a beat to create a sense of energy.

The track has been recorded on a Roland FP-90 and mastered in Cubase by adding compressor, reverb, a Stereo enhancer and fiddling a bit with the EQ. 
The picture was created with Stable Diffusion.

Lighthouse On The Rocks (Solo Piano)

The piano is not just an instrument; it is a storyteller. My lifelong companion. Each piece holds the memory of a moment in time, of a period in life. Here, I share my personal journey—one miniature, one experiment, one story at a time.

I’m Konrad Spittelberg, 52 years old. Though I’ve always called Vienna my home, I have pursued various interests, building an interdisciplinary background that spans education in Latin and Greek, studies of Mathematics, Physics and Economics and a carreer in Consulting and Risk Management. Sometimes, you might also find me immersed in games of Go, Chess or D&D. 

But only when I’m not making music. Of course. Still then, all of my interests have shaped the way I think — and, in turn, the way I compose.

The instrument of my life is the piano. I play it since the age of six, the first 16 in music school with my dedicated teacher Margarete Gerlach (and also thanks to the city of Vienna to the incredible publicly funded music schools!). My piano playing saw multiyear interruptions due to travel and workload. But in recent years I’ve found the time to pursue my passion again—with renewed joy. I devote many of my evenings to developing, refining and rehearsing my piano miniatures. 

I inhale music wherever I find it. In the echoes of Renaissance motets or contemporary cluster music with my local choir, which I joined 30 years ago. In music running in the background of a fashion store which I Shazaam for later enjoyment. Or live concerts - there are so many gifted artists in the world! 

My music is a dialogue between tradition and exploration. Rooted in classical and romantic traditions, it ventures into jazz, rock, and pop.  I love to experiment—playing with unexpected tonalities, syncopated rhythms, and dynamic contrasts. My compositions often evolve through shifts in tension, rhythmic complexity, and harmonic modulations, sometimes venturing across the circle of fifths. I’m also diving deeper into the art of mastering, an area where I still have much to explore.

If my music speaks to you, I’d love for you to follow my journey. Follow along, share your thoughts—whether in appreciation or in challenge. Music, after all, is meant to be a conversation—and I’d love to hear your voice in it.
Enjoy your time with my music! 
Contact: konrad.spittelberg@gmail.com
Spotify and Youtube: https:\\konrad-spittelberg.carrd.co

New tracks tagged #Klavierkomposition