This is my first impromptu via MIDI connection, rather than recording a real piano on my phone. I initially gave it up in disgust, naming the file "Deletable," since I wasn't used to the sound of an electronic piano and didn't feel it connected as strongly as the other impromptus. Upon another listen a couple months later, though, I think it deserves to see the light of day—at least, as much as any of my untutored improvisations.

Impromptu 20: Deletable

This is a minimalist-influenced take on a very brief theme by one of my favorite composers. Why so brief? Because I can't music very well. Nevertheless, I like how this impromptu turned out, especially given the dual challenges of multitracking and keeping a somewhat tonal basis for a theme from a composer famous for his atonality.

Impromptu-Fantasy on a theme by Alban Berg

My experiments with MIDI continue! This simple little melody turned out pretty nicely despite my best efforts.

Beautiful Theme

I found a mellotron setting on Garageband and accidentally spent an hour or two working on this instead of the sound design I was supposed to be working on. I desperately want a real mellotron--the individually recorded notes create some interesting semi-realistic overtones that you don't get with most synths, but still maintains that unnatural electronic evenness that I find appealing. For some reason, this track is super quote-heavy, and I don't know why.

Mellotron-Impromptu

So I'm in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign and we just beat the boss of the first arc! I made an epically cheesy little fanfare to celebrate which can be used in the opening credits of the hit HBO series that will inevitably be spun off from our adventures. Yes, I also drew the dragon.

Dungeons and Dragons Gritty HBO Reboot Theme

They said it couldn't be done, but I went and did it. That's right, I created the very last club banger, ever. We've done it, everyone. We can all go home.

The Very Last Club Banger

A suite from a devised piece I worked on entitled "Voices From The Dark." I was both a sound designer and actor in the play in question, which tackled the notion of personal, historical, and political trauma in modern society. The suite consists of most the music I personally wrote that wound up in the final version of the play, but does not include the hundreds of tracks that were edited to hell and back in all their iterations. That's part of the fun of devised work, though--the lack of limitations in a pre-written script provides a free atmosphere to play with that you don't usually get in sound design.

Voices From The Dark Suite

That's right, y'all, this one's a bop. What's the genre? I have no idea. It's got a pretty neat crescendo, though, so I think that means I'm Rossini now. I'm actually pretty pleased with how this one turned out!

A Bop, Plain And Simple. (Scherzo)

I accidentally did a Twin Peaks. Hire me, David Lynch.

Hire Me, David Lynch (EDM Slow Dancing)

With apologies to Hanns Eisler and to no one else.

Prelude To Solidarity (Postlude For Comrades)

I'm an actor, mostly, with a BA in philosophy. I also do some sound design and pretend to play piano.

Weston Williams