Dear musicians...

If I were set to become a pianist, I would undoubtedly end up a "traditional pianist", too. In fact, it doesn't really matter which way one gets to the top, because all pianists had to struggle with the same Kbd. and notation irregularity and its outdated problems. In a way it offers all a level playing field.
My musical fascination is limited to the enjoyment of beautiful sounds, harmonics and melodies and so, I started to learn the piano accordion by ear at age 17 and usually only played in C-major and A-minor. That experience offered me an insight into the irregularity problems of the traditional piano Kbd.
The regularity of the six-row quint bass system made me dream about a uniform piano Kbd. layout. In those years we still had no computers and Internet and thus, I still was uninformed about the existence of uniform (C-system) button accordions.
Hence, thanks to the advent of computer and Internet technology, I now (in old age) find the time to realize/ rekindle my childhood dreams...
Actually, the reason I addressed the professional of this forum was, to make friends with musicians, because deep down I felt drawn to you, think myself a musician, too. Maybe it's, because I received lots of recognition from countless musicians (...been spoiled) in the past, due to my musical creativity in clubs etc.
Lately, I even received an offer from a great musical academy, whose two pianists were ready to recreate the Warsaw Concerto with me as the soloist; i.e. adding my musical, emotionally creative of whistling to this piece. They now even display my name "Johannes Drinda" in their international showroom:
http://www.artwhistling.org/international/en/hear-us
Here is the complete version of my performance: https://app.box.com/s/6f72eb90c2002db2e9fc
Hence, I thought some of you great musicians might be as well interested in creating some unique recordings with my inherited, unique twitter. That's what good music and musical creativity is all about or am I mistaken... wieder auf dem Holzweg?
Business considerations? Mind you, there are countless piano recordings on sale, but only very few good whistling recordings on the market.

 

This rar file only contains a bitmap image of a young guy with an accordion. Was that the intention ? You could have attached the image directly on your posting.

All respect for your artful whistling, but I must be honest and say that, ummm ..... let's see how do I put this..... I don't think it makes the Warsaw Concerto any better.

Nice that you are included on that site though - that is some recognition ! Apparently there is a public for this kind of music. I just don't think it is to be found here.

 

That pictures shows me with the accordion, when I was young and handsome, now only the latter. I think I tried to attach it directly, but it didn't work.

Well, I had people saying the exact opposite. So, I suppose it depends on everyone's personal opinion. My opinion is of course that it amends the piece with emotionally artistic creativity!

Your statement comes as a shock to me, for I would have never thought that the pianists in this forum, ummm ..... let's see how do I put this..... are limiting their musical creativity to their piano music only, whereas my artistic creativity stretches over the entire musical spectrum. :idea:

 

I see. I thought you intended to post some accordion recordings. The reason you could not attach the image is because it is a bitmap (.bmp) image. The software only accepts .jpg and (I think) .gif images.

Yes, everything of course comes down to personal taste. As they say, "One man's religion is another man's belly-laugh".

Most people here indeed focus on the piano, although I know that our musical interests are much wider. I for example am very fond of Mongolian throat singing (to listen to, I mean). But I would not want them to do it all over a classical concerto. That would wear thin just as soon as someone whistling all the way through it.

Now that is quite some statement :shock:

Yes it is, come to think about it. Is there such a thing in music as "normal" whistling, and is that not considered artful ? What makes the distinction ? In Dutch we have the word "kunstschilder" which literally translates "artpainter". I have never understood that either. Because nobody calls Rembrandt or Monet a kunstschilder. I suppose the adding of the word kunst/art is mainly a way to stretch the definition of art.

 

Since I'm quasi born with this affliction, just like all you good people with playing the piano, I can assure that "emotionally creative whistling" (the way I perform it) is truly an established art form. Even more so than singing, because there are indeed only few of us artistic whistlers in the world, whereas there are millions of piano players. (This fact in itself is indicative... albeit it's funny, but I better say ...no more!)
In that regard it would be interesting to create some truly interesting to capture this musically invaluable form of human creativity. I sold 1000's of audio recordings while busking (street performing), performed on radio, TV in clubs and private functions all around the world.
Even the late actor Paul Newman, conductor of SSO (Sydney Symphony Orchestra) Stuart Challender and organist Klaus Wunderlich and 100's of "regular musicians and singers" accredited my musical creativity. I'm so, sad that all the good pianists here in this forum confuse my "blow ups" with funny musical creativity; albeit my "emotional blows" in the the Warsaw Concerto sounds rather dramatically serious. The problem with me is that I received lots of love and affection in childhood and that renders me now emotionally somewhat hypersensitive, which in a way helps me to feel the emotional content of every melody and to respond accordingly.
Now at young 73, I'm still very much on the go... and since I'm not yet done yet, I thought I may as well join some great musicians to give it a last shot.
Well, if its not to be... it's not to be! If she's hot, she is hot... if she is not, she is not!
I leave you great musicians with my "funny creative interpretation" of whistling to Chopin's "funny composition" Nocturne op.9 no.1:



I still remember the moments, when I was performing this piece in a great restaurant and the guests, in the nearest tables just ...stopped eating. (Of course... reading your mind ...because "it was sooo funny" ... no, no... it was, because they were ate and digested my emotional, musical dessert first! - After performing several pieces of my repertoire, all guests (about a 100 of them) stood up to pay their respect to my efforts. So, you see how funny that really was. Now I relive all these kinds of unique moments of sheer bliss (sorry, fun?) I shared with the general public all over the world and never got tired of enjoying more of it.
I'm now into philosophical pondering. My books are titled: "A Guide to... Personal Contentment" (3 volumes) and "Grandpa's Insight"... (2 Vol)

 

I like that

 

I performed more than 20 years in public and that attracted many young people, wanting to know how I discovered and developed my (...if you allow me to call it) evolution given "funny talent". So, in a way my whistling served a double purpose: for musical creativity and as "attention-getter tool", to attract smart curious (philosophically immature) youngsters, eager to discover the origin of unique abilities & talents. Thus, my philosophical insight... (presented in German, French, English and Spanish) about personal, philosophical development must have deeply hypnotized and motivated them, because (last, not least) I sold heaps of my music and books. :wink:
Obviously, the they were "on the run", resenting the relentless nagging of their (equally philosophically lost) parents. Hence, the very thing they appreciated was that I black on white "delivered the evidence for what they were looking for" and made sure to mention ...that they should never buy a hair-growing lotion from a bald salesman!
Later on, I even into competition with Tarot readers, by attaching a sign onto my PA, saying: "Philosophical advice available $5/ 15 Min." and so, selling the truth for a change. - I was even tutoring great "Ivan" a Czech professor with four doctorates for eight long hours, tying to desperately rescuing him from the philosophical mess he was in. He got away with only paying our restaurant bill (!!) The thing he particularly appreciated was that I originated my insight.
So, as you see, we could even sell more than only whistled piano recordings. The public also liked my sense of humor and some young kids (aged 10-12) paid me $5 to tell them some of my jokes... here's a clean one for you:
"A little boy asks: Mum, why has dad so little hair on his head? Mother replied: It's, because your daddy is very intelligent and thinks a lot! The little boy: Ahhh, I see, but what about you mum, why you have so much hair ...on your head (of course)? Mother replied: Ohhh well it's because ... just shut up and eat your soup, will you?!
You might have enjoyed that one, did you? Well then, here's another half that clean:
An aspiring, young actress asked a seasoned, elderly actress: "Is it true madam, that all young actresses have to accept the invitation to go to bed with the directors, camera men etc. of the film? The elderly actress replied: Yes, that's right; that's how it is... (and after a short delay added unless you have got talent!

 

Selling jokes to rich-parent kids sound like good business !

But you seem to have that word "funny" really stuck in your throat ! Please remember it is often used in the sense of something being incongruous, puzzling or just insufficiently understood (it has been said that many great scientific revolutions were sparked by some genius muttering "Hold on, that's funny..."). The word was used in that sense, not to belittle anyone's music but just because we don't quite dig the term "artwhistling". If something is undisputedly art then there seems no need to add the word to the name. It kind of defeats the purpose. Anyway you can spit that bone out now and move on. It does not help to be hypersensitive on the Internet :wink:

 

Dear techneut,
Albeit I don't think my artistic whistling is funny, I just thought to make it even more funny and so, adapting it to the musical taste of all members in this forum.
Yet, even if it is something new to you, as a qualified musician you shouldn't have too much trouble to recognize its emotionally creative contribution.

Dear pianolady,
Weird that you cannot d/l it! I just tried it and it works w/o a hitch. No Prob, I upload it on another server, together with some other piano goodies. Listening to it myself, I just cannot believe that some musician are unable to to recognize its emotionally creative value. It adds a new dimension to music.

Well, here it is: https://www.mediafire.com/?a17vqbdro53v2n5

 

The Chopin attachment plays fine for me. If you remember, you posted this here back in 2012 and got some positive feedback. Listening again I find that the novelty has since worn off. Yes, it is very skillfully, maybe even artfully done. No, I don't like the style, and I don't think it adds a new dimension to the piece. Maybe that is because I am not a qualified musician - few of us here are.

I marvel at how many times you can use the word 'emotionally' in one thread. Your website is full of it too, and full of other terms like unique, talent, etc. By all means let people decide for themselves ! You cannot make people appreciate something by repeatedly telling them how wonderful it is. I renders your website a bit of a joke, actually, not to mention the bad photos. The one of you kissing your late aunt on the mouth must be the worst I've ever seen on anybody's personal site. Such emotional memorabilia had best be kept private. All this is just my personal opinion of course !

 

Thank you for the positive criticism from your personal perspective.

Yes, you are right... and admit handling my inherited gift badly. So, I maybe even be misunderstood. In doing so, I'm actually trying to honor evolution; the gifts of our ancestors; i.e not myself, because personally we are at best only able to amend our inherited traits by about 5%. So, in that sense I am merely factually pointing out the the presence of emotional values, which evolution bestowed onto my musical creativity. Yes, I also agree that "letting people decide for themselves" whether they are willing (able) to acknowledge these existing values, otherwise their well-known, negative traits might be activated, yes, I know.

That's where misunderstanding comes in, because I did my homework on that years ago: the moment I discovered my "musical inheritance", I was desperate for confirmation of its quality level. I.e. albeit my hearing and musical feelings seemed to tell me that I'm doing something right, I needed the confirmation of my idols. I made appointment with various renowned, local musicians for an audition and they all were confirming my findings. I then even submitted some of my works to world renown musicians and gratefully received their detailed analysis of my musical creativity. From then on it went only up and I admit having had trouble handling all the countless commendations in a humble manner. - It might stem from the fact that I ran into philosophical/ psychological conflict, because on one hand I had to proof to young people that "I'm the greatest" to gain their admiration, philosophical motivation and co-operation, yet on the other hand I'm supposed to "allow others to decide the value of our evolutionary legacy"... and to humbly play it down.
In this forum I was merely aiming at cooperation with creatively minded musicians in order to produce some great recordings and taking into account the sad fact that there seems no interest at all, you are right concluding that that it has no point to try convincing anyone, for the way I went about, it might only lead to misunderstandings and worse.

Back to fun & joke: There too, it seems the bug of misunderstanding invaded and overran its intended purpose. Most of the people, perusing my website, are people who view its content in context with my philosophical mentality. It is my way of honoring a great lady, to whom I am deeply indebted. "She"... is the lady who bestowed me with true love and affection, the first 9 years of my life! - Thanks to her... I am able to enjoy true contentment in life. Unfortunately, my four siblings were brought up strictly Catholic ...and the rest I better keep private, as you too, would agree. Yet, what's wrong with promoting evidence of happiness? Yes, in a way I agree... that to many people pictures of true love look downright ridiculous and silly! My sibling think that, too.
Hence, all these life experiences taught me an awful lot of insight, because I happened to be able to logically correct sort it out; again, thanks to my ancestors and that's why I find it so hard to hide it all. The trouble is that many people dislike to view such triumphs as something positive and sadly, prefer to dwell in negativity. I don't blame them, for not all of us enjoyed at least the first four years of their life true love and affection and that's where usually things go wrong... in life.

 

Oh it's not easy to remain humble. Though reading your website it seems you have not tried very hard

There is nothing wrong with a loving acknowledgement of course. It's just a horrible picture IMO which does your site absolutely no good.
I have other issues with your site, apart from the bad pictures. Like when you write

whereas in fact it was like this (from http://www.factualworld.com/article/Bil ... _Australia)

IMHO that is bending the truth at best. Also the kudos from various people, most of them long dead, really need to be backed up by
verifiable facts. Put these documents on your site ! Not offer to provide them 'on demand'. That is just silly. There is no evidence
for anything you write.

What amuses me is that you list your unique talent for "composing emotionally meaningful classical and popular melodies"
but you have not actually done it yet ! How is anybody supposed to take that seriously ? How are you going to
compose anyway, seeing you have not mastered musical notation ?

Sorry to be a bit confrontational... but you are asking for it And I believe I am being objective rather than negative.

Anyway, enough of this discussion now... It's not going anywhere. You're very welcome to talk about piano related matters.

 

Yet, it's indeed counterproductive, when I have to proof the opposite in order to motivate today's young people. The good thing is that after receiving the confirmations of world renown musicians I don't depend anymore on opinions of lesser qualified people, would you?

Please tell me more: You mean the picture quality is bad? The lady is too old to be kissed that way? Or? - Maybe I can replace it with another picture.

I'm amazed that you know so little about showbiz, because the truth is that Billy Connolly met me three times (on three different days!) to ask me, if I would allow his crew to record me performing for his movie. I even rejects his first demand, because at that time I was selling a property. So, they had to alter their time schedule and turn up on a Saturday. Of course Billy's advertising team knows how to turn it around, in Billy's favor... and they obviously succeeded!

Of course you are entitled to think all that and worse of me. Yet, my peace of mind consist in truthfulness of my claims and I am able to proof them, albeit you are entitled to dismiss everything I write, say and whistle as total fraud, because it does not change the truth.

Right, too! Yet, didn't I mention that this is a latent talent, which I only once put to the test? - It's just like my whistling, because I only discovered and developed its potential in my early forties; i.e. before that it was simply a latent and so, it's the same with my latent composing potential. All I know and feel is that it's there! Chances are, I might give it another go later on, when I run out of puff. Mind you, to composing new, emotionally meaningful melodies, I merely need to whistle into PC-Mic and the rest I leave to graphic notation software/ artists.

I don't view your criticism as "confrontational", because since you don't know the truth, you have all reasons to question and challenge my claims. I find it's rather mentally stimulating than offensive, for I can learn something from you too. For instance from my peers I was able to learn how not to do it, whereas my philosophical pondering taught me how to find and enjoy innermost contentment in life.

 

Yes, I can in deed whistle it 10 different ways... to suit particular musical tastes, but in these pieces I just went by my personal feelings. Since I don't read notation or had any musical education, I'm totally dependent from my ancestor's musical achievements. When I perform, I feel like a creative painter... incidentally, several painters use my recording for their personal motivational use. Nature knows best, because evolution creates talents. All we can and must do is discovering and developing our our genetic default values, for they are part of our life's mission.

 

Yes the picture quality is bad, even more so than the other pictures which are already bad, especially that half-naked Newman pic. It's fuzzy, over-exposed, the room is a total shambles, and it does not show either you or your beloved auntie with any degree of dignity. What is mostly conveys is you shouting "look how much I love my aunt". You don't need to prove that any more than you apparently need to prove anything else. And no, you don't smack an old lady on the mouth like that. At least not for all the world to see. I am not reading anything wrong in it but it just does not look right. If you feel your aunt to be interesting to the public why not find a decent and reasonably sharp portrait photo from better times, describe in a few words your love and gratitude, and leave it at that ? That would be in good taste, whereas this isn't. Though personally I'd rather have seen a picture of you and Prof. Erber performing together, assuming there exists one. That would have been both relevant and interesting.

Emotionally meaningful - here we go again... Well, if composing means just singing your normal song in a microphone and leave the rest to someone else, I guess any creative musician can be a composer. You could be doing that right now if you wanted to.

But let's now conclude this interesting discussion before you write 'emotionally' again and I have either a breakdown or a laughing fit. Apart from not going anywhere, it's getting far too philosophical for me. Defining art and talent had best be left to the real experts - and they won't be able to work it out either. You believe what you want to believe, and so do we

 

Thus far, I had nobody speaking out against the Pic and the website, but thanks for you opinion, because I like that my website to be respectable. I have got a nice Pic of my aunt so. I will have another look at the website. You seem to be good at and if you have a moment, it would be nice if you would just mark the spots to "turn down". That will help me. You see, at least I learnt something from you!

Emotionally meaningful - here we go again... Well, if composing means just singing your normal song in a microphone and leave the rest to someone else, I guess any creative musician can be a composer. You could be doing that right now if you wanted to. [/quote]
It's not all that easy, for it requires development.