Listen to Chopin’s Fantasy Impromptu Op.66 played by Horowitz
Improvisation can produce serendipitous music or a discordant mish-mash. Whenever I tried it as a child, a voice from the kitchen would call out. “You’re just messing about. Get on with your practice.” I always resented it, but my name’s not Chopin so perhaps she was right.
Polish genius sits down to play
rippling music, joyful sound,
ideas translated, extempore:
attentive audience, spellbound.
for dVerse Poetics and Haibun Monday
Vivinfrance's Blog 
Have you ever been improvising at the piano, and suddenly you realise, ‘That was exquisite!’ – but the recognition comes too late to recapture it or write it down? At least with poetry what one improvises sits there.
LikeLike
Discordant noise to others, but not to us! I loved your piece to the prompt and your words to create the fantasy with Chopin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, fun trip back to the irritating parents but turned into a wonderful fantasy. I imagine that is how my children survive too. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice, I wish I was more gifted in the music area ~ And I don’t mind the messing around by the children while learning ~
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great. I used to climb up on the bench when my mother would play. She taught me at an early age, the main burden of St. Loius Blues. We found out later I was more adrpt with wind instruments and the violin. As long as I practiced my regular music, they let me improvise. The micro poem at the end is superior.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You do an amazing job with a tiny piece of marvelous verbiage. Your point is so well taken. No one can toil & practice without thought to variance & improvisation; smile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This brought back so many memories of my own mother saying the same thing when I strayed from the assigned lessons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps that genius was unwittingly suppressed and you may have surpassed Chopin. But the poet survived and she is a delight. I do love this and the title is perfect.
LikeLike
Improv is important!! 🙂 Love your poems and the mini closing poem, too. 🙂
LikeLike
I love this poem! 😀
LikeLike
I think some “messing about” should be allowed, especially if playing by ear or creating compositions…always glad to hear “music wars” of my 2 youngest practicing different instruments at the same time (in different rooms).
LikeLike
in different keys? Recipe for cacophany. I had a trumpeter and a clarinettist, fortunately both B flat instruments?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trumpeter and pianist… Piano play, trumpet mimic 😉
LikeLike
I love your ending micro poem, Viv. Just beautiful. As one who doesn’t know “messing about” (which made me smile) from the real thing, I’m sure you’re playing was beautiful. That’s why they call it “playing,” right? 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a wonderful play… I just sit here thinking that yes sometimes we need practice before running… great ties to the prompt of fantasy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning! Tippin’ my coffee mug to you here — your take on the prompt makes me smile. And I adore this piece by Chopin….rippling indeed! You’ve captured a moment that relates to many a childhood I’m sure and then moved it to the unspoiled, unfettered, unstopped genius of creativity by a master at the keyboard. Somehow we raised two musicians — when my husband and I literally always told people when asked “No. We’re not musicians. But we play the spoons and the comb with waxed paper.” 🙂 Rather than buy a second car, we invested in a grand piano and one morning when we were feeling silly, we cut out circles, drew “spokes” on them, and taped them to the legs of the piano — as if it was our second car! I marvel at musicians. I marvel at creativity. Whether its with pieces of cloth for a quilt, those black and white keys, or words — it’s the free flow rearranging that can spark genius, right? Smiling I am with many memories of early recitals and practicing bows as we applauded in our family room. 🙂 Thanks for the memories and a great take on the prompt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My beloved piano has migrated to my daughter’s home for her and her son to enjoy playing, now that my dexterity has migrated I know not where!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mum’s voice from the kitchen used to tell me I had played the wrong note. I used to think, ‘How does she know?’ (Since she wasn’t looking over my shoulder to read the music.) Eventually teacher and parents realised that I was tone-deaf! I myself had had no idea, but it explained a few things.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLike
I never got further than ‘Chopsticks’ on the piano but I am trying a bit of improvisation in my patchwork blocks these days which can also have a serendipitous result or end up ‘a discordant mish-mash’ 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
patchwork improv is great fun.
LikeLike
It’s like running water…. My personal Chopin favourites are the Nocturnes.
For another joyful sound, try Paradisi’s Toccata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JsQZ-9HkZo
There’s a score for piano instead of harp, but I prefer this!
LikeLike
The Fantasy Impromptu is my favourite because of the memories it conjures up, but to play: the preludes. Thanks for the link.
LikeLike