For David
April 21, 2015 10:36 PM
A song for a departed friend.
In 2005 my best friend David killed himself. We were the same age, both left-handed, musicians, misfits, weirdos. Kindred spirits.
Dave was always a better musician than me. I admired his creativity so much. When we were in high school, he helped me learn how to improvise on the piano. Even though he was a guitarist primarily and I was technically better than him on the keys, I didn't have the first clue of how I should go about learning to improvise.
Dave made it so easy. He sat down at the old beat up grand piano in the band room and said "Hey. Come over here and let's try something. Let's just play only the white keys and play whatever we want, and let's just see what comes out."
We played for a feverish, delightful 20 minutes. That moment changed my whole perspective on music, on what it could be and where it could come from inside a person.
I miss my friend a lot. Even now, 10 years later, my mind wanders to thoughts of him nearly every day.
This song is for you, Dave. It's mostly a hopeful song, intentionally reminiscent of an old Southern hymn at times, something we both appreciated. It's pure improvisation, recorded in one take, just like we used to do back when you were around.
Also, it's only the white keys.
In 2005 my best friend David killed himself. We were the same age, both left-handed, musicians, misfits, weirdos. Kindred spirits.
Dave was always a better musician than me. I admired his creativity so much. When we were in high school, he helped me learn how to improvise on the piano. Even though he was a guitarist primarily and I was technically better than him on the keys, I didn't have the first clue of how I should go about learning to improvise.
Dave made it so easy. He sat down at the old beat up grand piano in the band room and said "Hey. Come over here and let's try something. Let's just play only the white keys and play whatever we want, and let's just see what comes out."
We played for a feverish, delightful 20 minutes. That moment changed my whole perspective on music, on what it could be and where it could come from inside a person.
I miss my friend a lot. Even now, 10 years later, my mind wanders to thoughts of him nearly every day.
This song is for you, Dave. It's mostly a hopeful song, intentionally reminiscent of an old Southern hymn at times, something we both appreciated. It's pure improvisation, recorded in one take, just like we used to do back when you were around.
Also, it's only the white keys.
posted by Doleful Creature (9 comments total) 10 users marked this as a favorite
So much more than the white keys. Beautiful.
posted by we are the music makers at 8:06 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by we are the music makers at 8:06 AM on April 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Just gorgeous. What a lovely tribute to someone well loved.
posted by elmer benson at 8:28 AM on April 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by elmer benson at 8:28 AM on April 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
And the way it ends with an unresolved phrase is just emotionally crushing.
posted by elmer benson at 8:28 AM on April 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by elmer benson at 8:28 AM on April 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Thank you, everyone for the kind comments.
posted by Doleful Creature at 1:38 PM on April 24, 2015
posted by Doleful Creature at 1:38 PM on April 24, 2015
Well that's just fucking awesome. Getting weepy here.
posted by chococat at 4:37 PM on April 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by chococat at 4:37 PM on April 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Beautiful, thanks for posting.
posted by greenish at 7:44 AM on April 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by greenish at 7:44 AM on April 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Definitely feel the southern hymn vibes. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing your story.
posted by Corduroy at 10:15 PM on April 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Corduroy at 10:15 PM on April 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
damn.
posted by pretentious illiterate at 6:42 AM on May 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by pretentious illiterate at 6:42 AM on May 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by TheNegativeInfluence at 11:41 PM on April 21, 2015 [1 favorite]