How much of lounge pianists playing is from repertoire, and how much is improvised?
11.06.2025 16:44
Upon my musical duties having ceased for the evening, I may hold an impressive sum of money in my hands, which is a true honor.
I'm unsure as to an arrival of correctly calculated percentage in discovery of how much improv is used during Pianistic lounge performances. A Pianist’s standard and familiar repitoire is the foundatiom for their hours-long accompaniment to a gathering.
Whether performing at Dinner parties, Engagement celebrations or a company’s Holiday gathering, the pleasantries of providing low-key background aires is mine.
Typically performed by myself is lighter fare from a sizeable Classical repitoire, with this repitoire generally not allowing improvisation unless a free form Cardenza is placed within the work, demarked “a piacere”, (or “at your pleasure”).
Light Jazz and compositions of my personal construction do offer measures in which I may perform at my will. Improv has never been of notice to surrounding guests as they generally know not the proper entails of any work I sound into their ears.
Improvisation may be of substantial use when a request is asked of me, with my counter intent being to offer the musical suitor a longer, more in-depth rendition of the song they've so desired.