Malcolm Watson
Two Pandemic Pieces 2020
During the extended lockdown in Melbourne in 2020 I was fortunate to have the loan of a brand new, high end Yamaha grand piano. This happy event occurred because a close musical colleague of mine was moving to Queensland but was unable to accommodate the new piano for a while. Lucky me! I had it for six months and gave it plenty of exercise.
On the very first day it arrived, after trying out a few classical pieces, I sat down at the keyboard silently and closed my eyes for a few seconds. Then somehow the Two Pandemic Pieces just emerged in one creative take. Fortunately I was video recording myself so had it all captured. I thought they were good enough to transcribe and notate into finished pieces - and here they are.
The first piece, Staying Apart, is structured around the interval of a 4th - both melodically and harmonically. With its wide spacings and restless urgency it is reflective of the frustrations that we all experience in these pandemic times when plans become mirages.
The second, Keeping Us Together, has a much more "singable" melody characterised by closer intervals. An almost romantic jazz ballade, it speaks of hope and better times ahead when our enforced isolations will restore our sense of community.
...and here are the original videos of the session in which the Pandemic Pieces emerged. It was captured with just a phone using the Dolby app - not high res. However it is interesting (for me anyway!) to look back on this once-off creative process that occurred in real time.