It can be an awkward thing attempting to identify what contributes to the genius of a person without being reductionist or shining too bright a light that excessively reveals what should remain hidden.

As a pianist among pianists, Earl Wild has been called a “supervirtuoso” which simply means there is nothing at the piano he cannot do and as a mentor/pedagogue his musical knowledge is humorously lexiconic.

It’s these qualities - being a hot shot piano geek with a sense of humour - that are central to his musical genius.

I’ve recorded a few of Wild’s transcriptions and each provides wonderful examples of the application of his creative powers and, in this first piece about which I'm writing, the genius of his restraint.

In his transcription of the Gabriel Faure song, Après un Rêve (After a Dream), Wild’s fingerprint seems completely absent, as if nothing whatsoever has been altered from the original.

This is not far from the truth in the case of this transcription because Wild has recognized the concise writing from Faure.

The melody needs no embellishment, the harmonies are controlled to precisely give nuance to the text, and the rhythm is so staid as to give the melody a free and expressive reign.

In this instance, Wild feels no need to tamper with the perfection of the original. 

The only alteration he offers is the artful combining of Faure’s vocal part and piano accompaniment into a solo piano piece. Perfection.


Listen to Improvisation on "Après un Rêve"

On Apple Music

On Spotify

On YouTube Music

On Deezer

On Tidal