The characteristic traits of being a pianistic genius - out of this world technical skills and vibrant creative powers - are essential...
...but add to that the gift of composing, arranging and teaching, all accompanied by a wicked sense of humour. These traits are all embodied in the life work of Earl Wild.
He’s been called a “Romantic Master” but his musical range extends over 400 years of composed music, to which is applied his profound technical proficiency and a vivid imagination, leaving a legacy of performances, compositions and arrangements...not to mention a few grateful students, of whom I am a fortunate, whose musical lives are made better for their time with him.
One needs to exercise some caution in describing the genius of anyone - be it Einstein, Wild or Dr. Suess - for descriptions proffered are from a single perspective and perhaps the better approach would be to invite you to personally investigate the work of Earl Wild to decide for yourself.
A beautiful melody by J.S.Bach that got a full makeover is an apt description of Wild’s “Hommage à Poulenc” (Homage to Poulenc) transcription.
Bach’s melody is kept intact and it is safe to say that the original harmonies are essentially the same, but it’s here the differences manifest themselves because those harmonies are elaborated to give a piquance in this new setting that one may infer already exists. It is a “sarabande” after all!
The French composer, Francis Poulenc, used a harmonic palette containing dissonances that were extremely lush, which often conveyed a sense of irony to the listener. Wild’s writing is pure tongue-in-cheek humour that is still Bach - but with a new suit of clothes in a style not too different from Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson or even Victor Borge with a wink at the end.
Listen to Hommage à Poulenc
on Spotify
on Apple Music
on Deezer
on YouTube Music
on Pandora
...and learn how this piece was the pathway back to the piano for John McArthur, in the film HOMAGE