Remembering and forgetting

In organ improvisation memory plays a very important part - we recreate some of the passages and chord progressions from the music of our favorite composers to mix them in new and original ways and to create something unique.

But I think the more advanced level of improvisation, a spontaneous one is where we also "forget" that what we learned, memorized, transposed, mastered, and internalized.

​Here our past experiences also guide our future work but in a surprising way. When we no longer try to "remember" what we learned, we simply try being in the moment and this moment dictates our spontaneous music making.

This way we don't know what comes around the corner.

But make no mistake - this isn't incoherent wobbling at all without beginning and end.

On the contrary - your mind is sharp and focused, you feel the direction of the music being created, and sensitively shape a new form and content right here and now.

Just like in a conversation with a friend - you don't memorize the lines you both will say. Instead, you listen, respond, and continue meaningful conversation.