THE ART OF THE IVORIES

 

Two hundred and fifty-two posts ago I shared a post featuring pianos painted in all sorts of colors and patterns.  This week I ‘m focusing on painted piano keyboards.  Looking at the examples I've included here, I’m wondering if I could play something on them without being distracted?  Might be fun to try, but what should I play?  Not that I could actually play – at least not very well - any of the following except maybe the last one in its simplest form, but if I could . . . ???


Nola/Felix Arndt

Slaughter on 10th Avenue/Rodgers

Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No. 2

My Wild Irish Rose/Chauncey Olcott

The Minute Waltz/Chopin - unless someone recognizes the tune written in 4/4 time painted on the keys?

Rhapsody in Blue/Gershwin

The Blue Danube Waltz/Strauss II

The Deep Green Sea/Scott Price

Maple Leaf Rag/Joplin

Falling Leaves/Joseph Kosma

Chopsticks Waltz/Euphemia Allen under the pseudonym Arthur de Lulli

 ~ ~ ~

Another way of matching the prompt this week would have been to show my extended instrumental family gathered round the piano with the instruments they played over the years and wonder what they might have sounded like all together?

Around the piano, played by just about everyone, there would have been a banjo, a violin, a cello, three guitars, a clarinet, two trombones, a saxophone, a flute, drums, bells, a tambourine, an harmonica, and a kazoo.  Also a washboard and spoons.  Everyone would also be singing, and my cousin and I would be tap dancing.

Unfortunately I couldn’t find a photo encompassing all of that, so you’ll have to use your imagination. J

:->

La Nightingail


For your listening pleasure - "Slaughter On 10th Avenue"

In my senior year in high school I took Modern Dance instead of PE and our final assignment of the year was to choreograph a dance to a chosen piece of music and perform it.  I chose to dance to Slaughter on 10th Avenue and every time I hear it I dance it again albeit in my head these days. :[] 

Comments

  1. Mike BrubakerMarch 22, 2026 at 7:38 AM

    I've always liked old pianos refinished in paint but I don't think I've ever seen a painted keyboard. As pretty as they might seem though, random colors on the keys would drive me nuts since they hide the logic of music's 12 notes. Where's middle C? I've read about some people who are able to perceive colors in musical pitches and keys. It's called "Chromesthesia" and is a bit like perfect pitch though the color assignments are different for each person. Now in the age of computers, AI, and digital music some people can actually produce music that they see as well as hear.

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