Gerluz

GerluzPortrait

Gerluz is the name I use for piano work. Though I write most of the songs, Gerluz is the tiny person inside my computer who follows the arrangements and detailed instructions for how I want them played.

Being virtual being doesn't mean Gerluz can't have a biography. Here is the bio used on the first CD.

The first piano sounds produced by the young Gerluz were far from musical, but they had a steady beat and that was all the dancers required, so he was given encouragement and repaid their kindness and tolerance with years of the most wretched experimentation. But as long as he kept it rhythmical no one would complain because then they could "have dance."

When he was 17 both of Gerluz’s parents were killed in a tragic donkey cart accident. Without family structure Gerluz’s world collapsed. The landlord evicted him from his home. No one in the poverty-stricken town could afford an extra mouth to feed so he was forced to make his own way in the world. The only thing he wanted to do in the world was to play the piano and in his home town there were no paying jobs for piano players. He wrapped his worldly belongings in a blanket and started to walk to the big city where the piano came from. Surely, if they had pianos, they would need piano players.

In the city it was not as simple as he had hoped. Eventually, he was able to able to convince a kind-hearted madam to allow him to entertain the guests in her establishment. It was here his skills were polished. He was exposed to people who knew music was supposed to sound like and his instruction began anew. The kindly innocence of the villagers was replaced by the worldly opinions of the denizens of the wearied and worn little brothel.

Though the criticism may have been harsh at first, Gerluz expanded his knowledge and repertoire, learned how to read music and became what he now calls “a real Piano player.” In the years since, Gerluz has traveled throughout the E.U. playing in brothels and bars on what he refers to as “the slowest world tour in existence, now in it’s third decade.” In 2005 his unscheduled tour jumped the Atlantic to the U.S.. One of these days he may be playing in an establishment near you.

I have found the level of control the computer allows when designing the performance of music often brings the final result far more accuratly toward my intentions than other means. And my friend Gerluz always follows my instructions to the tiniest detail.... repeatedly.

Anyhow, here is piano music by myself & my friend Gerluz... Enjoy.

2022-04-14
The Day We Met
It's a song... lend it your ear.

This is a slow, musing song. The character is looking at a wall of photos and is thinking back to the day they met the love of their life. How, in that moment, their life was changed and all of the intervening years of cherished memories that sprang from it.  
...Read more
Gerluz, Piano,
2021-01-07
Porphero's Watch Chain
It's a song... lend it your ear.

Porphero's Watch Chain is a straight-forward, two-voice investigation into the unrequited feelings a pocket watch might have for it's companion watch chain.  
...Read more
Piano,
2020-12-24
Les Langueurs Tendres
It's a song... lend it your ear.

This is the final of a series of François Couperin pieces My goodness François used a lot of ornament! Then again, I suppose that is the nature of Harpsichord music. Thin metal strings plucked with a quill. A curious things to note is that is is a fairly squick rendering of the song. Once I had finished I went out to year how harpsichordists rendered it. One version is a bit over 10 minutes long... most are over 4. I suppose I could have gone slower, but I seem to have the attention of a Moucheron (or Gnat) When the melody becomes too stretched or the pauses too great I forget what they were talking about or perhaps I am just senile...  
...Read more
Harpsichord, Baroque, Couperin,
2020-12-17
Le Moucheron
It's a song... lend it your ear.

This is a song that causes me to wonder... I wonder why François Couperin would name this tune "The Gnat?" (or "The Midge" if you prefer) Could it me that gnats had a significance in 1717 that I am as yet unaware? Perhaps it was a popular dance of the time.
I'm trying to picture the scene... A courtesan in a powdered wig hitting on a woman in a wig of even greater stature... "Hey baby... Lets do the Gnat, Whatcha say?"
 
...Read more
Music, Couperin, Baroque, Harpsichord,
2020-12-10
La Bersan by Françouis Couperin
It's a song... lend it your ear.

Here we go again... another of Couperin's harpsichord pieces. Imagine yourself strolling down the corridors of Versailles wearing a gigantic powdered wig. Lovely huh? if it were 1717 This tune might be playing in the background. (but on a harpsichord).  
...Read more
Harpsichord, Piano,
2020-11-19
Les Barricades Mystérieuses
It's a song... lend it your ear.

The Mysterious Barricades... What might François Couperin have been referring to when he titled this one? Somehow I don't think he was referring to those metal things that appear along the sidewalk the night before there is a parade. It is a rather addictive little tune...  
...Read more
Piano, Harpsichord,
2020-11-12
Les Bergeries
It's a song... lend it your ear.

Next up is a piece written by written by François Couperin... It was originally written for the Harpsichord & published in 1717. Yes, this is not quite Modern. but is is a lively interpretation of it. I sometimes feel that these old harpsichord tunes have an over-abundance of trills, flourishes and whatnot, but... there wasn't amplification in those days, and harpsichords really don't have the same presence & sustain that a piano does, and they didn't have pianos yet either. But they did have trills & flourishes and lots of silence to fill.
 
...Read more
2020-11-06
Chiltepin
It's a song... lend it your ear.

This is a lively little tune in 12/8... except for the bridge... it jumps around a bit there... almost latin sounding. I named it after a favorite chili pepper. the Chiltepin, also known as a bird's eye pepper. That's how I was first introduced to them. A friend gave me a tiny bottle of them, calling them birdeye... yes this was before the internet, & I had my eyes out or them for decades, because they were so good. Finally I saw some that looked right in a store but they were called "Chiltepin" so I wasn't sure sure until I tested them..  
...Read more
2020-10-01
Mimsy
It's a song... lend it your ear.

Do you ever have projects like that? They are sitting over on a shelf and you're thinking: "Oh, I gotta finish that one day..." Then one day arrives and you go over & look at it and realize it has been finished the whole time. It just needs a little dusting and some paint touchup.

This is one of those. I think I may have been conflicted with the tempo, I thought it might be too slow... But speeding it up would mess with the second statement... it's short, to be sure but now I have space on my shelf.  
...Read more
2020-09-17
Untitled-40
It's a song... lend it your ear.

Sometimes, when writing a song the title arrives first. Coffee Time Rag is an example. Other times you work out a musical idea and a title comes along during the process.. Other times you get ideas... your draft them out, calling them something, anything simply because you want to get to the next thing.... A long time ago I would give them nonsense titles like "Krackenfever" or "Finstimere" ...
 
...Read more
Piano, Quintet,
2020-06-25
Cherry Blossom Sunrise
It's a song... lend it your ear.

Oh my ears and whiskers, it's late! But it is here at last and the masses of people anxiously awaiting its arrival can now exhale and put it into their playlists. A calming and slower piece in four acts and four minutes. Something to listen to while you are savoring your morning beverage watching the sun rise though the cherry blossoms.  
...Read more
Piano, solo piano,

Gerluz
The Day We Met
Apr 14, 2022
This is a slow, musing song. The character is looking at a wall of photos and is thinking back to the day they met the love of their life. How, in that moment, their life was changed and all of the intervening years of cherished memories that sprang from it.
Porphero's Watch Chain
Jan 07, 2021
Porphero's watch Chain is a straight-forward, two-voice investigation into the unrequited feelings a pocket watch might have for it's companion watch chain.
Les Langueurs Tendres
Dec 24, 2020
This is the final of a series of François Couperin pieces. "The Slow Tenderness" is a lovely little tune.
Le Moucheron
Dec 17, 2020
I wonder why François Couperin would name this tune "The Gnat?" (or "The Midge" if you prefer) Could it me that gnats had a significance in 1717 that I am as yet unaware?
La Bersan by Françouis Couperin
Dec 10, 2020
Here we go again... another of Couperin's harpsichord pieces
Les Barricades Mystérieuses
Nov 19, 2020
The Mysterious Barricades... What might François Couperin have been referring to when he titled this one?
Les Bergeries
Nov 12, 2020
A piece written by written by François Couperin for the Harpsichord & published in 1717.
Chiltepin
Nov 06, 2020
A cute little tine in 12/8... except for the bridge... it jumps around a bit there... almost latin sounding. I named it after a favorite chili pepper. the Chiltepin, also known as a bird's eye pepper.
Mimsy
Oct 01, 2020
Do you ever have projects like that? They are sitting over on a shelf and you're thinking: "Oh, I gotta finish that one day..." Then one day arrives and you go over & look at it and realize it has been finished the whole time. It just needs a little dusting and some paint touchup.
Untitled-40
Sep 17, 2020
Sometimes, when writing a song the title arrives first. Coffee Time Rag is an example. Other times you work out a musical idea and a title comes along during the process......
Cherry Blossom Sunrise
Jun 25, 2020
A calming and slower piece in four acts and four minutes. Something to listen to while you are supping your morning beverage watching the sun rise though the cherry blossoms.
Coffee Time Rag
Jun 11, 2020
It's time for a ragtime song! This song was scheduled to be released in the middle of May but my "Streaming Distributor" is a tad backed up. Oh well. Sorry to keep you-all waiting. There are still twomore finished peiced in their queue & I have a few other songs on the boiler.
My Latin Bouquet
May 01, 2020
The original title of this song was "in the Shade of the Ombu". ... the Ombu being a tree that grows in the pampa of Argentina & Uruguay. I was imagining a restful siesta under a tree, maybe a couple of Gauchos strumming their guitarras. But then I had another thought.
Lazy Day Waltz
Apr 23, 2020
It's a lazy waltz from a lazy day. I was intending it to form a different piece but one melody flowed to the next and, before I knew it, what I had intended to be a dance piece became this melodically progressive waltz. I had fun with it, I hope you do too.
Skipping Over the Lily Pads
Jul 27, 2017
Gravity Wave
Feb 18, 2016
Playland
Oct 22, 2015
The Optimistic Nihilist
Sep 15, 2015
Starlight
Dec 22, 2014
Parallax
Oct 15, 2014
Plays Antonin Dvorak
Dec 20, 2012
Plays Scott Joplin
Oct 26, 2012
Indian Summer
Sep 07, 2012
San Francisco Steamer
Aug 25, 2012
Teddy's Tango
Apr 06, 2012
plays Lost Ragtime Masters
Aug 08, 2011
Gerluz Plays Claude Debussy
Dec 01, 2010
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