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.

2020-06-11
Coffee Time Rag
It's a song... lend it your ear.

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.  
...Read more
Piano, Gerluz, Coffee, Song, Ragtime, Jazz,
2020-05-01
My Latin Bouquet
It's a song... lend it your ear.

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.  
...Read more
Gerluz, Piano, Song, Latin, Relaxing,
2020-04-23
Lazy Day Waltz
It's a song... lend it your ear.

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.  
...Read more
Song, Piano, Waltz, Gerluz,
2017-07-27
Skipping Over the Lily Pads
It's a song... lend it your ear.

Ah geepers, I've done it again... Calling this one "Skipping Over the Lily Pads".... The wizardry of Gerluz on the piano. Go ahead and add it to your playlists.
 
...Read more
Music, Piano, Gerluz,
2016-02-18
Gravity Wave
It's a song... lend it your ear.

I wrote this one while in San Francisco... Nice little town, I love it here. Winters are particularly nice... then again Autumn & Spring are pretty good too. San Francisco is a great walking town. I took a lot of long walks at pretty much any time of day or night, often with a camera.  
...Read more
San Francisco, Music, Song, Gerluz, Gravity Wave, Gerluz,
2015-10-22
Playland
It's a song... lend it your ear.

This one is actually part of a larger suite that I call Parlor Passages. It is intended to recall the frenetic energy energy of a children's playground. It is quite short, just over a minute a bit of brightness to be inserted in a longer ensemble.

The Mondrian-esque artwork.... Well I think it represents everything about a playground. Blue & white for a Summer sky with fluffy clouds. Green for grass, brown for the dirt and red for the skinned knees and whatnot.  
...Read more
Gerluz, Playland, Parlor Passages, Music, Music,
2015-09-15
The Optimistic Nihilist
It's a song... lend it your ear.

You know how it is.... you have one of those weeks. You slog to work on a cold and dismal Monday; The office bully pins you down and steals your lunch money; Your fountain pen leaks all over your shirt. Some weeks begin like that. Tuesday the office cat shreds your socks. But Wednesday gets a little better and Thursday is better yet... Friday comes at last and at the end of the day you are skipping out of the door.

This song follows one of those weeks... In fact, it was written during one of those weeks. With no awareness of the outcome or title. Each statement was written at the end of a different day. On Saturday when I played it through I was surprised at how dreary it started out... That's not how I was writing Friday night... Then I recalled Monday. Ah yes, Monday.  
...Read more
Music, Piano, Gerluz, slog,
2014-12-22
Starlight
It's a song... lend it your ear.

The gentle tones of an evening breeze leads into a lively 6/4 waltz.  
...Read more
Piano, Music, Gerluz,
2014-10-15
Parallax
It's a song... lend it your ear.

Though I thought of this originally as a piano piece, The Nouveau Guinea Wind Ensemble kinda takes over and turns this into a lively piano-ensemble piece... Just can't keep those birds out of anything...  
...Read more
2012-12-20
Plays Antonin Dvorak
It's an Album

I like Antonin Dvorak, he's OK in my book. His Serenade for Strings OP 22. is one of my faves. Of course, being written for strings means I needed to transcribe it for piano... two of them to be exact. if you listen on headphone you will find one piano in each ear... um..., either side. I don't know if it would be playable by four hands on single piano. simply because on some of the slower sections I have the pianos trading off backings so the music moves over the sound field.

I also enjoy the Humoresques...   ...Read more
Gerluz, Piano, Dvorak, Music,
2012-10-26
Plays Scott Joplin
It's an Album

I guess I was a weird kid. While other adolescents were listening to Pop music of the late-60s and early-70s, I was captivated by Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Spike Jones, the Korn Kobblers and anything on a 78 that I could scrabble from the neighbors. Anyhow, I launched into puberty with a penchant for ragtime music and science fiction books that distracted me somewhat from the stuff that puberty does to one.

If you are quite familiar with these Joplin tunes you might notice this set might sound a little different. There are different schools of thought on how Ragtime should be played. There is one school that it should be played strictly to the format of the sheet music, just as you are supposed to do with Beethoven, Mozart & others.... but I think I stated it best on the CD liner notes:   ...Read more
Ragtime, Piano, Music, Gerluz, Scott Joplin,

Gerluz
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
Ah geepers, I've done it again... Calling this one "Skipping Over the Lily Pads".... The wizardry of Gerluz on the piano. Go ahead and add it to your playlists.
Gravity Wave
Feb 18, 2016
San Francisco is a great walking town. I took a lot of long walks at pretty much any time of day or night, this piece came about through these walks.
Playland
Oct 22, 2015
This one is actually part of a larger suite that I call Parlor Passages. It is intended to recall the frenetic energy energy of a children's playground. It is quite short, just over a minute a bit of brightness to be inserted in a longer ensemble.
The Optimistic Nihilist
Sep 15, 2015
You know how it is.... you have one of those weeks. You slog to work on a cold and dismal Monday; The office bully pins you down and steals your lunch money...
Starlight
Dec 22, 2014
The gentle tones of an evening breeze leads into a lively 6/4 waltz.
Parallax
Oct 15, 2014
Though I thought of this originally as a piano piece, The Nouveau Guinea Wind Ensemble kinda takes over and turns this into a lively piano-ensemble piece... Just can't keep those birds out of anything...
Plays Antonin Dvorak
Dec 20, 2012
I like Antonin Dvorak, he's OK in my book. His Serenade for Strings OP 22. is one of my faves.
Plays Scott Joplin
Oct 26, 2012
I guess I was a weird kid. While other adolescents were listening to Pop music of the late-60s and early-70s, I was captivated by Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Spike Jones, the Korn Kobblers and anything on a 78 that I could scrabble from the neighbors.
Indian Summer
Sep 07, 2012
It was late September 2005. I was walking through Monticello, Idaho. Small town, warm evening. Almost no traffic sound. I could hear kids playing a few blocks away... dogs barking on the other side of town.It really sounded great, so I recorded it. A number of years later....
San Francisco Steamer
Aug 25, 2012
It is a serious business piloting these steam ferries around the San Francisco Bay... shoveling coal, watching gages & twiddling valves... the fellows have to hustle to makes sure everything runs on time.
Teddy's Tango
Apr 06, 2012
Ah, Teddy's Tango... Exciting, dynamic... People seem to like it.... and you an dance to it! There is a softer interlude in the middle where you can make closer passes with your partner. Like all Tangos this one entangles the passion, romance and mixed messages that are love.
plays Lost Ragtime Masters
Aug 08, 2011
Gerluz Plays Claude Debussy
Dec 01, 2010
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