Various Artists - Frahm Here to Eternity

A Closer Listen

It’s hard to launch a new national or international observance ~ just ask any who’ve tried.  For example, today is National Sourdough Bread Day in America ~ but despite being an older observance, it’s not as popular as Piano Day, founded by Nils Frahm in 2015.

After a slew of fans began posting their own versions of Frahm songs on YouTube, the German composer did something surprising.  Instead of asking them to take the songs down, he embraced the idea.  As a result we can now look forward to Frahm Here to Eternity, a digital compilation produced by Frahm himself, culled from dozens of submissions sent to Frahm via Facebook and Twitter.  The catch: everything had to be sent in a 24-hour period (Berlin time) on Piano Day (March 29).  Says Frahm of the venture, “I want to encourage our young composers, and this seemed like a fun way to do it.  I’m honored by the response.”

Two of the tracks are re-workings of re-workings, hearkening back to the very first Piano Day.  James Bagnall tackles “Familiar” (cleaning up the stumble at the very end heard in the first version below), while Ola Kobak does justice to “Hammers” with surprising rapidity, building on the compliment given her by Headphone Commute.  More tongue-in-cheek is Juan Cage’s cover of Nils Frahm’s cover of John Cage’s “4:33”, a track which Frahm admits “doesn’t do Cage justice”.  Yet as technically solid as these pieces may be, the real fun can be found in those who play with expectation, having their own kind of fun.  T.P.s version of Toilet Brushes (yes, that’s a real song) is actually played with toilet brushes, while “Me (Song for One Finger)” is a reverse take on “You (Song for Nine Fingers)”, recorded while Frahm was recovering from an injured thumb.  The piece is strange and sparse, as memorable for the notes that are played as for the notes that are not.

No one here seems likely to challenge Frahm for the Piano Day crown, but that’s not the point.  Frahm Here to Eternity is a celebration of a new holiday, a generous composer, his relationship with his fans, and music itself.  Best of all, it’s free, and will appear in full on Frahm’s Piano Day site this Friday.  A happy belated Piano Day to all!  (Richard Allen)