Message
Re: New to the list. Interested in "Balkan" CZ101 programming
2016-02-17 by cooneypiano@...
I finished my first Ivo Papasov transcription and have slowly been working out how to play it on the CZ, using the pitch-bend for a lot of the ornaments. This has been a really fun project to work on and I've learned a lot. I find that after working on the passages slowly with the pitch-bend it eventually starts to feel more intuitive and I can start playing at faster tempos. (I decided to start with an Ivo transcription rather than a keyboardist transcription like Amza Tairov because I know that Amza got his style from imitating other instruments, learning how to do those ornamentations on the synth. Also I like Amza alright but I REALLY like Ivo. Plus Amza doesn't play in odd meters as much as Ivo.)
It has been a very fun little puzzle figuring out how to do all the ornamentations with the pitch bend. Once I start to get the hang of it it actually makes many passages easier to play. My big problem now is that I find the mini-keys on the cz101 really difficult to navigate. I've been using a controller and have been just keeping my left hand up on the CZ pitch-wheel. But I'm thinking of swapping out the 101 for a 1000. I seems silly to have a keyboard that I only use for the wheel (and sounds). I'd like to be able to actually play the keys if needed. I'm also not psyched about the controllers I've been using: I've been alternating between a cheap a midi controller and a Nord LEad 2x. The action on the Nord leaves much to be desired, though I think I could program some decent balkanish sounds on it. I've been considering getting something better to use as a controller.. maybe a Triton or a Dx7.
I thought I'd try the 101 first since that's what all those balkan players use. But I can see now why so many of them have strange-looking techniques. The mini keys force you to drop your wrist to get the thumb on the instrument, and they make it hard to play inside the black key area. This is why so many of the 101 videos of the balkan/turkish guys show people with really compromised techniques, their 5th fingers sticking out all funny, etc. I think I need to switch to the 1000 so that I can play the keys with a healthy technique.