Pierre Charial ‎– Swing Valse Machine (1984, Stil)

Media EX
Sleeve VG+

Format : LP
Cat N° : 1007 S 83
Style : Contemporary, Soundtrack

Pierre Charial, a French street organ prodigy and classically trained pianist, is celebrated by the government as a National Treasure and has been given the title “Maître d’Art” since 2004. He is known for discovering early barrel organ compositions by Mozart and Haydn and creating his own music roll adaptations of classical, popular, and contemporary music. Charial’s virtuosity on the Orgue de Barbarie is unlimited due to the instrument’s ability to play numerous notes simultaneously at any speed. Charial’s official website is Musique Mécanique Paris. Charial’s first LP under his name, Swing Valse Machine, was released on the STIL label. Charial’s technique and arrangements are reminiscent of Rameau and Couperin, with nuances and virtuosity present in his arrangements of film music and jazz tunes by various artists. The recording was conducted by Michel Pierre, and birds can be heard in the background on some tracks, indicating that the recording took place in Charial’s workshop. The music is pure magic and poetry, with some tracks featuring a deluge of notes similar to Conlon Nancarrow’s player piano.