“I can play anything from Beethoven to Rachmaninov, and this is what I have actually done for half of my life, but on the other hand I have this desire to break free from the world of classical music with my own compositions and to explore the realm of mainstream, in other words, to be able to appeal to a broader audience with my music. Consequently, it was an unusual step to choose a classical composition such as ‘Train of Dreams’ for the single release. I would not say that my music is crossover, because that usually is a blend of pop and rock music with classical music, and they also do a lot of cover versions. To put it more audaciously, I’d rather create my own genre.”

“Songs of Love” is the title of a cycle of compositions consisting of two volumes and twenty-four pieces each, though, truth be told, David Ianni has not yet fully completed the second volume. Eventually, all of his contributions for the project “My Urban Piano” will be generated from that cornucopia of forty-eight songs. The opener is “Train of Dreams”, a minimalist track with a highly complex melodic structure which even comprises of a musical reference to the national anthem of Luxembourg. The corresponding first video was also filmed there – a somnambulistic, trance-like visualisation in which David Ianni virtually encounters himself on a train.

The musical reference points and sources of inspiration that have contributed to the creation of the tracks on “My Urban Piano” are exceedingly eclectic. It goes without saying that David Ianni has internalised romantic classics such as Chopin and Schumann, but he also has an open ear for the jazz piano sounds of Keith Jarrett, is equally enthusiastic about the works of film composers and marvels at the beauty of popular music by the likes of Queen or Coldplay. His aim is to make his music as easily accessible as possible to every single listener. Maybe this is where he sees the great dividing line to classical music, which rather tends to be created for the happy few that make up the cultural elite. The titles of his pieces – “Butterflies”, “Timelessness”, “Snowflakes” or “Water Dance” already imply a certain element of playfulness and easy elegance. David’s goal is to charge his music with positive emotions – the harmonies of his pieces are intended to offer comfort, hope and courage.

The idea of the “Street Piano”, of a piano placed somewhere in a public space, is not new. Indeed, it was “My Urban Piano Luxembourg” that eventually inspired David Ianni last year to not only contribute one own composition – the song “Mama”, which literally went viral in Luxembourg – but to start his own project. Indeed, David Ianni’s conception of “My Urban Piano” goes far beyond merely making a piano publicly accessible so anyone can play it to their heart’s desire.

“My Urban Piano” is a multicultural music project in which various aspects pertaining to European culture and society are beautifully blended. By incorporating various European Capitals of Culture, the spirit of a common culture and identity is fostered. Alongside the musical composition and its performance, which David Ianni is in charge of, the visualisation of a tailor-made video that is spread in the social media via viral marketing is another cornerstone of “My Urban Piano”. By inviting an artist from the respective European Capital of Culture to individually design the instrument to be played in the public space, “My Urban Piano” furthermore becomes a platform for the fine arts. Finally, the entire project also has a socio-political dimension, as at the end of every event, in each city the respective piano is donated to a cultural or social institution of that city. Last but not least, David Ianni will also give a regular concert performance in every one of the cities that take part in the project “My Urban Piano”.

There can be no doubts that “My Urban Piano” is a new chapter in the artistic career of David Ianni the pianist and composer, but on top of this, the musician also proves his worth as a savvy performer who elevates the concept of Europe and European cultural identity onto a new and multifarious level. On top of that, he cleverly uses the channels of social media to provide a visual backdrop to his musical endeavours (alongside the videos, there are also numerous snapshots posted on Facebook and Instagram) and offers descriptive anecdotes on the blog of his homepage. Of course the “musical ambassador of Luxembourg“ will release his twelve compositions as an album once his project “My Urban Piano” is completed. Europe could count itself blessed if there were more dedicated artists like David Ianni.

Thomas Gilbert