Did the Calx Project really last for 60 hours?
No - it actually lasted longer! The whole project lasted nearly 70 hours! This was because I was forced to take a mandatory break of 15 minutes every 8 complete hours to comply with Guinness World Record Regulations. The 8 hours could not be accumulated towards a longer break (For example I couldn't play for 16 hours and then take a break for 30 minutes).
Additionally, I was on location with the two-person Calx Project technical team (Susie Pieia & Luca Savazzi) several hours before the kick-off note to set things up, testing the stream & recording process & counting the RedBull cases!
How did Christian go to the bathroom?
Creative tenacity - goodbye! All curiosity relating to the artistic integrity of this project disappears if this vital question isn't answered! I promise I did not using diapers at any time during the event! Guinness World Records regulations force you to take a 15-minute break every 8 hours. They call it... 'bio-break'. Self-control, anyone?
When did you sleep?
I haven't figured out yet how to sleep & play at the same time! :) I tried to take a power nap for a few minutes during the available 15 minute bio-break. But unfortunately, sleeping 'on-demand' is not very easy and wasn't possible all the time. I did try to "shift around" a little & once ended up playing while sitting on the floor! (It was... interesting, but didn't last too long!)
How and when did you eat?
I often had veggie or fruit juice to keep the nutrients coming. Several other times, I ate a sandwich with one hand while playing with the other.
Hey, did you know that one-hand piano music was written during the world wars for pianists who were ex-soldiers and lost a hand in war? I often played with just one hand... And unless you saw it on the broadcast, chances are you might not even hear that it was a lonely hand doing it all!
Hey, did you know that one-hand piano music was written during the world wars for pianists who were ex-soldiers and lost a hand in war? I often played with just one hand... And unless you saw it on the broadcast, chances are you might not even hear that it was a lonely hand doing it all!
Were you allowed to talk while you played?
Yes. But I limited it by choice to interviews & exchanges of info with the Calx Project Team. Once in a while I would also briefly chat with fans. In the 'Broken Record' CD collection, you can actually hear some voices on some tracks. I purposely left them there to make you feel as if you were right there in the action!
How long can breaks between pieces last?
Music by nature is made up of natural pauses which give additional emotions to the whole musical discourse. Therefore, pauses relevant to the musical idea really have no 'calculated' length. They can last until a sustained sound dies off in a natural way and possibly even longer. Pianist Arthur Schnabel once said: "The pauses between the notes - ah, that is where the art resides!"
I didn't uses melodic pause as an excuse to relax as that would be equal to starting a break. Later I came to discover that the people over at Guinness gave me the wrong set of regulations (Duh!) & that a standard record attempt allows you to break briefly after every song you play. I played continuously though.
What is the current record for longest piano playing?
I have no idea! Before taking on the Calx Project, the previous record clocked in at 52 hours and 20 minutes.
I am proud of owning a Guinness World Record certificate but - unlike other pianists - it's not my mission in life to collect as many certificates as I can. For me, it was all about improvising for such a lengthy time & doing so with the purpose of helping kids in need.
I am proud of owning a Guinness World Record certificate but - unlike other pianists - it's not my mission in life to collect as many certificates as I can. For me, it was all about improvising for such a lengthy time & doing so with the purpose of helping kids in need.
Did your piano break down?
This music "marathon" tested the limits of both the performer and the instrument itself. The piano I used was a Steinway Model D. Consider this: most pianos are tuned & fixed after every performance. If a performance lasts typically around 1.5 hours, it's as if I put the piano through 40 straight concerts in a row.
Technical assistance was provided occasionally - some keys got stuck & forced me to play "around" them. Mostly though, the tech showed up for a quick tuning while I was on my 15 minute break.
Shouldn't your attempt also hold a record for 'longest solo piano playing'?
Yes & no. Originally I set out to set a record in this category but Guinness actually annulled this request because of an internal fault. Believe it or not, they provided the wrong set of rules & regulations for the event, giving rules of a 'Generic Marathon' rather than a 'Solo music marathon'. Of course this came up only after the event ended! The reason why my attempt was not recognized in this category is simply because these music-marathon specific rules ruled out any improvisation and required the performer to play 'known' music - Go figure! In any case, this event did become the world's longest solo music internet broadcast and, unofficially, also the longest solo piano concert and longest sensed musical improvisation!
Did you get any cramps in your hands?
Yes! (& I just played with the other hand until they disappeared). On the last day, the "5fths" - the pianists' pinkies - were out of order literally for a few hours. But I kept it up with 8. Then it was 10 fingers, full throttle until the end!
What type of training did you do to prepare for such an event?
Other than a curious experiment where I tried staying up for 60 hours (and failed miserably!), I didn't do any kind of physical training. I knew I could sustain the burden brought on from this event and was ready for the psychological & creative challenge of improvising for three days and nights. Those are things you can only prepare for by seeing it happen in your mind's eye.
What happened after the event?
A few things happened when the event ended at midnight and one minute: I met with the huge crowd that showed up for the finale. After trying to thank as many as possible, I went to a nearby hotel, where I A) took a nice hot shower, B) prayed that sensitivity would get back to my hands as soon as possible and C) ordered a club sandwich that never came and D) hit the sack around 4.30 am. The day after I was invited back to the Gallery as guest-star to open a big jazz concert which was part of 'La notte bianca', an important roman summer concert.
Is any music from the Calx Project available?
Yes! A few weeks after the event, I undertook a whole new project worthy of a record of its own: going thru all of the 60 hours of recorded audio and video material.
I divided the improvisations into tracks and gave them working titles based on ideas & images they created in my mind. I began filtering them with the goal of creating two CDs. Eventually, 24 tracks of various lengths were selected, sent to the studio for remastering and included in a collection entitled 'A Broken Record - Original music from The Calx Project Rome". Listen to audio samples & buy it here!
Did you use any special piano playing techniques during the performance?
Yes! I'm always interested in exploring new sounds on the piano (within the limits of sonic pleasure). During the Calx Project, I used all traditional piano playing techniques - from repeated notes to ripped octaves - and occasionally had some fun picking the strings or adding paper on them to obtain odd effects.
Will you do another Calx Project in the future?
Yes. When, I don't know. I am honestly not interested in accumulating Guinness World Record certificates. Instead I enjoy experiences that are peculiar & present new challenges. Lots of ideas in the head. So make sure you signup to the newsletter & keep in touch for updates on new projects!
