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“On Mysterious Ways, I used two EX-5R synthesizers, an S80 synthesizer, my beloved DX-1, three Yamaha 02R digital consoles, a WX-11 MIDI wind controller, and my S6,” states Whalen. “I use Yamaha instruments because there is no question as to whether they will sound good in the context of a recording, or whether they’ll work properly during the session. I especially find the piano to be an amazing universe of colors and textures waiting to be tapped.”

“I write everything on the S6,” he continues. “I then take the basic structure of the tunes - the chords, melody, lyrics - and begin to work out the arrangement.”

Whalen is one of America’s most successful television and film composers, with more than 200 scores to his credit. His work has been heard on the CBS, NBC, PBS, BBC, A&E, Discovery, and Disney networks, National Geographic specials, and in the theme music he wrote for ABC’s “Good Morning America”. In addition to extensive chamber and orchestral music recording credits, his own six previous CDs span jazz, classical, electronic, and new age genres.

Mysterious Ways was released by Koch Progressive in September, with the first single, “If Only For Tonight”- featuring the vocalist Ellis “E3” Hall III-released to radio stations nationwide this past summer.

“I was in Portland, Oregon, writing with GRAMMY®-nominated singer/songwriter Gino Vannelli on his beautifully regulated C7 conservatory grand piano,” Whalen recalls. “We were talking about how there is really no other piano but Yamaha to use for recording, performing, or writing. I’m very lucky to have a great company like this in my corner.”

Smithsonian Celebrates Piano History on PBS

ublic television viewers were able to relive the musical revolution that Italian inventor Bartolomeo Cristofori unleashed at the turn of the 18th century when People and Pianos: 300 Years debuted December 25 on PBS.

(for Disklavier CD compatible modules) “Isn’t It Romantic?” Shannon Gramm pianist Yamaha PianoSoft•Plus featuring the London Symphony Orchestra “I Remember You” Ross Tompkins pianist Yamaha PianoSoft•Plus featuring the Ross Tompkins Trio Dave Koz Brian Simpson pianist Yamaha PianoSoft•Plus featuring Dave Koz on saxophone A Day at Old MacDonald’s Farm - Sony Kidsongs Phillip Keveren pianist Yamaha PianoSoft•Plus Vocals: Sony Kidsongs Kids “I Love Being Here with You” Featuring Pianist / Vocalist Sue Downs Yamaha PianoSoft•Plus

The hour-long documentary, produced by Smithsonian Productions and EuroArts GmbH, Leipzig in association with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, featured interviews with Yamaha Corporation of America Senior Vice President Terry Lewis, a visit to Yamaha’s piano manufacturing facility in Hamamatsu, Japan, and video of the Disklavier Pro 2000 in action. Through performances by artists like Evgeny Kissin, Daniel Barenboim, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Duke Ellington, and Thelonius Monk, it traced how the piano has influenced music and artists from its earliest days to the present.

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