Improvisation is the art of spontaneously creating music “here and now,” when the performer is at once also the composer. It is one of the oldest forms of music-making, predating notation, and it demands a deep feeling for style, harmony, and instant creative freedom.
Improvisation is the heart and soul of jazz, where solo improvisations over a given harmonic grid are the essence of the genre. It is also central to many world traditions: the Indian raga, the Arabic maqam, and flamenco are largely improvisatory. In the classical music of the Baroque and Classical eras improvisation flourished (Bach and Mozart were geniuses of improvisation; concerto cadenzas were improvised). Ukrainian kobzars too freely varied the dumy. Improvisation is an expression of the highest creative freedom, where music is born right before the listener's eyes.
