I thought someone might ask about that. I've only "performed" it a few times over the years, maybe 8 or ten times, and never in a situation where events were being recorded. Well, a couple of times were actual public events (a thing for the mayor, and a big religious thing at the mosque downtown), but they didn't record the guy messing around on the piano beforehand.
Usually, I'm asked to provide the music for some kind of event, either alone or as part of an ensemble, and they ask if I/we can play something while people are coming in and getting seated, or as people are leaving. That's when I whip it out (
). Since it starts so quietly, with just that Am riff, it sounds like I'm just noodling around, but once the verse starts, people paying attention might realize that I'm actually playing something structured. Sometimes people even listen actively. I've heard people gasp at the "Follow Me!" section (2:16 in the song) because I worked out a way to played the chords, bass, and the rising arpeggio line at the same time. I was particularly proud of that, and felt that it was very important to include that in my arrangement. Then there was the entire instrumental from 4:42 to 7:19. All of that had to be worked out. And of course the coda section starting at 8:20 (F# to Bb to E to B as only Tony Banks can do). I don't know if I'd attempt it today, but back in college I was pretty fearless. (That's when I worked out Firth of Fifth as well.)
I've had a few people recognize it and comment on it, which is cool. One time we were setting up at a gig, and as usual I'd managed to be one of the first guys ready to go (despite having more equipment to set up than anyone except the drummer), so I was messing around with it, seeing what I could do with the synths and stuff, since I usually just play it solo piano. My wife told me later that Nancy, our lead guitarist's wife, leaned over and asked her if that was Genesis. Not really asking, more of an expression of disbelief. She said she'd never heard anyone play One for the Vine before, and definitely didn't expect to hear it in a bar. That was cool.
At the beginning of the lockdowns, people were posting videos of them playing music on the net. I thought about doing one, but never did. Sadly, the main reason is because our basement is a mess and there's no way to capture someone playing without also capturing the state of the basement. Yes, my piano is in the basement; it's the only place in this tiny house where it could go. It's been down here 20 years, and has kept remarkably good tune. I figured I'd have to tune it once in a while, but it's never been necessary.
Topic: Genesis Appreciation/Discussion (Read 146212 times)
