Listen to Victor McConnell’s exquisite, cinematic piano instrumental composition, ‘The Deep End’ and it’s special origin story!
In 1995, a baby was born in Russia. Without a left arm. Shortly after, it was adopted by an American family that had a proclivity for classical instruments, the piano being one of them. The child, Victor, grew up teaching himself how to play and navigate the keys, surpassing his unique obstacles.
Composing with limitless imagination and remarkable creativity and playing the piano with his right hand and his left foot on the keys, Victor is today an accomplished musician despite the odds.
Or maybe those very obstacles, like not having an arm, were the catalyst for his musical gifts to bloom! Entirely self-taught, Victor writes music he describes as “the geography of sound”, pieces built less around theory than around what feels right under the hand.
One needs to only go to his YouTube Channel to see just how remarkable an artist Victor is and how well he uses his platform to tell his story, showcasing his performances, original compositions, and interviews & spotlighting other musicians!
What a story! What an inspiration!
Today, let’s take a listen to ‘The Deep End’, an acoustic solo piece Victor performed on a 1923 Grand Piano. A sublime, evocative piece that flows across emotional tones and textures with such ease and grace. It opens on tranquil piano tones, as if observing the calm surface of a lake from ashore. There’s a hint of sadness or reflection between the tones.
It perhaps aligns with Victor’s own incredibly difficult journey as a musician. How he would firmly avoid playing in public, for the fear of being only appreciated as a one-armed piano player. Victor wanted his music to speak for itself, and how it does!
‘The Deep End’ expands cinematically and gorgeously. The tone is one forged in Victor’s remarkable resilience and spirit. As it is with grand piano instrumentals, you get immersed in the deeply resonant harmonies. Close your eyes and listen; it evokes deep emotion meaning. Of a journey of a million miles that’s experienced in every step. Of overcoming what challenges us and rising to our highest potential.
Over its 2 and a half minutes of runtime, ‘The Deep End’ takes you on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey. The composition is rich in melodic progressions, subtle classical adornments and Victor’s unique style. Ultimately, it inspires hope and belief in our individual capacity to do amazing things and pursue what makes us feel alive. For Victor, it was the sound of the piano, and he let nothing, especially not his handicap, prevent him from being a musician.
With several singles, an EP and a Youtube Doc-piece about his life released, Victor hopes to inspire others to follow their musical dreams too!
Stream ‘The Deep End’ on Spotify:
