Bill Evans’ "Peace Piece": A Synthesis of Spontaneity and Digital Preservation
Evans was preparing to record a version of Leonard Bernstein’s “Some Other Time.” As a warm-up, he began playing a two-chord vamp in C major and F major (C–F/C–G/C–F/C, etc.), with a haunting, rocking figure in the left hand. The take was so complete, so emotionally resonant, that producer Orrin Keepnews decided to release it as a standalone track. bill evans peace piece midi
When you search for that MIDI file, remember you aren't just looking for data. You are looking for a ghost. You are trying to capture the way the felt of the hammer hits the string, the slight delay of the pedal lifting, the breath between the phrases. Bill Evans’ "Peace Piece": A Synthesis of Spontaneity
Before diving into the MIDI aspect, it is crucial to understand why this piece stands out. Often compared to Chopin’s Berceuse or Satie’s Gymnopédies, "Peace Piece" is built on a hypnotic, repetitive left-hand ostinato—a gentle cycle of C major triads that provides a bed for Evans’ right-hand explorations. The Universal Mind of Bill Evans (documentary, 1966)
"Peace Piece" is an intimate, meditative solo piano improvisation by Bill Evans first recorded in 1958 during the sessions that produced the Portrait in Jazz album; it later appeared on some reissues and compilations. The piece is notable for its simple, repeating left-hand ostinato and its free, ruminative right-hand improvisation, creating a spacious, contemplative atmosphere that helped define Evans’s lyrical, harmonically sophisticated approach to jazz piano.
| Source | Quality | Cost | Notes | |--------|---------|------|-------| | MusicNotes (Interactive MIDI) | High (artist-approved) | $4.99–$6.99 | Includes tempo map, but pedal is simplified. | | MIDIWorld (user uploads) | Variable | Free | Search "Bill Evans Peace Piece". Check user ratings. Often missing pedal data. | | Jazz MIDI Archives (private forums) | Pro | Donation | Requires login. Look for "peace_piece_evans_v2.mid" – includes full CC64 automation. | | Transcribe! + Export | Custom | $39 (software) | You transcribe yourself; best result but time-intensive. |
Due to copyright (Evans’s estate and Universal Music), full, exact transcription MIDI files are rare on free sites. Here are reliable sources: