Anthony Romaniuk: Exploring Piano Sound on ‘On Modes’

Romaniuk’s ‘On Modes’ Reimagines the Piano as a Sonic Laboratory

Anthony Romaniuk’s new album, “On Modes” (Alpha Classics, Alpha1202), isn’t simply a piano record; it’s an exploration of sound, architecture, and the very limits of an instrument. Released March 10, 2026, the album centers around Romaniuk’s innovative use of a unique vertical concert grand piano built by David Klavins, currently part of the collection of Nils Frahm. The project, as detailed in onlineMerker, challenges conventional notions of piano performance and composition, offering listeners an immersive and visceral experience.

Beyond the Horizontal: A New Piano Architecture

The core of “On Modes” lies in the Klavins piano itself. This isn’t a standard grand; it’s a two-story-high instrument with a massive wooden structure. Romaniuk doesn’t sit *at* the piano in the traditional sense, but rather performs from a gallery above, overseeing what he describes as an “abyss of vibrations.” This physical separation allows for a unique perspective on the instrument’s power, unleashing frequencies and resonances a conventional piano simply can’t achieve. As Romaniuk explains in a Facebook video, using such unusual instruments was hugely significant, shaping the creative process itself.

Exploring the Ancient Modes

The album’s title refers to the seven modes – ancient scales that form the foundation of Western music theory. However, Romaniuk doesn’t approach these modes as academic exercises. Instead, he utilizes them as an “emotional color palette,” crafting a sonic landscape that transcends genre boundaries. The interplay between the elegance of a Fazioli piano and the raw power of the Klavins instrument is central to this exploration. Analog and digital effects, combined with innovative microphone techniques, further transform the piano into a captivating sound installation. The listener isn’t merely hearing a piano; they’re experiencing the inner workings of a machine processing dreams and frequencies.

A Program of Contrasts and Connections

“On Modes” opens with Romaniuk’s own composition, “Sunrising,” gently preparing the listener for the sonic journey ahead. The album then moves into a reimagining of Arvo Pärt’s “Für Alina,” where the familiar ethereal lightness is replaced with a tangible weight. Romaniuk allows the notes to unfold within the piano’s vast resonance, merging with silence in a lesson of deceleration. This immediacy – the feeling of the hammers striking the strings, the lingering vibrations – permeates the entire album, engaging the body as much as the ears.

Romaniuk demonstrates a keen understanding of both rupture and continuity throughout the program. He juxtaposes a 14th-century arrangement with a Radiohead song, not as a stylistic gimmick, but as a logical progression. His arrangement of Radiohead’s “Motion Picture Soundtrack” draws out the modal qualities of the original, creating a melancholic expanse that seamlessly transitions into the rhythmic precision of György Ligeti’s “Musica ricercata VIII.” Here, Romaniuk’s technical brilliance shines through, mastering Ligeti’s complex structures with apparent ease while maintaining a focus on timbre. The extreme registers of the Klavins piano are fully exploited – deep frequencies causing the floor to tremble, high notes piercing the space like needles.

Björk and Beyond: Transforming Pop into Piano Thunder

A standout moment on the album is Romaniuk’s interpretation of Björk’s “Army of Me.” Who would have imagined that this industrial pop anthem could unleash such force on a four-meter-high piano? Romaniuk translates the aggressive bassline into a piano storm, pushing the instrument’s boundaries and revealing a moment of pure playfulness, free from any sense of reverence. He takes the music that moves him and transforms it through his sonic vision into something radically new.

Composing Within the Modes

Romaniuk’s own compositions, such as “Lydian Etude” and “Locrian Waltz,” serve as bridges between eras and styles. These pieces function as connective tissue, linking the album’s diverse elements. The album concludes with “Regina” from the medieval Llibre Vermell de Montserrat, a return to the roots of Western music that takes on a new light after the journey through pop, avant-garde, and minimalism.

A Sonic Transformation

Romaniuk has proven that the piano is far more than just a piece of furniture with 88 keys. In his hands, it becomes a laboratory, a cathedral, and a playground all at once. “On Modes” is an album that demands to be experienced, transforming the listener’s familiar surroundings into a boundless soundscape. Dirk Schauß, writing in onlineMerker, calls it a “strong experience,” and it’s hard to disagree.

The album is available now via Alpha Classics and streaming platforms.