Steve Vai, "Angel Food" (piano)

[@robynvanns9678]

So, I have been a Vai fan for my entire life and this is just unbelievable. This was beautiful and I can’t believe you were 18 when you did it?!?! Wow!!!!

[@michaelarrom94]

Thank you so much! At 18, you’re willing to do anything to achieve your dreams!!

[@crisolivares7847]

men this is so great congratulations god bless steve vai

[@michaelarrom94]

Thanks Cris!

[@W4Rnerv]

That was wonderful! The piece certainly does sound "unplayable" on the album... I found myself saying "WOW" out loud a few times during the video - incredible playing.

[@michaelarrom94]

Thanks for your support! I enjoyed your Satriani video, keep playing!

[@toni3172]

No Words... Just Superb

[@michaelarrom94]

Thank you!

[@workmentim99]

wow! awesome man! you deserve more views

[@lobou3094]

Thanks for theses 5 minutes of pure beauty !

[@michaelarrom94]

Thank you, I'm happy you appreciate the performance!

[@derekpavlic]

Absolutely brilliant, bravo!!

[@michaelarrom94]

Thank you, Derek! I appreciate your comment!

[@eduardolustri6159]

Amazing! Thanks

[@michaelarrom94]

Thank you, Eduardo!

[@rkelly1024]

I wish I would have know about you sooner. You definitely just earned a sub

[@michaelarrom94]

Thank you, I'm honored!

[@fredzeppelin3969]

Late to the show, but now subbed!

[@michaelarrom94]

Hi James, welcome and thanks for your support!

[@cwhererigoes4612]

Fantastic. I’ve been looking for a piano cover to play along with forever. 🙌🏽

[@michaelarrom94]

Cool, let me know if you upload your cover. I'd love to check it out.

[@Paolo8772]

It checks out as the orchestrated version of this song Vai intended. The only version of that available is a bootlegged one from 2013 with the St. Petersburg Orchestra but it wasn't a perfect rendition as there was some pitch and accuracy problems. I'm happy you played the piano part and just as happy Vai gave you the music for the full orchestrated version of Angel Food: my favourite part of The Fire Garden.

[@michaelarrom94]

When Steve gave me the piece, he told me that nobody had ever played it the way that he wrote it. He explained that he had written the piece without understanding the limitations of a live player. He gave me room to make my own interpretations and to play as close as possible to what was written. I think I got very close, but I think I still had a little room to do some more polishing. I had a blast playing with the band during the Pacific Rim leg of the "Story of Light" tour. My only regret is that Angel Food wasn't on the set list during any of the shows. I'd love to get back with Steve one more time to play this song with him.

[@Paolo8772]

@@michaelarrom94 That's awesome! I've not had such an experience but I've met him many times, have numerous autographs (one on my guitar) and last time I met him in August he told me he was planning to fully orchestrate Love Secrets and that his favourite Mahler symphony is the 2nd. BTW I also love Angel Food so much that even the OG version of Angel Food from Fire Garden was the best part of the album imo. If you see Steve Vai again: please ask him bout the celeste like chords that change every 4 measures in the left channel during the "guitar solo" section of "Under It All" and again later in the song with commentary instead of a solo; what he used to get that sound, and please let me know how if you can in my '71 one stanza version of "Sing" by Joe Raposo I did after 1st learning it 2-3 years ago. No pressure, no hurries, and most importantly: Thanks again for posting this wonderful piece of art!

[@michaelarrom94]

@@Paolo8772 My pleasure! I checked out the album credits on Wikipedia and my best guess for "Under it All" is that the sound you're hearing is most likely Pia Vai playing harp. Nice job on "Sing"! It's such a happy song :)

[@Paolo8772]

@@michaelarrom94 It sounds too much like a celeste to be a harp. I'm not doubting the fact that she played a harp on the Under It All, but the sound I'm talking about sounds like a celeste playing chords that are inversions of "guitar 5".

[@andrew.tchebotarev]

Amazing 😮 could you please share the sheet music for piano?

[@michaelarrom94]

Hi Andrew, I'm sorry, I don't have a copy that I'm able to share. I'm going to let Steve know that people are looking for the sheet music. Check back on Steve's website in a few weeks to see if it becomes available. Wishing you a great New Year!

[@realdobfcable]

hey men, congratulations for your performance, very nice!! can you get a score of this song for me

[@michaelarrom94]

Hey Realdo, thanks! I wish I could, but I no longer have a copy. Good luck with your playing!

[@gooshnpupp]

Ive been fantasising about this piece preformed live ever since I heard it (jaw dropped) when i was a kid. Thanks alot for this! It's been a while, but do you think you can play it, or at least attempt, with the guitar part track? As it is on the studio version?

[@michaelarrom94]

Hey, thanks for your comment! Wow, so I assume you read the history of this video. I was 18 and Steve gave me the original score as an audition test to join his Story of Light tour (I got it!). Steve told me that the piece has never been played as he wrote it. As far as I know, mine is the only full live performance of the original score. Steve even teased me a bit, told me it was impossible, but asked me to "try". The funny thing is that after he asked me to learn it, this wasn't on the set list for my tour segment. I would have loved to play this live on stage with the full band! I would probably need to dedicate a few full days to bring it back. Unfortunately, I'm too busy to take the time off. Haha, maybe talk Steve into doing a live performance with me and I'll happily bring it back for the occasion. I went to music school after my 2013 tour with Steve. I still keep in touch with Steve and last played with him in 2018 at his Jamathon fundraiser. Another funny note is that while I have the sheet music on my piano, it's actually impossible to play this without memorizing the entire piece.

[@istari14]

Amazing performance!! Do you know where the score is available? I looked online but it seems impossible to find :-(