The original Willy Wonka film was released in 1971, the same year as another great musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Gene Wilder played the eccentric main character of Wonka and sang the mysteriously inviting tune “Pure Imagination.” This enticing song beckoned listeners to enter a fantastical world where one’s imagination was the only limitation.
There’s a good lesson in the song’s lyrics that can be applied to learning to play the piano. That if we believe in ourselves, have courage and dedication, then whatever we set our minds to we can accomplish. That our goals and dreams can indeed be achieved if we don’t let fear or doubt stop us.
Playing piano is also a fantastic opportunity to allow our “thinking minds” to relax and our imaginations to soar if we connect to the feeling, emotion and imagery behind the music we’re playing. Not only are we using both sides of our brain, and both hands when playing, but we’re also blending the abstract with the logical. It is almost magic when you think of the ability to put it all together – note reading, hand and eye coordination, musical phrasing, timing, expression, and so on.
“Pure Imagination” is an ode to creativity and possibility. It is a beautiful song that has inspired many artists to cover it, including Josh Groban, Maroon 5, and Fiona Apple. It applies to every generation and speaks to the timeless nature of art and creation.
This piece of music can be interpreted in many styles. It is full of seventh chords and other extended chords which give it a jazzy quality, and the occasional raised chord (i.e. a major III chord) takes it out of the ordinary. Otherwise, it is grounded in a flowing stream of common chords, such as ii, V, I or vi, IV, I.
When I play this song, it brings a smile to my face thinking of the comical Gene Wilder, with his top hat, brightly-colored suit, bowtie and wide, blue eyes. I think of his playful and hypnotic way of daring the listener to follow his creative train of thought. I remember as a kid entering that world of imagination when watching the film and, now, playing “Pure Imagination” on the piano it all comes back and I see the door of imagination open wide.