Simon Bielman, Pianist / Composer
“I began studying piano at fifteen years old, shortly after I discovered the world of classical music and became captivated by it. For many, classical music is stereotyped as boring, or it’s perceived as a genre which died off decades ago and has no meaning today. For others, it exists as a museum piece to make us feel cultured. To me, classical music is a living, breathing form of art that inspires us, feeds our soul, expands our mind, and gives us a greater sense of dedication and purpose as creative beings. I write music in this tradition to breathe new life into old ideas and help this wonderful music stay relevant for audiences today. However you feel about classical music, a great deal of passion and dedication has gone into making this album, and I hope that you enjoy listening to it as much as I've enjoyed making it.”
– Simon Bielman
“Classical” Sonata No. 2, Op. 7
“The Sonata No. 2 draws its inspiration from Bach, Scarlatti, Mozart, and Beethoven. It was written with the belief that because music of that era is still performed today, that language is still relevant, going against the notion that contemporary music needs to abandon all tradition. The music itself is light, pleasant, and tuneful, with themes intertwined throughout the sonata's three movements. To stretch the creativity of the pianist, the cadenza in the finale is completely improvised, which gives each performance a unique character. This piece is dedicated to Hayley Glickfeld, whose love for Mozart inspired me to go back to the classics.”
Elegy for Solo Piano, Op. 6a
“The first notes of Elegy were written during one of my darker times, and the final bars were completed during my happiest. Regardless of the dramatic mood-shifts, Elegy is very sombre and unsettled, never quite resolving, shifting from key to key through extreme chromaticism. The opening motif, very reminiscent of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, sets the thematic and dramatic tone for the rest of the work. Elegy is held together by dense counterpoint, with each part carefully woven between its neighbors, never giving one instrument dominance over another. This piece is dedicated to Jesse O’Neill, whose heroic arrival onto the scene saved this piece from development hell.”
24 Sketches, Op. 12
“This piece began as a composition exercise for myself. The plan was to write every day for one half hour, just to keep myself 'in shape.' So, every morning, I grabbed an egg timer and a blank piece of sheet music, sat down at my coffee table, and got to work. The idea was to stretch my skills by relying on my inner ear, without the aid of an instrument. Musically, each sketch is of a radically different character; some are light and fun, others are serious and brooding, while a few are simply absurd. They are very short, averaging one page apiece, each lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.”
For more information on Simon Bielman and his music, visit:
http://www.simonbielman.com/
Recorded and engineered by Dave Lee / Bassett Audio Design
http://www.bassettaudiodesign.com/
Recorded at Classic Pianos of Portland
http://www.classicportland.com/
Special Thanks to Maurice Unis and Peggie Zackery for generously donating their recording space and beautiful Schimmel grand piano at Classic Pianos of Portland.
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