DIRK SCHREURS FROM BELGIUM WITH LOVE!
DIRK SCHREURS Professor of music since 1994, teaching piano among other things. Dirk also developed a number of educational program in the field of jazz pedagogy. He has composed and arranged over 250 tunes. Over the years, he has crossed paths with many great musicians.
Nowadays you can find him at jazz clubs, theatres and on festival stages sitting in with The Roman Korolik Group, Chromatic Banana, .Scora , and his own trio called DS3.
So, let us begin with this first question:
1) What is music for you?
Music is a state of consciousness through which I feel united with the sounds, articulations, the many varieties of expression being generated by my fingers playing the instrument, and my entire Being. It is the reflection of the beauty of the Eternal Present, no matter what goes on around you in life. It takes you up to a point of awareness that cannot be explained by mere words. It is truly something magical to me.
2) What inspires you?
I get very inspired by nature, by reading philosophical books, by listening to different types of good music, and by sharing experiences with other people. In fact the entire unfolding of life itself is a genuine source of inspiration for me as a jazz composer and pianist.
3) When you are in the process of creating, playing your music, where does it take you? I mean where does your mind travel?
I am in a state of mind that I would like to call The Source of Creation. It is a very open and clear space and its fountain of music can be tapped at any time. It is a relaing state of mind where my fingers seem to move across the piano keyboard by themselves. I do not seem to be involved so much. It is akind of alertness second to none.
4) Do you think music, visual art and health are related and if so, please elaborate?
Absolutely. As a composer and pianist, I worked together with Marta Bressi, a fantastic visual artist from Argentina, and together we created Minds of Glass, a 43 minute experimental video art project containing 11 sequences of sound and visual composition. You can check some samples at www.dirkschreurs.com/art. If you can balance sound and vision in a conscious way, I am convinced that may people would benefit from its consequences. Sound and vision – when combined with precision and integrity – do have healing capacities, in my opinion.
5) How do you feel when you are playing your music?
It depends mainly on the mood of the piece. To me it is a true challenge to explore the whole spectrum of dynamics and tempos when I improvise. Sometimes I feel very energetic and alert, sometimes I feel very relaxed and at ease with myself.
6) Do you identify with your music and on what level?
I am my music whenever I perform. There is no gap whatsoever between myself and the sounds coming from the piano. It is definitely a unifying experience. I let go of everything I know and music flows effortlessly.
7) When do you do your best work?
My peak performances show up during evening concerts between 9 and 11 p.m. I can imagine that this is quite different for other artists. My best recording sessions and performances came along when I was focused on the process of creating, NOT on the result. I had the feeling that there was nothing than the act of letting the music materialize by itself through me. Moreover, the best compositional ideas come by themselves not by straining or putting any “mental force” to them. I experience that whenever the minds subsides, the spirit of creativity flows.
My best recording sessions and performances came along when I was focused on the process of creating, NOT on the result. I had the feeling that there was nothing than the act of letting the music materialize by itself through me. Moreover, the best compositional ideas come by themselves not by straining or putting any “mental force” to them. I experience that whenever the minds subsides, the spirit of creativity flows.
8) Does your music help you connect and stay connected to your higher self?
Music is like a gate through which your attention can move into the direction of a so-called Higher Self. It can generate a very centered feeling that does not need anything external. It is like being it its purest state. There are of course levels of intensity as far as the experience itself is concerned.
Dirk, you’ve also been working on a new project, the De Laat & Schreurs project. Henk and yourself have recorded an acoustic jazz album at the Courtrai Track Music Center in Belgium, where you were selected “Artists in Residence 2010”. The record will be released in autumn as you mentioned. And Henk is now attending a vocal workshop in Italy with Rihannon. (http://www.rhiannonmusic.com/), a famous teacher who also worked with master vocalist Bobby McFerrin.
And also there’s a reasonable chance that “Minds of Glass”, your video art project that was presented in New York, Los Angeles and Buenos Aires will be shown in your home country in November. This is all good news!
For our readers here’s is a brief summary about De Laat and Schrieurs’ project:
WHERE THE ART OF VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ MEET
When Dutch bassist Henk de Laat and Belgian jazz pianist Dirk Schreurs met for a concert tour in 2006, there was instant artistic chemistry between both the expressive qualities of the acoustic piano and the refined lyricism of the double bass.
And this was just the beginning of a series of magical rhythmic and extended harmonic adventures. The innovative arrangements of jazz standards and originals for the piano and the acoustic bass – performed without drums or percussion – will keep your attention, emotions and spirits high.
Today both musicians woul
d like to invite you to join them on another refreshing musical journey into the exciting realm where vocal and instrumental jazz blend in a mysterious way.
For now it is just the piano, the bass and the voice. And you…
Dirk, thank you for this most interesting article. I wish you all the best in all your endeavours. Until we work together again, keep well my most talented friend!
TO THE READER :
You are invited to visit Dirk’s links below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X4AeGWCAms
Mail this post
Comments
Great article and new adventure… Enjoyed both immensely. It doesn’t get any better than this…. Thanks Cecelia
.-= Cecelia Gay´s last blog ..Party Time- =-.
Leave a Comment