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Marcel Zidani

Pianist and Composer

United Kingdom

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About

Marcel Zidani studied Piano, under the direction of Royal Academy Vice-Principal Mark Racz .

In June 2017 Marcel won 2nd prize in the European Piano Teachers Composer Competition for his composition for piano - ‘The Clock' and in 2015 the famous pianist Leslie Howard nominated Marcel’s composition ‘Butterflies’ for the British Composer Awards, describing the music from his Life Cycle CD as, ‘an excellent piece, beautifully written for the piano’.

Marcels music is played quite frequently heard on radio stations including BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester, Radio Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire and more. Katie Derham on Radio 3 recently said of ‘Butterflies’ ‘what a beautiful piece’. Marcel has performed extensively at music festivals throughout the UK, as well as giving concerts locally and in the Midlands. In May 2018 Marcel performed and recorded his compositions live at Hay festival in conjunction with BBC Hereford and Worcester. Presenting the show Andrew Marston said ‘Outstanding, complex and beautiful – simply put, the most incredible piano player I’ve ever seen'

Marcel is the author of ‘Hey Presto’ a unique and fully comprehensive, piano method for older beginners and adults, that focuses on the use of the sustain pedal to achieve a rewarding sound straight away. Educational material is available on www.golddustmusic.com.

Radio 3 described Marcel as a ‘Musical Gem’ and likened his compositional style to that of Chopin, Liszt and Satie.

You can listen to Marcel’s recordings, read reviews and view performances on his website and on Youtube.

Videos

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Interview

What does music mean to you personally?

Music is the ultimate form of expression. In music and composition I can express all of the things that I cannot express outside of music.

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

Music can be about many things including exporting the listener to another plane, often to me it is about life, my life and my feelings as I journey through it. Expression of memories of the present and the dreams of the future, the imprint left on me by those who are suffering or those who find peace.

If you were not a professional musician, what would you have been?

Actor/Economist/Sportsman – I would love to do more but unfortunately there is only one lifetime!

The classical music audience is getting old, are you worried about the future?

I am very concerned about the lack of young people learning instruments in UK schools. Without educating and involving children then the musicians and audiences of tomorrow will continue to dwindle. We need serious investment in our schools and we need to treat our peripatetic staff fairly through valid career path and progression.

What do you envision the role of music to be in the 21st century? Do you see that there is a transformation of this role?

Unless music is funded and supported properly by local and regional government then the importance of music and the role it plays in shaping education of children will become insignificant.

Do you think that the musician today needs to be more creative? What is the role of creativity in the musical process for you?

Work as a performer / teacher / composer is becoming more and more scarce and so it is vital that musicians adapt to this climate. This can mean working with the community in groups, leading choirs, organising concerts / courses and of course teaching. All this helps to raise the profile and create potential new avenues and opportunities for us and our students to do more of what we love.

Do you think we as musicians can do something to attract the younger generation to music concerts? How would you do this?

Working with community groups, particularly at local festivals we can encourage the younger generation to take part. I run a festival which is put on entirely for the residents of the local village. We support the local primary school, fund free workshops and recruit new members for the local brass band. We also have fun talent shows where very young children can sing, dance and play musical instruments.

Tell us about your creative process. What is your favorite piece (written by you) and how did you start working on it?

My favourite piece is ‚Butterflies‘, It was one of those rare occasions where it all fell into place rather quickly. I finished it in a few hours, yet the 2nd part in the Trilogy ‚Broken Wing‘ Took about a year to complete. The 3rd part Chrysallis is, after many years of being on hold, finally nearly finished! Most of he time, composition takes time to construct, ideas are great but mean nothing if you cannot make the overall project and transitions between them work.

Can you give some advice for young people who want to discover classical music for themselves?

Yes please give it a try, with a little regular practice this could open you and your family up to a lifetime of enjoyment.

Do you think about the audience when composing?

I don’t think of the audience, I usually get so wrapped up in what I am writing and I just want to get it as right as possible.

What projects are coming up? Do you experiment in your projects?

I have recently experimented with one of my piano compositions ‚Chanson Triste, I now have a string quartet arrangement, one for full orchestra and another for full orchestra and ladies chorus. I am planning to experiment more with my other works and look at arranging music for other instruments.

I am looking forward to many recitals throughout the year and the premiere of my Cancion Y Danza for violin and piano which will be performed in September by an outstanding violinist and an Elegie which I transcribed for Violin Viola and Piano.