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Rob Polansky

Composer

United States of America

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About

Robert Polansky chose to follow the example of Charles Ives and earn his living as a financial professional while devoting most of his spare time to composing music. In doing so, he has composed a variety of vocal and instrumental works that have been performed by prominent groups in the greater Boston area and beyond, including the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, the Heritage Chorale of Framingham, the Bridgewater State University Chamber Choir, the University Chorale of Boston College, and the Holyoke Civic Symphony. Polansky holds a B.S. degree in composition from Oakland University, an M.F.A. degree in music history from Brandeis University and has published articles in the Journal of the American Musicological Society and Fontes Artis Musicae.

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Interview

What does music mean to you personally?

Everything. I can’t imagine life without the beauty of music.

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

The way I see it, music is about taking the listener out of the daily routine and transporting him/her into some other imaginary realm.

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

I never really made my living as a professional musician, even though I earned two university degrees in music. I chose instead to follow the example of Charles Ives and earn my living as a financial professional while devoting much of my spare time to composing.

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

If classical music is going to flourish in modern times, the format of concerts needs to change. The days of sitting quietly in a large concert hall for, say, a 60-minute Mahler Symphony is probably not going to attract Gen Z or Millenial listeners. They’re all online today and online concerts are already playing an important part in disseminating classical music.

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

Usually I compose for a specific purpose, a choral piece for a community chorus, a chamber piece for a competition, and other similar opportunities. A competition or commission comes with a lot of pre-defined parameters: duration, instrumentation, even style. I like the challenge of being creative within the restrictions imposed on me.

Do you think we as musicians can do something to attract the younger generation to music concerts? How would you do this? Tell us about your creative process. What is your favorite piece (written by you) and how did you start working on it?

I believe musicians need to be more engaged with their audiences. Being interactive with concert goers goes a long way to attracting the younger generation. My favorite piece I wrote: an a cappella choral setting of the original Hebrew-language version of Psalm 121. It was commissioned in the 1990s by a synagogue for a memorial service and has been performed by various choral groups over the years.

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

My best advice: learn to play an instrument, join a school or community band or orchestra. Play music with others and make it a social event.

Do you think about the audience when composing?

I don’t think you can disregard the audience. I’m a lot happier when I write something that the listener enjoys. Still, I have to be true to my own aesthetic ideals when composing. It’s a delicate balance, to be sure.

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

I’m now working on some songs and short pieces for violin and piano which I hope to present in concert as the piano accompanist. I plan on experimenting a bit with how the solo violin might play the role of accompanying the piano.