Peter Epp

Composer and music teacher

Germany

Author

About

I was born in Slavgorod (Altai) on September 23, 1948, in the German family. I got primary music education in Novokuznetsk city of Kemerovskaya Oblast. 1977 – 1982 – studied and graduated from Donetsk State Conservatoire, choral conducting with professor V.L. Bakharev. In 1983 – was invited to work in the State Philharmonic as a lead singer of “4-U” group.

Performances in Ukraine, Siberia, the Russian Far East and the European part of Russia. Meetings and fruitful cooperation with Konstantin Orbelyan, Evgeny Martynov, Igor Krutoy,

Aleksey Mazhukov have plaid a key role in my life and my career as a musician. Having worked in Donetsk Philharmonic I got engaged in music composition with great relish. I set to music the lines of A. Dementiev, R. Gamzatov, V. Demidov, S. Ostrovoy and other authors. Participation in Donetsk union of amateur composers gave me more strength in a creative competition. Kiev music publisher “Музична Украiна” published the first song collection of Donetsk authors that included one of my songs “I Wish Could Find Words...” (Найти бы мне слова…) to the poems of L. Lukach. Later the publisher’s profile was supplemented by other songs: “When I Think about My Mother” (Когда я думаю о маме), poems of Vl. Demidov, “Lull for the Son” (Колыбельная сыну) poems of V. Akhmatova, “Lull for the Daughter” (Колыбельная дочери) poems of Nabi Khazri.

In 1987 – the winner of the international contest of the socialist community countries in Moscow. In 1990 – the winner of the pop song contest held in Orel as a performer and author of a song to A. Dementiev’s poem “I’ll See you Off with a Song" (Провожу тебя я песней). Next years of my artistic life was devoted to educational work, composition of songs, instrumental music. Thanks to support of Donetsk Music Society I made tours with a chamber program. I prepared a solo author’s program “And Love Stays Alive!” (А любовь остается жить!). At present I have finished the work upon a CD recording, an album of my songs of the same name. A concert program has been prepared to include popular classic compositions, folklore, songs and romances of the Russian and foreign composers played by an instrumental trio “Arpeta” both at home and abroad.

Since 1992 I have been living and working in Germany (Bochum).

Videos

Sheets

Interview

What does music mean to you personally?

For me music is like a child, like an icon, like a divine temple. It's like communicating through music to anyone on this planet who can understand your emotional or intellectual mood.

Do you agree that music is all about fantasy?

... and not only that, in art and music the artist takes on the script (composition and arrangement) as well as the direction (construction and development) and the staging (representation), and if all of this is harmonious in the work of the author is combined, something talented can turn out.

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

Probably would be a teacher but without music life is poorer.

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

Music that has become classical cannot be rejected by young people. The younger generation should not only know their past, but also take the best that they like and move on from here, study and develop musical art. For this there is music education, competitions, festivals, opera houses and other institutions of musical creativity that give an impulse for learning in the development of youth.

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?

Everything returns to normal with time, in art and music, morality and meaning are basically eternal, but the musical language, style and aesthetics change.

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

In music, creativity is like talent: you either have it or you still have to work hard to find it.

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

Anna Sutyagina does it very well, so classical music must continue to be promoted and made popular. Thank you Anna!

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

It's always different: I compose when I've been inspired by an event in my life or when I find some kind of musical grain and develop it to possible perfection. So it was with piano pieces from "Christmas Harmony" and "Cuckoo Clock".

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

Do you love music - it is beautiful! As the poet Pushkin said: "Of the joys in life, music is second only to love, but love is a melody!"

Do you think about the audience when composing?

I am a product of society, so I cannot imagine myself without it. The opinion of my contemporary is very important to me.

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

At my age there is no need to experiment - my life for it is already short. At my age, my experience is enough to say something important to people. While I don't deny experimenting with music, it is a path for young people who have a better sense of time and can experiment successfully if they rely on the culture of their people and ancestors.