1. Describe the early years of your musical roots and how your talent
was nurtured.
Ever since I could remember there was always music in our home. I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame. My grandparents listened to music from the
20's and 30's. My parents listened to the music from the 30's and 40's and
my sister and Aunt's listened to the 50's. I of course grew up hearing all
of it but was very much exposed to the 60's which was my generation. But,
my first exposure to the guitar was the singing cowboys, Gene Autry and Roy
Rodgers - again another totally different style of music.
2. Were there any events, people or catalysts that were musically
influential?
Well of couse Elvis, The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. I also remember
seeing Andres Segovia once a week on PBS TV. Oh, did I forget Chubby
Checker!! Segovia was a great influence as were the pop groups from the
60's.
Actually its all so vast. To many influences to describe.
3. How would you describe your sound?
Well actually I am a classical guitarist and that is my instrument, the
nylon string classical guitar. I recently upgraded my genre from classical
guitarist to world music/classical guitarist to expand my audience. Although
I play Renaissance, Baroque, Spanish Classical and also Latin American and a
bit of Flamenco guitar styles.
My original music incorporates techniques from all of these styles as well
as a little American jazz. I'll incorprate lets say a Milonga from Argentina
and mix it with a Flamenco solearas rasqueda technique and then add in some
jazz chords for good measure.
There is a bit of room for improvisational parts in my music , where I will
juxtapose different section of an original piece. Not all my pieces will I
do that on, but some. And other pieces leave room for actual improvisation
as opposed to playing exactly as wrote it. And yet others, just the nuances
are different.
've had the honor of having some of my students play my original music and
they were trying to play it exactly how it was notated. I laughed, because I
said I dont always play it that way, there is room for interpertation.
4. How many CDs have you released as a solo artist?
Actually quite a few. Let me think. There is a Christmas CD , and a
Classical Celtic CD. That I did just for fun, which was just my arrangements
of Celtic melodies done on one or two clasical guitars. Then I have a
traditional "Classical Guitar" CD. Also a Renaissance CD. Another CD of
original classical guitar type music with solo and duo guitar parts. Then I
did one with classic classical guitar pieces but added my own original music
to it as well. And then there was a new age collab with another guitarist
and then my solo original compositions CD. Some of the music is out of print
but most can be gotten on the internet for download only.
5. What is the name of your latest CD and describe the creative process
that went into it?
My latest CD is titled "Original Compositions" It is my own original solo
guitar music. Some of the music was composed on paper and notated and others were composed on the instrument. I attempted to emulate styles of Lauro, Morel , Serrano, De Lucia as well as my own integration of these styles.
I am close to finishing another new CD of my own music.
6. Where did you record your latest CD and who was involved in the
recording and production of it?
I do my recording here at my home on home equipment and basically my own
production as best I can. My wife assists me in the editing process and the
final choices of pieces as well as titles for my music.
7. How involved are you in the recording process of the projects you
have worked on?
Very involved since I am the artist, the engineer and the producer, not to
mention the other tech type stuff after.
8. Describe some of the highs and lows of your musical career so far?
Well one of the highest points was last year when I was picked by the
editors of Billboard Magazine to be one of the 6 top independent artists in
the Northeast for 2007 to appear as a finalist for Disk Makers IWMS at
Crash Mansion in NYC. We try to forget the low points and just move on.
9. How do you feel about playing to a live audience?
There is an energy between a performer and the audience. Hopefully a
synergy where each draws and gives to each other. I try to evoke that in a
public performance. As any performer will tell you, sometimes the chemistry
is right on, and other times not. There are many variables. The audience,
the performance, etc...
10. What does your live set up consist of?
Very simple for an acoustic instrumental guitarist.
11. What are your musical ambitions?
My musical ambitions are to constantly improve my performing, composing and
techniqal abilities. Teaching is a very important part of what I do and
where I get many of my ideas for new pieces. I have been teaching privately
for over 30 years and I am always learning. Teaching also exposes me to all
styles of music. So I am also always looking for new ways to learn from my teaching and teach what I am learning. And hopefully time for more new compositions as well as performing venues.
12. What are some of your favorite venues to play?
I do enjoy the concert lecture programs I do for public schools. It exposes
young people to a very different type of music. Also intimate concert
venues, since a solo acoustic instrumental guitar is very intimate. But I
also do enjoy the energy of a larger audience, but then we need to use
equipment to amplify the instrument out of its intimate environment. That is
fun also.
13. What music organizations are you affiliated with?
My music is available for purchase and download thru a company called
ITSABOUTMUSIC.COM. They have enabled me to have my music available
throughout the world. I also license my music privately and thru a company
called PRODUCTIONTRAX.COM. I have licensed hundreds of pieces of my music throughout the world. My music has also been featured on Maine Public Radio which has a listening audience of all of Maine and parts of New Hampshire
and parts of Cananda. There are probably others that I am unaware of.
For more info on Michael Silvestri visit:
http://www.michaelsilvestri.com/
© 2008 Yonge Music
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