By: Azad Karimi
There are many theories of course. The most compelling one I find that music, first of all, served the purpose of finding a mate! You can see the same tactics in nature when you look at certain bird species.
Interview
Czech Viola Player Miron Andres
By Azad Karimi
An interesting topic I saw in Miron's interview was the revival of an old instrument called the Viola di Gamba.
The question that arose for me was, what is the place of reviving the good traditions of the past in the culture and customs of different nations of the world?
In my opinion, this depends on the awareness and knowledge, and attachment of nations to their spiritual resources.
Unfortunately, wars, forced mass migrations, and ethnic, linguistic, and religious assimilation are causing widespread changes in the culture of nations, which is why we know some of the ancient nations that have perished and only their names remain.
Which countries are more stable? Those who have insisted on preserving their cultural heritage.
Recently, an ugly habit has been pursued by some governments and their agents that must be combated: stealing the cultural elements of other nations and peoples and registering them in their own name in international bodies such as the United Nations and UNESCO.
I hope that this illegal and immoral project will be condemned and rejected by the relevant foundations and competent international organizations, and even with reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Charter, in international tribunals of genocide and racial cleansing and condemn and disgrace sinful governments.
I think it is more pleasant to read the text of Miron's interview because this young musician has interesting words and ideas that should be considered and studied.
I wish success and happiness to my dear friend Miron.
Thank you!
Vestland-Norway
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1- Please present yourself: (Name, education, Civil status and...)
.My name is Miron Andres and I am a musician/sound artist. More details about my path you find here:
https://www.mironandres.com/biography/
2-What is your artistic specialize?
.I play a family of instruments whose culture died out in the late 18th century, the Viola da Gamba. I am part of its revival that started in the 60s. However, my expertise lies not anymore in historical performance practice, but the use of this instrument in contemporary music; in collaboration with composers, however, more and more in my own compositions and audio design work.
https://www.mironandres.com/streams-and-waves-5/
3- When and how did you become interested in this field of art-work?
.I did my two degrees in music in highly specialized areas: BA in early music (in my case, historical performance practice of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance), MA in contemporary music. What these areas do have in common, they are about reproduction and not creation! Although, I have always improvised as well, being only a “reproducer” of someone else's ideas has become difficult for me over time. Do not get me wrong, I still enjoy a lot working with a good composer! But not as my main bread and butter.
My practice as a sound artist also reflects my own history: Being half Czech and half Afghan, but grew up in Switzerland comes with lifelong questions and quests regarding belonging and cultural identity. That's why my artistic work is turning towards that as well. Not only as an outlet per se but also as a tool to create a cross-cultural language. Without oppression by any culture or religion. Already the question: Where are you from? I find rather discriminating because it's one of the first questions when meeting somebody new, just to put a label on you. Instead of taking time to figure out who YOU really are. My work as an audio artist tries to answer the question of what cultural identity is and emphasizes the importance of its detachment (at least, to some parts) from our being.
4- Who was your motivator?
.I travel the world on a regular basis. From the Americas across Europe to South Asia. It is the people I meet on my journeys, the colleagues I work with! And of course, my own demons I try to conquer. All of these are my motivators.
https://www.mironandres.com/streams-and-waves-4/
5- What was your parent’s reaction?
.I come from a very un-artistic family and un-artistic social background. Therefore I was always an outsider, even within my own family. I had to fight a lot to get where I am now. However, my mother (as well as my whole eastern European family) has become a great supporter over the last few years.
6- When started you such as a professional Musical Instrument Technologist?
.I started when I was 13 years old.
https://www.mironandres.com/streams-and-waves-3/
7- Are you thankful and happy because of your activities as a Musical Instrument Technologist?
.I am! It has been a very difficult journey as well though. The arts themselves are being confronted more and more with hostility, especially in countries where we used to enjoy huge support. It happens more and more that I am being asked by very “reputable” venues to perform for free or very little money. Not only me, but it is also becoming more common in general and we need to fight this.
8-What are the characteristics of a good musical instrument?
.The question is not if an instrument is good or bad. The question is if it can fulfill its function as a tool, as intended by the one who is using it.
https://www.mironandres.com/streams-and-waves-2/
9- What is music culture? What is music logic?
.There are many theories of course. The most compelling one I find that music, first of all, served the purpose of finding a mate! You can see the same tactics in nature when you look at certain bird species. For us humans, however, music has evolved over the millennia to much more than just that. It has evolved into a language that not only moves you (literally and figuratively) but also as means of expression of the individual, it can serve a function (see religion) as well as the support of other arts, like poetry. It is a very powerful tool for recording history as well.
10- Why do some instruments represent a style of music? For example Saxophone and Guitar for jazz?
.It has to do with their history and development through time.
11- How you see the Music, Orchestration, art and culture in your perspective? I mean your prediction for the future of music and your professionalise work!
.Obviously, it will all become more and more difficult! Especially Covid-19 is a very welcomed excuse of many governments not (or, much less) to fund the arts anymore. Therefore, it is also the quality itself of the arts that will suffer and in the end, what will remain, will be only accessible by the social elite. Countries like The Netherlands are a good example of this persistent hostility towards culture. Where you as an artist “have to be grateful” to make a show for a fee less than a housekeeper earns. However, there is also hope! Countries like France still enable artists to live from their work a decent life.
12- Can you become one part of the cultural movement for motivation in youth or new generation in your country and so than?
.We (my own history aside) do live in a globalized world, especially we artists. Thinking in these terms like “my country” only limits our perspectives and our views. I hope that my work changes the way people think about cultural identity, and this silly little book we call a passport.
13- How can you help our world become a better place to live?
.I don't think so. But moving one soul, one by one, is reward enough.
https://www.mironandres.com/streams-and-waves/
14- Have you more word to say or suggest for our readers?
.I would be very grateful if you take the time and also listen to the links I added beneath some of the answers. If you have anything to add (good, bad, in-between?), or would like to discuss something, or simply say hi, please do so!
