François Couperin: Pièces De Clavecin / Pierre Hantaï CD - Import

), however was more inclined toward Jazz and improvised music. One day he arrived and on being invited to play the piano suddenly launched himself into this wild and exciting 'Boogie' style which he had cultivated in Army NAAFI's during the war. The value (or dangers) of inspiration couldn't be more evident because that moment undoubted changed my life. Within a couple of years (age 16) I was recording music for DECCA & POLYDOR records, and at 17 I had left home and was making a living playing piano and organ every evening with a jazz trio at a local night-spot. This played havoc with my formal classical studies but provided me with more than 20 unforgettable years living in different lands, meeting and working with well known vocalists and entertainers, and enjoying and sharing music to the full. These experiences have subsequently helped me to achieve a successful teaching practice in my local community for several years in Cambridgeshire and now in Teesdale. And gave me the time to try and compose some tunes. Regarding 'Valley of the Ice Flowers' I have a book called 'England's Last Wilderness' by David Bellamy and Brendan Quayle, which documents the local myths and legends of the Northern Pennines going back to its Celtic and Norse roots. It provided my inspiration for much of this album, especially after visiting some of the remote locations, as ...