Renowned
for their meditative and dreamy instrumental music albums, Real Music
will make a whole lot of listeners quite happy with the 2013 CD release
of Dreamweaver by music maestro Gandalf. Based
in Austria, Gandalf, whose real name is Heinz Strobl, has a number
of Real Music releases to his credit and Dreamweaver is being
heralded as his finest yet. Over the years, Gandalfs music has
delved into quite elaborate New Age electronics, yet on Dreamweaver,
the sound is more sparse yet no less effective. With Gandalf performing
acoustic guitars, piano, percussion and atmospheres, the
sound of Dreamweaver is further enhanced by cello, flutes and
Irish whistles and percussion performed by several guest artists.
Its interesting to note that in the past, Gandalf has worked
with artists such as progressive rock guitarist Steve Hackett. Like
Hackett, Gandalfs music can be quite meditative and also like
Hackett, Gandalf is masterful at portraying his own acoustic guitars
like a aural watercolor painting, meant to calm and relax you. Gandalf
explains, Music is a kind of sanctuary for me, a protected place
to withdraw from the noise and craziness in the world. Truer
words were never spoken. If youre looking for sonic solace and
a way to close your eyes and turn the world into a kinder, gentler
place for a while, look no further than the sublime, peaceful sounds
of Dreamweaver by Gandalf. www.RealMusic.com
mwe3.com
presents an interview with
GANDALF
mwe3: Can you tell us where you were born, where you grew up
and where you live now and what you like best about it?
Gandalf:
I was born and still live in Pressbaum, a village 15 miles west of
Vienna. It is a very green sort of area, surrounded by the Vienna
Woods. Nature for me is very important, I can take long walks
through the forest and across meadows, really good to relax and to
become inspired for writing music.
mwe3: How long have you been a musician? When did you start
studying music, what your early musical studies were like and what
instruments do you play?
Gandalf: I started playing music when I was twelve, first on
self-built guitar. At the age of fourteen I founded my first band,
playing music from the Sixties. I am a completely self-taught musician,
never had a teacher, learning basically by listening to my favorite
records and trying to reproduce it on my guitar. Later also started
playing piano and keyboards to be able to create the soundscapes I
had on mind.
mwe3: What artists and recordings have made the biggest impact
on your musical style as well as inspiration, both from the rock,
World Music, classical and electronic music worlds and any other worlds.
Gandalf: Since my early childhood I had a fondness for instrumental
music. I especially loved music by the British guitar band The Shadows,
and also movie soundtracks, as well as some pieces of classical composers
like Ravel, Debussy and Tchaikovsky.
When I started to search for my personal musical style I was influenced
by bands like Genesis, King Crimson and Pink Floyd, who integrated
classical elements into rock music.
Besides this I always was and still am open to music from other cultures
like Africa, India and Ireland.
mwe3: What were the inspirations musically or otherwise, behind
your 2013 CD Dreamweaver and can you say something about the
musicians who you recorded the album with?
Gandalf:
During the recent couple of years I was performing live mostly with
just two musicians, Merike Hilmar (cello) and my son Christian Strobl
(percussion).
Compared to earlier periods, when I used to travel with a very elaborate
keyboard equipment and a full band-lineup, these days we play my music
very much reduced to the basics, pieces originally written on acoustic
guitar or piano and I am enjoying this very much. So I tried to capture
the magic of what we do live on stage on the production of Dreamweaver
- music sounding very pure and natural, mostly performed on acoustic
instruments. You may call it neoclassical, maybe for future generations
it is going to be the classical music of our days, who knows.
mwe3: Tell us something about the guitars you use on the Dreamweaver
album as well as your electric guitars youve used on previous
albums, including the e-sitar which you feature live.
Gandalf: On Dreamweaver I mainly used a Martin out of
the Performing Artist-Series and a Spanish guitar with nylon-strings.
Some clean electric sounds created on a PRS. On other albums I often
played a Gibson Les Paul or a Fender Stratocaster. The electric sitar
is a Collins, much easier to handle on stage than a real sitar.
mwe3: How many albums have you released to date and what albums
of yours do find are your most popular, definitive and influential
and can you tell us about your working with Steve Hackett in the past?
Gandalf:
Must be about 35 studio albums up to now. Besides the album Visions
(1982) that captured a certain magic and was responsible for my early
success throughout Europe, real milestones have been Symphonic
Landscapes (1990), a composition for symphonic orchestra, and
Sacred River (2006), a long-term bestseller on the Real Music
label.
One of my personal favorites is the album Earthsong & Stardance
(2011), a composition for orchestra and choir including lyrics in
Sanskrit, on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of my career.
The cooperation with Steve Hackett for the album Gallery Of Dreams
was somehow like connecting with some of my musical roots. He had
a lot of influence on the development of my guitar-style during the
seventies and early nineteen eighties and it was a real pleasure working
with him. The cooperation was very friendly and uncomplicated, and
it was a great experience also performing together on stage.
mwe3: How do you like working with Real Music, how did you
meet the label and are you planning further albums with them? What
do you have planned musically for 2014 as far as writing new music,
recording and also any live concert appearances or other collaborations
you might be planning?
Gandalf: The cooperation with Real Music turned out to be very
fruitful and a benefit on both sides.
We
have been working together now for ten years and it proved that there
is an audience for my music all across the planet and they know how
to spread and sell it. So as long as things work out in a good way
we will certainly continue.
Currently I am working on a soundtrack for a TV-documentary about
megalith-buildings from the Stoneage, the music is also planned to
be released as an album.
No big plans for 2014 at this stage, I am rather working from one
step to the next.
thanks to Gandalf @ www.Gandalf.at