French Composer Pierre Tilois Visits Turkmen Conservatory for a Musical Exchange
French Composer Pierre Tilois Charms Audience in Turkmenistan with Musical Prowess
Renowned French composer, Pierre Tilois, has recently graced Turkmenistan with his presence. As the recipient of prestigious music awards in France, Germany, and the United States, Tilois boasts an impressive repertoire of around 300 compositions, including multiple operas, symphonies, concertos, and music for cinema. For the past decade, Tilois has taken on the role of organizing music festivals for composers and has founded various creative groups while actively engaging in social initiatives.
During his visit to the Turkmen National Conservatory named after Maya Kuliyeva, Tilois had the opportunity to meet and converse with teachers and students of the Composition Department. Excitement buzzed among the composer students and their mentors as they anticipated their encounter with Tilois. Accordingly, everyone prepared diligently for the meeting. Teachers crafted speeches in their minds, while students devised questions to ask their esteemed guest. However, fate had other plans, as Tilois’ spontaneity, openness, and sincere manner of communication disarmed the participants, deviating from their carefully planned strategy. The conservatory’s faculty and students were captivated by the charm exuded by the French composer.
“We conversed as if we were old acquaintances,” shared attendees post-meeting. “It felt like talking with like-minded individuals or friends.” Tilois was introduced to Turkmen composers and their students, and subsequently, a fervent exchange of introductions transpired. Tilois generously gifted CDs of his compositions to the conservatory and the local musicians. In return, he graciously accepted an invitation to a concert featuring the music of Turkmen composers.
Throughout the conversation, facilitated by translations in Turkmen and Russian, the conservatory’s teachers provided additional guidance and insight for the students. As Tilois narrated stories from his own life, studies, and creative journey, he shed light on the various stages of a composer’s formation. Of particular interest was his revelation that, akin to their Turkmen counterparts, French composers undergo a comprehensive educational curriculum spanning solfeggio, theory, harmony, counterpoint, arranging, score reading, and writing.
“The path of a musician is long and arduous,” shared the French guest, drawing empathy from the attendees. “I began my journey as a trombonist, playing in an orchestra. It was only around the age of 20 that I decided to pursue composition. My first mentors were French composers Noel Lansian and Jean Pierre Riviere. Subsequently, I studied under other masters, including Alexander Mullenbach.”
Tilois emphasized the need for modern composers to be versatile and continuously improve their skills to succeed. He attested to his own endeavors in diverse musical genres, such as film music, avant-garde, and popular styles. Sharing his experiences through anecdotes and personal stories, Tilois aimed to provide support and inspiration to his Turkmen colleagues.
The French composer shared an instructive tale from his student days in Salzburg’s prestigious Mozarteum. At the start of his studies, Tilois entrusted his list of twelve favorite musical works, encompassing various genres, to his teacher. To his surprise, the teacher requested Tilois to painstakingly hand-copy each of these works within a year. Initially furious at the seemingly absurd requirement, Tilois now looks back on this experience with gratitude, understanding the value of thoroughly immersing oneself in a composer’s work.
Having established a close rapport with the Turkmen conservatory’s students, Tilois expressed his plans for a return visit in autumn. For his upcoming trip, he intends to create his own Concerto for Voice and Orchestra, incorporating Turkmen folklore, rhythms, intonations, and musical motifs. The piece will be performed by the Turkmen State Symphony Orchestra, with a specially invited German vocalist taking on the vocal part.
During the meeting, the conservatory’s students displayed keen interest in Tilois’ style, writing methods, and composing techniques. The composer explained that his approach varies depending on the intended audience. For intellectually inclined listeners, Tilois composes intricate and complex pieces, while simpler and more accessible compositions cater to vacationing tourists. As an ethno-composer, Tilois draws inspiration not only from traditional, classical, and popular music but also from the history, customs, and culture of the countries he visits.
Tilois is no stranger to the creative use of electronic music and frequently incorporates new musical technologies. He believes that in the past fifty years, many composing techniques have lost their allure to audiences, pushing composers to explore novel approaches to re-engage listeners. Despite being advised to focus on small chamber ensembles for practical reasons, Tilois continues to write for full orchestras, which has earned him the nickname “composer-sorcerer, organizer of chaos, and lawmaker of disasters” among European music critics.
Pierre Tilois’ visit to Turkmenistan provided invaluable insights and inspiration for the conservatory’s students. The charming composer fostered an environment of camaraderie and shared his wisdom, encouraging aspiring musicians to persevere on their challenging yet rewarding path. As Tilois departed, he left behind excitement and anticipation for the autumn concert, where his music will merge French and Turkmen influences, creating an enchanting bridge between two cultures.
