Glenn Hardy
5,583 plays
32,110 views
32,110 views
I was born in Ventura, California, USA in 1950 and began piano study at the age of four. I grew up in a musically diverse home where my older brother, an accomplished pianist and clarinetist, was a primary influence. Through access to his extensive record collection, I developed an early interest in a wide range of music including classical, blues, jazz, and big band. In the 60s, rock and folk music were added to the mix, setting the stage for a later career in which the cross-cultural and polystylistic musical tendencies of postmodernism would emerge.
In 1968, I received a music scholarship to study piano performance at University of the Pacific Conservatory. Here, I began to investigate medieval and renaissance music, the harpsichord, music of other cultures, and various forms of improvisation. Here, also, my German piano instructor demanded that I stop wasting my time improvising and playing jazz, and Get back to Brahms! This was not to be.
Finally realizing that I was not destined to become the next Horowitz, and being unable to reconcile my compelling interest in music outside of the classical mainstream with the required course of study, I left the university and the world of piano recitals in 1971. I traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, and Europe, including pilgrimages to Salzburg, Bonn, and Vienna, the birthplaces of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. Returning to California in 1973, I began performing and conducting early music in the San Francisco bay area. From 1975 to 1981 I owned and operated The Harpsichord Workshop of San Francisco, a center devoted to the building and maintenance of early keyboard instruments. During this time I also studied jazz piano, and began composing in a style which reflected my various musical influences.
In 1982, I left California for New England where, in addition to composing for piano, organ, chamber groups and orchestra, I collaborate with my wife, Margaret, a poet, on vocal and choral works. Together we have written THE FOUR ARTISTS for vocal soloists, piano, and chorus: a look at the relationship between artists and society, THE AGE OF EXPLORATION for soprano, cello, and harpsichord, which examines the roles of women in the renaissance and today, and IMAGES 1939/1993 for contralto, chorus, piano, and string orchestra, which explores modern genocide in Europe.
We live in Mystic, Connecticut, USA, where I continue to compose, improvise, teach, and perform. I have four CDs of solo piano music. We have a son, Benjamin, 27, who lives in Montreal.Have you performed in front of an audience?I play concerts, clubs, and private events. I mostly do improvised piano music and my own pieces.
Your musical influences
Keith Jarrett, Otis Spann, Ravel, Dave Brubeck, Marilyn Crispell, Reynaldo Hahn, Mahler, Chopin, Granados, Jelly Roll Morton, Poulenc, Artur Rubinstein, Mark Rothko, Chagall, Jackson Pollock, Mary Baker Eddy, Lanza Del Vasto, Ouspensky, Krishnamurti.What equipment do you use?
A grand piano. Yamaha P-80 digital piano, various synthesizers, Pro Tools, Freestyle Sequencer, Sound Forge, Cakewalk.johnkazuya's station
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sometimes we just can't get enough of those 32nd's out of our system... a chapel... should've gonged a few bells with it! About your hybrid style, I think most of us are 'of' that style these days, curious how it will play out in a few hundred years... might as well compose in it while we're still in it...! Toccata you say... I heard some Pink Floyd influence in there... recording a bit muddy with the chapel acoustics echoing back, a clean studio version would be good... hey, it's about 6min. and your mellowing out, nice, perhaps more of it throughout, stress and release...Very enjoyable compositions and productions! Truly inspiring improvisations.
Best regards
Claes Norden
Swedena pleasure to get to know you a bit via your bio. interesting musical development, and with a seemingly happy ending. i'm enjoying your boogie woogie tocotta pieces in particular, and interesting orchestrations with mandolin, harp, etc. thanks for restoring some harpsichords on the way.
--stockwrockAll comments (4)
5,583 plays
32,111 views
32,111 views
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Glenn
@glennhardy
This is so cool!! Great playing!!