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David Clark Interview
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February 4, 2004
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Myriad : Hello, Mr Clark, thanks for answering
some questions. You won the First Prize of the 3th Tune Friendly
Contest with your piece "The
Chance I almost had" and we wish first to know who you are.
Could you please introduce yourself?
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David Clark: I'm currently a
student in the Computer Science department at Texas A&M
University, and plan on attending medical school. I have spent most
of my life here in Texas except for a two-year stay in Haîti
during which I was doing missionary service. I am a lover of
art, especially literature and music, and hope to continue to
compose as a hobby throughout my life. |
Myriad: On what kind of hardware
are you working ?
David Clark: I've done all my work on a PowerMac G4 450MP under Mac
OS9 and OSX.
Myriad: What has been your music
itinerary ?
David Clark: I have a diverse musical background: My parents are
fans of classical music and are musicians, so I was exposed that
even before birth. At age 10 I took piano lessons, but
unfortunately lost interest after two years. I played the
trombone for 6 years in school, and was a member of both stage
(jazz), concert, and marching bands. Later, I became
interested in the piano again and in singing. I've been
experimenting with composing since I was 15 (I'm currently 24), and
have had no formal training.
Myriad: Do you play an instrument
(or several) ?
David Clark: Piano, trombone, a little guitar.
Myriad: What are your tastes in
matter of music ? You can quote artists or music genres if you
want.
David Clark: My musical tastes are diverse. I am most
interested in the classics, especially the music of the Romantic
period, but I am also interested in classic rock and modern
pop.
Myriad: More precisely, what are
you currently listening to ?
David Clark: I just got an Enrique Iglesias album as well as one by
Céline Dion.
Myriad: And what kind of music
don't you listen to anymore ?
David Clark: I don't care for alternative rock much anymore.
Myriad: If you had to chose a
piece to be put into a capsule to be sent to the inhabitants of
Alpha Centauri, what would be your choice ?
David Clark: Mozart's Requiem.
Myriad: If you had to be out of
the world during a whole year, what are the two albums you would
take away with you ?
David Clark: Mozart's Requiem and Wagner's Tannhaüser.
Myriad: About the piece which won
the contest, what has been the source of your inspiration
?
David Clark: Various musical drama's, namely Les Misérables,
influenced The Chance I Almost Had specifically, but most of my
inspiration comes from everyday experiences mixed with
daydreaming.
Myriad : What has been the
progress (process?) of your composition (technical details will be
of interest for the readers) ?
David Clark: I typically develop a clear idea of the whole piece in
my "mind's ear" before I do anything. This includes first,
the overall feeling of the piece, then the melody with
harmony. At a keyboard I may work out certain accompaniment
elements within the framework of harmony I've conceived.
Often I'll "play" with it for months or even years before I put any
thing to paper (or computer screen, as it may be).
Myriad: Do you have an anecdote to
recount ? Not necessarily related to your piece, but related to
music in general.
David Clark: I don't have anything to recount that would qualify as
anecdotal.
Myriad : What are your goals or
your project in relation with music ?
David Clark: My only goals relate to finishing some of my more
inspired works. I compose for the love of doing so, and if
people like it, and it is received well enough to go into a
production, that is an additional and unexpected reward.
Myriad : Do you have a personal
Web site ?
David Clark: Not at the moment.
Myriad : Do you want to pass an
advice or a message to the readers of this interview ?
David Clark: If you are moved to compose, don't get in a hurry to
do something grand. Cultivate your talent and study the best
of those before you.
Myriad : What other questions
would you have wanted to be asked ? What would have been your
answers then ?
David Clark: I can't think of anything I would like to be asked
now.
Myriad :
Thank you for having answered these questions.
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