INTERVIEW
El Mundo de America
This interview is a transcript from the TV
broadcast. For more information on the
broadcast.
Following is a transcription of the show. Mauriat seems to understand when people speak to him in Spanish (not so
fast), but he always replies in French. The interpreter translates his replies into Spanish and from this source, I
am translating it here what they were talking about. Trying to transcribe it textually, but there might be mistakes due
to the translation or maybe misunderstanding (even my transcription) there might be some mistakes, but hope it
helps.
1. We know that you are touring several Latin American countries
and the goal was to introduce your musical show, that God
willing, we can have you and your full fabulous orchestra next
year. What can you tell us about?
Mauriat: Well, I have come
to Peru with the help of my friend, Mr. Domingo Castro, manager
of Chomin's, to present my show and also to find out and get to
know the Peruvian music. Also, I pretend to come next year with
all my orchestra but that requires a better organization.
2. Paul, we know about your orchestra, we have most
knowledge about what your music, of your extraordinary great
orchestra. Since we are talking about the orchestra, that you
will come with, God willing, in the middle of next year, I
believe in May of 1982. People often asks if the members of your
orchestra, are they all French musicians?
Mauriat: No. I have
a very international orchestra. I always carry with me in tours,
5 Mexicans, that play the trumpet, 3 brazilian singers, 5
violinists from New York and some brazilian rhythmn [percusionists]
as well.
3. Counting all of them, how many members have your
orchestra?
Mauriat: The orchestra is composed of 45 musicians
for recording sessions and 31 musicians for touring.
4. You
started with a very particular style of music, with arrangements
really of your own, when you started making your recordings; we
want to know if you think that you have changed a little bit
your style in order to turn it more contemporary. Do you think
that the actual arrangements are more different than those you
did earlier?
Mauriat: I think that as many all musicians, I
am influenced by what is going on all around. I listen to many
recordings in my house in Paris, most of all, American
recordings, and I think that my love for the American music has
made me turn more into the rhythmic side. And I think that
unlike other contemporary composers, such as Franck Pourcel,
that he is a friend of mine, is that my music is more rhythmic,
and that his [arrangements] is more romantic, more conventional.
5. Now we are talk a bit about your personal life. We would
like to know a bit more about yourself. We know that you also
know a bit of English. We're going to make some questions in
English. How do inspire yourself to compose a song?
Mauriat:
I am going to reply in French because [the answer] is very
difficult.
I believe I am an changing person. I never wake up
the same way in the mornings. Sometimes I wake up with a
romantic foot, and others times with a feverish [foot].
What
makes it that I don't have a special key, that I am always
changing...
6. How do you take your personal life? I imagine
that your music is a big part of your life, but when you leave
the music aside for awhile, what do you? We know that you live
in France, that you travel a lot, but in the resting times, what
do you do?
Mauriat: First of all, I spend a lot of time with
my wife. I am married for more than 29 years and I have been
lucky to find a woman with whom we understand each other very
well. When I am tired of making orchestrations, I take a break
listening music. What makes me stay inside the music and I
listen symphonic music a lot.
7. What are your favorite musical styles?
Mauriat: I
enjoy jazz-rock a lot, such as Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock,
among others.
8. Contemporary jazz is really a very
beautiful music, and here, contemporary jazz is getting more
audience, more and more. What do you think about the
American pop music? That sound so much all over the world?
Mauriat: I believe that there are many reasons for which the
American pop music has invaded the world. First of all, is
that they have a lot of money and they are very powerful,
and the second one, I believe is that they are the best
professionals in the world. And at this pace, the
competition is very difficult.
9. Had you the opportunity
arised to score a motion picture, a great production?
Mauriat: About a ten [or twelve] years ago, I scored a
couple of films for Charles Aznavour, but since then, I
haven't been able to do it again because I don't have much
time. But I confess that this is a very interesting
experience because when you make the music for a film, it
feels so good.
10. Do you have in mind making another LP?
Mauriat: I just finished one very recently. It consists of
pieces of original music and it is called Chromatique. And
when I return to France I will make another one, consisting
of original music and hits from all over the world.
11.
We know that the music of Paul Mauriat in Chromatique is
available in stores in our country now, and is a recording
that I recommend to all of you, you're going to like it.
To not extend too much this interview because we want you to
offer us something on the piano tonight, two last questions.
What's your opinion of the Peruvian music?
Mauriat: My
approach is very brief because I just arrived yesterday
evening and I have spent the evening in a Peruvian pub (peña).
Yesterday evening I started discovering the Peruvian music
and I am very surprised of the mix of black music with three
tempo's music. Is because of this mixture that I think that
Peruvian music will have some importance, influence in the
future.
12. Another of the greatest albums that you
developed and that we have in our country is called Nube
Gris, where you performed known songs of Latin America and
Peru. What experiences you took recording this album?
Mauriat: I wanted to make an album devoted to all South
America and I thought that Nube Gris was the best ambassador
of Peruvian music. I am not saying this for false diplomacy,
but because is a piece that I like a lot.
Paul Mauriat performs Nube Gris, Toccata and Nocturne.
