CSUN Music Professor Records Original Compositions
Media Contact: Nichole O'Grady
nichole.ogrady.67@csun.edu
(818) 677-2130 -- (NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Oct. 27th, 2008) ―
Experimental, avant-garde and exotic are rare words not usually associated with the compositions of Bach or Mozart. Liviu Marinescu, a composer and professor at Cal State Northridge, has distinguished himself as a rare commodity, setting himself apart from traditional composers and journeying into the unconventional land of post-modern music
A European journal said Marinescu “not only has the intelligence and maturity expected from a modern artist but also the ability to express himself through sounds in a convincing way.” With the recent debut of “Liviu Marinescu: Chamber Music,” his first album of solely compiled works does just that, expressing an intellect that explores the realms beyond the traditions established by classical music.
“The CD is a compilation of some of my best works collected over a span of 12 years,” Marinescu said. “I would have released it years ago but I only wanted the best pieces on there.”
Using his vast knowledge of classical music, Marinescu ventured into the world of post-modern music because he thought of it as still unchartered territory.
“I really like neo-sounds and new music in general,” he said. “I like to seek sounds that stimulate our imagination and experiment with them in ways that can provide aesthetic pleasure. Art gives us an opportunity to explore the concepts of emotional and intellectual satisfaction from new angles and I think of my music as a vehicle through which this can be achieved. It allows people to relax, forget and be challenged, and to ultimately lose their sense of presence in a very stimulating sort of world.”
Marinescu has had ample opportunity to explore music, having been raised in an environment that nurtured the arts. Born and raised in Romania, he was surrounded by a family of musicians who, like himself, sought careers in music and have since achieved great success. Included among the artists are brother Ovidiu, a cellist and conductor residing near Philadelphia; cousin Camil, an internationally acclaimed conductor; and cousin Ciprian, the concert master for the Osaka Symphony in Japan.
Romania set the scene for Marinescu’s budding talent. He studied at the Bucharest Music Academy and later made his debut at the Bucharest International Week of New Music Festival at the young age of 21. In 1992 and 1994, Edwin London, a professor at Cleveland State University, offered Marinescu two scholarships, which ultimately brought him to the United States.
“This enabled me to write, perform and grow, and at 24 years old, I already knew what I wanted to do,” Marinescu said.
Since coming to America, Marinescu’s works have received recognition at numerous festivals of music and have been performed in prominent orchestras and ensembles, including the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Orchestra 2001 in Philadelphia, the 20th Century Consort, and the North-South Consonance ensemble.
Today, Marinescu divides his time equally between composing and educating young musicians. Committed to research and mentoring, Marinescu has taught a wide range of music composition and theory courses at Concordia College in Minnesota, West Chester University in Pennsylvnia, University of Maryland, and Cleveland State University.
Since his 2002 appointment as coordinator of music composition and theory at Cal State Northridge, Marinescu has received numerous awards and grants from The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Meet the Composer Fund and the American Music Center, as well as a commission from the Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard University.
“I believe the best teachers are those active in their professional field,” said Marinescu. “For the students, I play my music occasionally, teach them what they need to know in the music world and how to meet conductors. I like to teach the non-academic, real part of an artists’ life. Many schools take young musicians and package them with a grade. I teach them how to become themselves and escape the mainstream world.”
Happy to have released his CD, Marinescu looks forward to future recordings and is currently looking for another label to release works that are in progress. “Liviu Marinescu: Chamber Music” was recorded with the help of fellow CSUN professionals, including Daniel Kessner, Julia Heinen, John Roscigno, Steven Thachuk, Françoise Régnat, Andrew Duckles and David Aks.
“My colleagues are phenomenal,” he said. “It was a pleasure to have them around and a blessing to be on campus.”
Knowing the realities of the music life, many of which he has imparted to his many students, Marinescu expects little financial reward at this point.
“It can take from 10 to 200 years for experimental music in general to receive widespread international recognition,” he said. “In my case, I’m simply happy it’s on the market.”