Paul Holmes Presents Breakthrough Music Theory at London Lecture
International recording artist, Murray Perahia, facilitates Guildhall demonstration
CARY, NC, May 10, 2004 – Paul Holmes, noted for his solo piano work at The Washington-Duke Inn in Durham, NC and author of the Musicon Symbols music harmony method, was the invited guest of Ronan O’Hora, head of keyboard studies at the prestigious Guildhall in London, England, where he presented his work to faculty and students.
The lecture came about after Murray Perahia, internationally acclaimed pianist and recording artist, heard Mr. Holmes perform at the Washington-Duke and inquired about his unique style and approach to the keyboard. Mr. Perahia facilitated the dialog, which led to the invitation for a lecture-demonstration at London’s premier college of music and drama.
During the presentation, Mr. Holmes captivated his audience by demonstrating how his systematic approach to improvisation and composition unleashes powerful combinations of rich poly-chordal harmonies and progressions using a very accessible shorthand method. The attendees, comprising faculty and students in all disciplines of keyboard and composition study, were treated to Mr. Holmes’ piano virtuosity as he performed numerous examples of his methodology while engaging his audience with an easy and humorous conversational style.
The height of the presentation was the debut of Mr. Holmes’ Musicon Symbols arrangement of Beethoven’s Fur Elise created by using clever and challenging techniques, and which enthralled everyone in attendance.
"Prior to the Guildhall lecture, I had the opportunity to study the Musicon theory and Mr. Holmes’ transcription of Fur Elise," said Mr. Perahia following a private introduction at his West London home. "The method brings new freedom and richness to compositions, improvisations, and arrangements not accessible through traditional harmony alone. It is destined to become an essential resource for serious musicians, arrangers, and composers."
Mr. Holmes’ book, Musicon Symbols: A Creative Approach To Keyboard Harmony, is available online at www.musiconsymbols.com. His compact disc, Mostly Memories, a collection of great jazz standards is available online at www.afterhoursrecords.com. Mr. Holmes’ arrangement of Fur Elise is available from Stillwind Music at the address above. |
