Music
The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
And his affections dark as Erebus.
- William Shakespeare
Music is one of the most magical of arts, one having a powerful effect on everyone. It is an art that brings us more in contact with our own essential nature, giving us the potential to break through barriers imposed by self and others. Mark’s use of music is in two seemingly opposed but actually complementary arenas.
Classical Music
The first is the classical realm, deepened through years of study of classical piano and musical history and theory. Fascinated with the piano, Mark has focused on the dilemma of historical performance practice among pianists.
Having a deep knowledge of the major pianists of the last 150 years, Mark is internationally recognized as an authority on the life and art of the legendary pianist Dinu Lipatti (1917-1950). Mark’s extensive research has led to the discovery of previously unreleased recordings of this universally appreciated artist. He co-produced the first ever release of these recordings, which won a German Music Critic’s Award in 1995.
Mark has additionally published a lengthy article on Lipatti for International Piano Quarterly (updated version here), written liner notes for APR’s reissue of Lipatti’s commercial 1947 recordings (here), and produced a tribute CD commemorating the 50th anniversary of Lipatti’s death (notes here).
Electronica
Mark’s other area of focus lies in the exploration of a more recent form of musical expression – electronic dance music.
Moving away from the performer-based medium of classical and ‘contemporary’ music, this experiential form of music breaks through the boundaries imposed by centuries of passive listening and limited harmonic construction to allow for greater musical freedom for the artist and ‘listener’.
As a DJ, Mark has performed in London, Zurich, Tokyo, Bangkok, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver, playing a unique blend of cutting-edge electronic music mixed with insight afforded him through his classical training. Click here to read Mark’s reviews of events and releases, articles about electronic music, interviews with artists, and lists of his favourite electronic music.
