Marilyn Lerner: Pianist, Psychoanalyst, Improvisor, Composer
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
10/08/22
•77m
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I was honored to have this conversation with Marilyn Lerner, who is a unique pianist and composer who is a powerfully expressive musician across a range of styles. She’s a wonderful improvisor and has performed worldwide, as well as recorded extensively as both a soloist and as an ensemble player. She’s also a therapist and psychoanalyst, and our conversation moved through many fascinating and important topics including ideas around identity and creativity.
The video version is available here, and the transcript will later be published to the same link: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/marilyn-lerner
Please support this series! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman
photo: Jake Sherman
Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(01:06) jazz piano improvisation
(03:47) exploring different musical styles
(04:52) accompanying Silent film music
(08:58) teaching classical musicians to improvise, KlezCanada, Lori Freedman
(14:18) the piano as a textural instrument and different kinds of improv (with musical example)
(16:46) Marilyn’s youth
(21:10) university years at York University (switching from Psychology into music), and Marilyn’s work as a psychoanalyst, exploring the psychological aspects of being a musician, issues around identity
(27:48) the challenges of making a living as a musician
(30:22) experiences during 2020 lockdowns for both Marilyn and Leah
(36:33) Adrienne Cooper, Anna Margolin, Dave Wall, “All Silent Things Speak Today” collection of songs, “Dreaming in Yiddish”
(41:21) Yiddish and Ashkenazic Jewish history
(45:45) Marilyn plays piano “Romanian Fantasy”
(51:09) Yoshie Fruchter “The Pieces Broken”
(52:27) mridangam studies Trichy Sankaran, opportunities at York University, Reginald Godden,
Ethnomusicology
(56:58) Salsa: learning Montunos with Rodrigo Munoz
(57:47) Jane Bunnett, Larry Kramer, Maqueque,Cuban musicians, “Birds Are Returning” Dafnis Prieto
(01:03:04) classical influences in improvising
(01:07:18) psychology, becoming a therapist
(01:09:47) Marilyn’s youth, development as a pianist and musician
(01:11:45) challenges of finding focus and creative time
Previous Episode
Hristina Beleva: Gadulka player
October 1, 2022
•34m
This episode features the wonderful Bulgarian gadulka player Hristina Beleva, and this project would not have been possible without the generous translation and voice-overs from fellow musician Milena Krassi. Milena was with us during the interview and it’s mostly her voice that you’ll be hearing. Hristina is a virtuoso of the traditional bowed instrument of Bulgaria, the gadulka, which looks a bit like an upside-down violin, with usually 3 main strings and several resonating strings, up to 16. Hristina performs as a soloist with the Ensemble Philip Koutev Folk Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio, the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices, Bulgara, the Milanov-Beleva duo, and is featured on the 2019 Grammy nominated album with David Kuckhermann and Lisa Gerrard, “Hiraeth”. Hristina recently released a wonderful duo album with bass player Vasil Hajigrudev, “Trikop”. This episode features lots of music, and we talk about both traditional music and her fusion collaborations.
The video version of this episode is here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/hristina-beleva-gadulka-player
Support this series! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(01:38) gadulka performance: Ruchenitsa traditional Bulgarian folk dance
( 03:11) - " Hubava si Moia Goro" You are Beautiful My Forest" - old Bulgarian song
( 03:25) introduction to the instrument and the modal tradition
( 09:12) Hristina’s fusion projects and collaborations: Vasil Hajigrudev, Peter Milanov, Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices, David Kuckhermann and Lisa Gerrard (15:32) “Melancholy Beauty” by Georgy Andreev story of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews during the Holocaust
(17:29) experience during pandemic lockdowns
(19:32) gadulka performance
(20:42) traditional dances of Bulgaria
(22:05) traditional folklore orchestra of ensemble Philip Koutev
(24:20) demonstration with improvisations of different musical modes
(27:16) comparison of different instruments and traditions
( 28:06) Hristina’s development as a musician
photo credit: Ivelina Milanova
Next Episode
James Ehnes: Inspiring Excerpts Bonus!
October 15, 2022
•7m
James Ehnes is known internationally as one of the foremost violin soloists. He’s a GRAMMY winner who’s created over 60 acclaimed albums. In this short episode you’ll hear him talk about the joys and challenges of squeezing in chamber music with the Ehnes String Quartet, his youth in Brandon and his studies with both Frances Chaplin and Sally Thomas. The episode ends with some great advice for all musicians! The full episode is available here, both video and podcast, along with the transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e11-s1-james-ehnes
Buy me a coffee? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman
photo: Benjamin Ealovega
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