Interview with David Pulsford - Composer Portraits
This week Musica in Extenso is hosting David Pulsford [ @lesser-known-composers ] as our invited guest-editor, english composer and musician.
Musica in Extenso made an exclusive interview with David, focusing on some interesting questions about his connection with music and hobbies.
1. Please tell us a few things about you!
My name is David Pulsford, I was born in London and I now live in Torquay in the SW of the UK. I have always liked music but not until recently have I been involved with music in a practical way. I never really thought that I had any ability until I took piano lessons when I was 19. They lasted for 6 months and I loved playing Bach and Chopin in particular. 40 years later, and self taught, with the constant support of my brilliant wife, I got into doing what I always knew I loved but never knew that I could do; write/construct music. I now write music that is acoustic, electronic. I have written words to 4 tunes I have made, including a silly country style thing, a hip hop/rap track and a very serious and sad piano song. I have also won awards for remixing different genres of music written by other artists. You could say I got it bad but I got it good.
2. How would you describe your compositional style?
Soon after my first attempts at composition I decided to write music with 2 different identities. I know this is not a new thing and I had toyed with the idea of having more than 2 ID’s. This was because I was so taken with the fact that I could actually make music that it was difficult to decide which style to choose. Anyway, 2 ID’s. One is for making more tuneful pieces. I love tunes; Puccini, Chopin...and one is for more beat driven, experimental works.
When I write down a chord progression or some notes, I sometimes improvise a piano on top, or a question and answer type tune, then I arrange it a little. I listen to what I have a few times, and in my mind’s ear, I hear all sorts of other tunes. It’s difficult to remember them all. This is how I make music as Phocasm. It’s hopefully melodic.
I also construct music as Liudprand. When I heard electronic music; Terry Riley, Frank Zappa, Eno, Gong... up to a particular various artists micro house album on the German Klangscheiben label called compilation 2, well, the rhythms got to me-so to speak. So my style here is all about music having the pulse of life. I try to make it irresistible, so you have to move, click your fingers, whatever. I also try to make it with depth and interest so you can just listen with headphones.
All my music is home made. From field recordings made with my phone, through adjusted pre sets and original synth sound design, and my own contorted samples, to the mix down and mastering.
3. First contact with music:
The most important contact was probably hearing classical music like Haydn and Sibelius at my primary school. I remember seeing it written on a board and being taught note values by a teacher. Then I completely forgot about that until I found an EP of Vlado Perlemuter playing Chopin. I so loved the tunes. The first record I bought was by Duane Eddy - yes, I go back a long way and the first pop music that influenced me was the Beatles, but when I heard the music of J S Bach (BWV 1052),on a Spanish radio station when I was about 12, well I could not believe my ears ! Up tempo classical music was new to me and it blew me away.
4. Tell us your proudest achievement in composition!
Really difficult to pick one thing. I think having my album Noctilucent released on the German Klangscheiben label is hard to beat. A label whose music I used to listen to before I even knew how to write music. But I did have one of my first compositions featured on the cover CD of Future Music Magazine, so I’m in 2 minds.
5. Five words that describe your character:
Animal lover, humanist, world citizen, faithful, music lover. Sorry I took more than five words, so I guess you could add rule breaker ;)
6. How do you spend your free time?
As an ex-party animal, I am a great believer in having interests and hobbies. I spend most of my time with music - it’s a sickness. But I like growing exotic succulents. I am interested in Roman and Chinese history, also particle physics and cosmology (in a laymen’s way). I like to walk with my wife around the sea coast of Devon and watch television.
To make enough from my musical explorations so my life partner may follow her own interests.
Thank you, David! - Editor-in-Chief
