4 minute read
Appleton Museum of Art Welcomes Award-Winning Flamenco Guitarist Dr. Silviu Ciulei as Composer in Residence
Jason Steuber,
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Vanessa Scott,
Earlier this year, Jason Steuber, the Director of the Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, invited Dr. Silviu Octavian Ciulei to be the museum’s inaugural Composer in Residence. Romanian born Ciulei is an award-winning classical and flamenco Guitarist, who began learning how to play the guitar at the age of 6 and joined the conservatory at 7. By age 13, he had already won his first performance prize,
Dr. Silviu Ciulei in the courtyard of the Appleton Museum of Art. Photo by Vanessa Scott. which marked the first of many awards and recognitions received both in Europe and the United States. Ciulei is currently the Director of Guitar Studies at the University of Florida and is also a member of the freshly minted Global Music Award winners Maharajah Flamenco Trio. The group, founded in 2011, is comprised of Ciulei, Ramin Yazdanpanah and David Cobb. With two critically acclaimed and successful albums under their belts, Maharajah Flamenco Trio craft their expression of Flamenco Nuevo (New or “modern” flamenco) by fusing the art of flamenco with jazz, classical and world music.
Dr. Silviu Ciulei with Neapolitan Fisherboy, c. 1860, a bronze sculpture by Jean Baptiste Carpeaux, his inspiration for the original compostion “Escucha el Mar.” Photo by Vanessa Scott.
The museum residence gave Ciulei the opportunity to spend time visiting the galleries and explore Appleton’s artworks in order to choose one as inspiration for a new composition. Working alongside Museum Specialist Vanessa Scott, Ciulei found a strong connection with a bronze sculpture called Neapolitan Fisherboy, c. 1860, by Jean Baptiste Carpeaux (French, 1827-1875). This resulted in the creation of an original piece of music, “Escucha el Mar (Listen to the Sea).” Maharajah Flamenco Trio performed the world premiere of the new song as part of their concert at the museum on September 15.
Neapolitan Fisherboy is currently on view in the museum’s European galleries and depicts an adolescent boy smiling, while holding up a conch shell to his ear. On his object of inspiration, Ciulei says, “After the last couple of years we have had, I wanted to choose something positive. When looking at the artwork and thinking about the text for the vocals, I knew I could do so much more just by involving this teenage boy listening to the sea. Maybe he is remembering a person he loves, or his love at home, or the love of his parents. The inspirational options are so many that it allows me to play with words and ideas when figuring out the lyrics.”
As a musician, it is not the first time Ciulei has composed a piece of music inspired by another art form. At the age of 16, one of the first songs he wrote was “Mă gândesc numai la tine (I’m always thinking about you);” written after watching the performance of a very talented young flamenco dancer. More recently one of
the songs, “Mar Negro” on the trio’s latest album, was inspired after Ciulei attended one of his wife’s violin performances. “I would have to say though, that this is the first time I have walked through a museum with the purpose of getting inspired to write a new piece, which will then be performed in that same museum. It’s a great idea and I really appreciate Jason for inviting me to compose in this way.”
Adding a composer in residence is another way the Appleton Museum of Art is carrying out Arthur Appleton’s vision, Steuber explained.
“Silviu was the ideal fit for the composer-in-residence program’s inaugural artist as he and the Maharajah Flamenco Trio are global citizen musicians and professional educators with ties to Florida and the Appleton,” Steuber said. “Mr. Appleton’s vision for the museum to be a place for art for all aligns with this multidisciplinary program. We’re proud of the museum’s world class art and for the world premiere performance by Maharajah Flamenco Trio.”
If other SEMC museums wish to experience Maharajah Flamenco Trio perform at their institution or wish to create an artistic collaboration with them, their website is https://www.mftrio.com/. Maharajah Flamenco Trio’s masterful and passionate musical performances are a true work of art and the Appleton Museum of Art is proud to have creatively collaborated with them.
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