Music is my only muse, composer Mitko Shterev says

published on 2/20/16 9:20 AM]

БНР Новини

Photo: BULFOTO

Renowned Bulgarian composer Mitko Shterev recently celebrated his 70^th birthday with relatives and close friends who came to Bulgaria especially for his birthday. Mitko Shterev is author of some of the biggest Bulgarian evergreens like “Dusha,” “Severina,” “Utre,” “Esen,” “Priznanie,” etc. He is also the founder and leader of the Diana Express band. He is the composer of film music for over 30 movies like “Osadeni Dushi,” Adaptacia, “La donna E mobile,” and others. He has been given the award for “film music composer of the century.”

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We asked the composer whether he felt changed and he sadly answered: I've changed a lot. I believe in the theory that man should develop their spirit and talents throughout their lives but I have changed a lot, both externally and internally and that bothers me.

Here's what he Mitko Shterev told us about the recipe for writing good songs and film music.

Music should be composed spontaneously, but the most spontaneous art for me is poetry. Not surprisingly, many poets, including P. Penev wrote some of their greatest works spontaneously, sometimes even on a napkin. I think music is spontaneous too, but when it comes to true professionalism the case is different. Sooner or later a composer undergoes changes and he does not rely on spontaneity but on a deeper thinking, especially when it comes to larger forms - such as film music, that contains about 25 fragments with different lengths – varying from 15 seconds to 3 minutes. A good composer should sort all the music in their head, to make it sound stylish. Film music must contain dramaturgy while writing a song is an emotion. One of the best songs of the Beatles ‘Yesterday’ was written by Paul McCartney in a single breath. It has its own internal dramaturgy, but everything is contained in two minutes and 45 seconds.

The only muse for a professional composer must be music, says the great Bulgarian composer and adds:

Years ago I realized that a composer aged 55- 60 should look with optimism at the work of the youth. Young people see the world differently. Pop music is not elitist music and it is inextricably linked to fashion, politics, and economics. It is constantly changing, just like fashion. It is very difficult to make songs that are to remain hits for 30 or 40 years. On this occasion, I want to say that I am a lucky man. People know my songs. During the past three years I have had tours with "Diana Express" - the band I founded in 1974. We had more than 20 concerts in Bulgaria, 5 in Canada and one in London. People know our hit songs and come to the concerts to listen to them. In late December I recorded a new CD entitled “40 years Diana Express- Ten Golden Hits." It will be relased in March together with another album entitled "Puzzle" which contains 10 pieces. In this way we want to celebrate our anniversary. The sound quality is great and we have included three covers – “Vlubeno Surce,” “Priznanie,” and “Esen.” We are to have a tour in Bulgaria and abroad to present these two albums. The band includes me and Ilia Angelov, as well as guest musicians.

English: Alexander Markov

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Music is my only muse, composer Mitko Shterev says

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