"Music is my entire world since I was a child. I love to listen to music especially Beethoven, Bach, Debussy and Chopin and of course I love to make my own music, too. Some years ago I began to write down my own ideas and thoughts and created my own little pieces. However I love to learn and practice classical pieces, too, but actually composing pieces is my greatest love."~Deniz Inan
Born to a German mother and a Turkish father, Deniz is one of the most interesting You Tube personalities that I follow. He plays the piano with ingenuity, exuberance, ease, gliding, swinging and with force and temper innate to a young maestro having his own repertoire and style performed in such dramatic, magnetic, melodic harmony in calculated perfection and precision.
He was raised both by his mother and grandmother on the father side during his first ten formative years. Those early childhood years enabled him to grow up speaking bilingual in German and Turkish par excellence.
When I asked him what influence his mother has on him, he gave a spontaneous reply with a tad of humour.
Well my mother :), she was always the one who pushed me forward. You know, she taught me almost everything (except music *lol*). She taught me how to read, how to count, how to walk, how to believe in me and how to keep relaxed in difficult and hard situations. She showed me so many (and still shows) wonderful books and stories. She taught me a lot about art like the works of Spitzweg, Rubens and Michelangelo. I know lots of movies and actors just because she showed me. She is as much important as my father. I couldn't achieve anything without them. My parents are the lights who guide me in my life all the time!!
How many children would say that about their parents? And how many children have that special bonding of special relationship with both parents?
Deniz is the second You Tube Personality that I personally choose to feature. This write-up also simultaneously appears in my other blog Chopin 1986 Special , a dedication blog I created for him and all his works.
I know there are many Piano personalities sprouting in You Tube, but why Deniz of all? Well, I have been closely observing this young man since I found his channel. I sent him add request expecting to be snubbed. He didn't. I commented on his works, he politely acknowledged, not only me but the others as well.
He honoured me by sharing his works for my listening delight and in due course, I also sent him some of my honest feedback. And usually more of encouragement. There is something extra-ordinary about this young gentleman. I can tell it by the way he performs. The mood of his music vary so is the tempo and the melody that carries that enigmatic power enhancing his magnetic personality into different exponential height of his own musical world.
In an interview form, I am humbled by Deniz heartfelt permission to glean from his personal life with very interesting insights in regards to his Musical History.
BB: All I need from you is a brief history or autobiography about yourself. Your life as a musician, when you did you start to develop your love of classical music, and why Chopin?
DI: My love began nearly 15 years ago. When I was a child my father used to play his Lute. It is an old traditional Turkish instrument which is called Ud in Turkish. I loved to hear him play. He didn't go to a music school because he was not allowed to. He learned to play the lute on his own and I sang the songs together with him. Those days were full of warm love and beautiful memories. One day my father gave me a little Casio Keyboard. It was not big and it looked like a toy maybe 40 cm long or smaller. Well, there were different sounds in this little keyboard and a piano sound among other sounds. My father took a pen and wrote the name of the notes down on the white little keys of the keyboard; Do, re, mi, etc. Then he showed me this one piece, Itsy Bitsy Spider. So he went to work and I sat there with my new keyboard and tried to figure out how this little song works. In the evening my father came home and I surprised him with my new Itsy Bitsy Spider Variation I learned during 4 hours.
I fell in love with classical music when I was 15. Sure I had piano lessons so far but the teachers were not so good. In fact, they were so bad, that I nearly wanted to stop playing the piano. Strange, isnt it? But now I have one of the best teachers in the world I take lessons for over 3 years. She is such a great person and I can't thank her enough. She showed me how wonderful music can be. She taught me everything I know.
Chopin... Well, every pianist loves Chopin. Because he is the personification of the romantic pianist. No one was, is or will be able to write pieces like he did. I can't even explain why I love him so much. I just love his pieces. Every time I sit in front of the piano I look at the little picture of Chopin and George Sand and I'm happy. Happy to do the same thing Chopin did 160 years ago. Try to compose a piece. Not a piece which impresses the world. Not a piece which makes him immortal. Just a piece to remember his loved ones so far away.
BB: If you attend proper education to learn music, your knowledge about piano, if music is hereditary, meaning if it is in the family. You must have come from a family of composer and I guess it must be Chopin?
DI: Well, as my father realised that I was interested in music, things developed very fast. Sure talent lays in my family. My father and my grandfathers were always interested in music. In fact, my grandfather played guitar and organ to earn money during his years of study. I can say the musician spirit lays in the family. Unfortunately, my father was not allowed to play any instruments in the course of his childhood but he never stopped to love his music. Even today I play most of my own work and interpretation while my father listens to me, because he still gives me ideas of suggestions for improvement.
BB: You have diversified mood in your compositions that's why I like to listen to your music.
DI: Yes, thats true. Well, to compose is indeed the most beautiful thing a musician can do. The more you compose and hear your inner voice nothing can compare to this extraordinary feeling. I mean, you give birth to a piece of your soul. All of my compositions are very emotional, that means I played them without thinking but more with my feelings. I'm always surprised because I never know where my music will take me tomorrow. The music comes and I play, improve some parts and write them down. That's how I do it. It's like I'm talking to my piano and my piano answers me. My music is the reflection of my experiences, impressions and my feelings.
Mostly I compose a piece, play it, put it online and then I don't play it for many days or even weeks. Why? Well, I can't explain that. I guess it's because of the fact I play a piece many times when I compose it. If I play it over and over again, it will stop me and won't let me discover other melodies. When a piece is finished I play it only twice or three times because I know, no, I feel that's the way it should be.
BB: Those opus you created, what are the story behind them? What made you write them. Who inspired you to write them? You may give few of your favourite opus and why? The ones very significant to your life, very close to your heart.
DI:
Opus 1
Well, there is a story which is I think the simplest one. Sometimes I have to think of someone while I write down all this notes because our ways were not meant to be the same. Sad but true. Especially no.2, no.3 and no.4 are dedicated to this special person. That's why I sometimes write little poems for some descriptions of my pieces. I think every musician has a lost love, hasn't he?
These pieces have a simple Valse- structure. First I have my ideas and impressions and then I put in the structure. I think everybody compose this way, more or less.
The Impromptus
Those pieces are not composed by me they are just felt by me. Of course I wrote them down but very fast. Mostly they're just little themes or just some notes so I can see which part comes next in the piece Im playing. The last Impromptu (op.1 No.10) was very strange. I collected ideas for maybe three or four days while I was practicing other pieces. Then I put them together just at that moment my father was filming me. You know, I didn't get any real structure or concept. Just these main idea which ends after the first theme is repeated. I call them all "Herbststürme" (Storms of autumn) because theres always a giant rush like a storm or a tornado within me every time I play them. Those are the only pieces I like to play anytime. They contain only two movements with different characters. They are like a fight between Ying and Yang which never find its end.
Opus 2 - New modern piano pieces
In these pieces, I find a way to paint pictures with notes and melodies. The pictures I try to write down in a piece are pictures of nature... like rain, clouds, the sunrise, leaves in the wind and other impressions I get when I walk down the street. One of my other hobbies is to take pictures.
Well, when I see a beautiful spot of nature I'll just take a picture. Some of them are up in YouTube with my music. I'm very close to nature. I love to look up the sky. I love to hear the rain falling down and when the drops form lines on my glass windows... that's my inspiration here. Those are not feelings, just impressions of one single moment I try to hold in my hands for a little moment.
These pieces will follow as soon as I got time. Inspired by some YouTube friends, pianist626262 and mirandaww6. These persons are just great.
BB: Other than that, I know that you still have other instruments that you are playing. But my center of focus is the Piano Classical.
DI: Well, that was just for fun. I gave up the guitar playing because I know that instrument can't fulfill my passion.
BB: What do you do? (work?) Student? Any helpful hint you can provide.
DI: I study computer science and music.
BB: What your family and friends said about you. Your connections to the music world.
DI: My parents are very happy about my musical path, especially my father. My friends are proud of me and I'm proud of my friends because they encourage and inspire me.
BB: I know Germans are very high into classical music. And classical are their genre.
DI: Well, yes and no. It's not like every man and woman in my age listen to classical music. Of course there are very good schools and universities for music but unfortunately you have to consider that there's a big lack of knowledge of culture and music. Mostly the people who play an instrument listen to classical music, the others are not so interested in it. But don't get me wrong. There are many young musicians and young people who don't play an instrument, who listen to classical music.
BB: I have a Germanic ex-brother in law who encouraged me to love classical. I went to one Symphonic Concert because of him and I loved it. Only personally I cannot afford to go how much I wanted to sit down in our very own Sydney Opera House to watch those musicians play.
DI: Yes, that's true. Last year I went to a concert of Lang Lang and Daniel Barenboim. That was very expensive. That's maybe one of the main problem young people don't have much interest to go to such a concert. Most of them want entertainment with lightshows, rock stars and drummers with long hair. Sad, but that's the truth.
BB: When I started at You Tube, I do take notice of every person who plays music. Instinctively, I can tell who has a particular gift. Even in your dealing with me, though am only a stranger is somewhat impressive.
DI: Thanks!!
BB: You are appreciative. And you never fail to acknowledge everyone who appreciates your music. Not every You Tubers do that.
DI: Well, I live in a very small town. There are not many people I can talk to about classical music, philosophy and art. Sometimes I'm feeling very lonely. Only in the university I get a chance to talk about those things, but I don't have much time because of my studies. That's why I'm so happy to meet great people like you I can share my music with. A musician is like a blacksmith. He's happy if someone appreciates his work. That's all I hope to get.
BB: Me? Great? Wow! Thanks Deniz. :)
BB: Through some history I read, most composers were moody, alcoholic, nicotine addict and what else ...But am not going to go down that pathway.
DI: Yes, I know this topic :) I just get a rush when I play my instrument, compose pieces and leave time and space behind me. That's my drug. The joy to create. I don't smoke, I don't drink.
I think its enough, I guess.
BB: Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to do this most challenging job I've even done in my bloglife Deniz.
It's wonderful to know pleasant and delightful people like you on the internet world. I am glad to be able to achieve another milestone in my writing adventure with your able help.
I wish you success in the future. You will go a long way with your determination and passion for your music. All the best!
