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Interview with Gilad Hochman
February 23, 2011
Gilad Hochman is an Israeli composer. For information about his work, visit www.giladhochman.com.
Tibbetts: How long have you composed, and what made you decide to become a composer?
Hochman: I can't remember much of starting to compose music, although I have kept a few piano pieces which go back to the age of 9. In my house stood an old piano which my father played from time to time, and I remember playing it well before starting to study it, at the age of 6. During my early years of studying the piano I tried to change the pieces I was working on, improvising on them and finally composing new pieces of my own. I guess this was the beginning of me composing music. I can't say that there was a certain point where I made a conscious decision to become a composer, except until recent years. Instead, I was driven by a wonderful force, almost magical, to express myself through music, to search for ways of expression and to create a new world through sounds coming together and musical structures.
Tibbetts: What inspires you?
Hochman: In daily life inspiration comes from all kinds of sources and can also be the most trivial ones: beautiful images, witnessing acts of goodness, reading wise texts, exchanging ideas with other people, experiencing uplifting feelings, feelings of sadness or just having good coffee in a special place. I would say that pretty much everything can be meaningful, and thus inspirational, if one gives it meaning. Processing these experiences and then expressing them through my own lenses is a different thing, though, and there is a special "drive" to do that, to say something personal to an unknown listener who may relate to your music and be inspired by it for themselves.
Tibbetts: Of all you have done, what do you consider your best work, and why?
Hochman: From my few dozen pieces which I have composed there are some which I relate to more these days and some which I relate to less. It also changes from time to time. None of them are perfect in my view but still there are some good ones, more complete ones and ones which have stronger expression. While working on a new piece, my feelings change between "this is to be my best piece yet" and "what am I actually doing here??" One thing stays constant, though: an image of my best work which transcends above my abilities and creates a truly strong rational and emotional expression. Altogether, I would say that my best piece will always be my next one.
Tibbetts: What is your 'typical day' like?
Hochman: My typical day would be waking up, having some coffee, going out for a walk, checking my e-mail, improvising on my piano, composing, having lunch, composing some more, maybe meeting some people, playing some music by "dead composers", having dinner, listening to some music--could be classical and could be of very different genre--maybe going to a concert, or to a party or keep composing till the late hours of the night. But these are routine actions and the most important thing for me is to be aware, to know myself and my surroundings and to always think and feel.
Tibbetts: Do you have any words of wisdom to offer to aspiring composers and musicians?
Hochman: As put in The Matrix: "Don't think you can... know you can." I guess that we can never know enough, so curiosity is important and so is humility. I find it important to be genuine and honest and to strive to make the best of what we are, taking into account that at the end of the day we are only humans. Finally, take it easy, free yourself from limitations and let music come to you.
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