Photo by Anita Zvonar
Composer Frank Horvat is known for compositions that tell deeply personal stories. For Those Who Died Trying is the world premier recording of The Thailand HRDs, Horvat’s 35-movement work performed by the Mivos Quartet, to be released on ATMA Classique on November 16.
JAMES STRECKER: If you were asked for 50 words for an encyclopedia to summarize what you do, or have done, in the arts, what would you say?
FRANK HORVAT: Composer | Pianist | Music Educator | Artivist
Eco-Artist | Mental Health Crusader | Human Rights Advocate
JS: What important beliefs do you express in or through your work?
FH: I hope that each of my compositions stimulates thought in an audience or brings revelations about their personal journey through life and their place in this world. Feeling a distinct emotion and/or provoking action is what I always aspire to as a composer.
JS: Name two people, living or dead, whom you admire a great deal and tell us why for each one.
FH: Philip Glass – Love his music. He has stayed true to creating his own musical voice despite critics. He is passionate about getting his music out there.
My parents – They immigrated to a new country without language, money or prospects and yet they built a successful life. If they could do that, then any of my creative endeavours are also doable.
JS: How have you changed since you began to do creative work?
FH: Perhaps a question I can’t answer since I can never remember a moment in my life that I wasn’t being creative. Being creative is an intrinsic part of who I have always been and most likely always will be.
JS: What are your biggest challenges as a creative person?
FH: Dealing with my own insecurities and low self-esteem. As someone who battles depression, I’m very susceptible to being my own worst enemy.
JS: Please describe at least one major turning point in your life.
FH: In early September 2001, my wife and I rented an apartment in the south of Spain. The weather was beautifully tropical and the apartment had no telephone or TV. Being detached from the rest of the world, in a wonderful paradise, I rethought everything that was important in my musical life. I gave up the notion of what I should do and instead dreamt of what I want to do. Two days following our return, September 11 happened. It was a further reminder not to waste time in life and do what I have passion for.
JS: What are the hardest things for an outsider to understand about what you do?
FH: I guess it is the sacrifices you have to make to make a living being a professional musician. But even more than that, it would be how even though these sacrifices can be hard, they really aren’t sacrifices because you get to do what you love. There is a balance though that musicians have to make in order to take care of themselves so that they can continue to do this work that they love. There is a fine balance between sacrificing too much that your health and well-being stop you from being able to move forward in your musical career and life. Developing a healthy mindset is one important key.
JS: How and why did you begin to do creative work in the first place?
FH: A feeling that this was a viable way to share who I am with the world.
JS: What haven’t you attempted as yet that you would like to do and please tell us why?
FH: I have not yet performed a solo piano concert of my own music outside of North America. I would especially like to do this in Europe as my ancestral roots are there. I guess I haven’t gotten around to it yet as there are always so many projects on the go and because of the expense and lack of contacts. But I’m working on that!
JS: What are your most meaningful achievements?
FH: Perseverance – continuing to lead a full-time life as a musician. Being and doing is more important to me than hitting a certain target.
JS: What advice would you give a young person who would like to do what you do?
FH: Figure out what your unique artistic voice is and work as hard as you can to nurture that and share with the world. Eliminate all obstacles that are in your way from making that happen.
JS: Of what value are critics?
FH: Lots of value if they’re constructive.
JS: What do you ask of your audience?
FH: Allow your ears, mind and heart to be open and let the music carry you wherever it wants to go.
JS: What specifically would you change about what goes on in the world and the arts?
FH: World: Only people who believe climate change is real and that humankind is at a moment of peril because of it can run for political office.
Arts: More artists would create more work based around social justice issues.
JS: If you could relive one experience from your creative life, what would it be and why would you do so?
FH: My first music lesson when I was 5 years old. It would be neat to feel again the awe of what it was like to make music from my own hands for the very first time.
JS: Tell us what it feels like to be a figure who is presented somehow in the media. What effect does this presence have on you?
FH: It sort of feels weird. I just do what I do because it’s me. Experiencing media coverage of oneself is like seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes. It’s sort of unnatural. That being said, I have gotten used to it since I just remind myself that it isn’t completely me since the vision is being filtered through someone else’s POV of themselves.
JS: Name two places you would like to visit, one you haven’t been to and one to experience again and briefly tell us why.
FH: I’ve never been anywhere in Asia, so China, Japan and Thailand are top of the list. I’ve learned so much about the culture and history over the years, it would be a thrill to be immersed within it.
I’ve been to New York City a number of times over the years but I always yearn to go back. I’ve never been to such an intoxicating city.
JS: Please tell us about one or more projects that you have been working on, are preparing, or have recently completed. Why do they matter to you and why should they matter to us?
FH: I’m about to have a large-scale string quartet composition released. It’s performed by the Mivos Quartet and I produced the album entitled, For Those Who Died Trying. It is coming out on ATMA Classique in November 2018. That composition, The Thailand HRDs, is based on a photo essay by Thai-based photographer, Luke Duggleby, chronicling the murder or disappearance of human rights activists in Thailand. The 35-movement string quartet honours each victim. People around the world are being threatened and murdered for standing up for their rights, this should make all of us take notice and help to stop these actions.
Plus, many, many other things! I always have at least ten projects on the go!
JS: Let’s talk about the state of the arts in today’s society, including the forms in which you work. What specifically gives you hope and what specifically do you find depressing?
FH: Because of technology, new ways of creating, presenting and sharing creative projects is always expanding and being invented. But arts are under constant threat in our education system, so I fear we will have a generation who will not have the tools needed to express their own artistic personalities and/or an understanding to appreciate the work of others.
JS: Finally, what do you yourself find to be the most intriguing and/or surprising thing about you?
FH: I’m a creature of habit and repetition in my life. I love routine and “everyday” things to be the same. Despite that, I never get tired of dreaming up new creative projects to share with the world. I’m surprised by the paradox of those 2 parts of my personality.
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