ROBERT BRUCE
Biography
Composer/pianist Robert Bruce was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1962. Primarily self-taught, his diverse and eclectic 26-year musical career has included many avenues of piano/keyboard performance, arranging and composition. With his earliest compositions (focused on 6 books of solo piano music published between 1991 - 95) Robert presented over 350 concerts, performances and lecture/classes throughout North America between 1990 and 1997. These early pieces have been included on the examination syllabus of every major music conservatory in Canada, including the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, and are included in the new 3rd edition the well-known reference book Pianist's Guide to Piano Literature by Dr Maurice Hinson. This work is used by thousands of piano teachers and students and performed in many music festivals each year. His first CD The Piano Music of Robert Bruce - Performed by the Composer (1995), primarily a reference recording of his early work, has been featured on National Public Radio in the United States, and aired in Australia, Europe and Canada.
In the mid-1990s Robert's music took on new depth and entered a new phase of maturity which more intensely highlights its almost transparent simplicity, subtle blues-impressionistic overtones and a rather otherworldly "visual" quality. Since 1997 he has been developing new avenues for his music that include multidisciplinary and interactive concert programs. These programs, along with his educational programs and the book he is currently writing, have a decidedly motivational and inspirational slant. Robert advocates that true music and creative expression are inherently therapeutic and that the key elements for creative/artistic fulfillment are aesthetics and utilizing one's own natural desires and abilities.
He has recently begun recording his now substantial catalogue of songs, instrumental works and music for children's film and television productions. His second CD Bound for the Tenderness of Eden, a 4-year project, was completed in January 2003. This rather meditative CD (piano and percussion) is receiving increasing airplay in Europe and Australia on various Ambient and New Age radio programs. One of the tracks on this recording, Time Release, is also featured on the 2002-3 BravoFact video Pictures From Home with members of Toronto's OMO Dance Co.
In 2002 Robert formed Robert Bruce and the New Vision Ensemble to record and perform his varied works. His live performance programs feature various combinations of piano, voice, percussion, strings, woodwinds, dance, special lighting, set design, image projection and other visual arts. His first single A Little Bit of Neptune (for 2 female voices) was released in May, 2004 and features vocalists Karen Barrett Grignon and Corrinne Prevost and percussionist Julia Cleveland. This song will also appear on the ensemble's forthcoming debut album The World You Made which will be finished in late 2004 or early 2005.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.robertbrucemusic.com
Track List:
1. Dulciana
2. Face the Sun
3. Alma
4. Dance
5. Sound Room
6. Statues
7. Time Release
8. Crown
9. The Tenderness of Eden
10. Celeste
11. Soul Echo
12. Afterlife
13. Watercolours for Natasha
14. Waiting for August
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
Biography
Composer/pianist Robert Bruce was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1962. Primarily self-taught, his diverse and eclectic 26-year musical career has included many avenues of piano/keyboard performance, arranging and composition. With his earliest compositions (focused on 6 books of solo piano music published between 1991 - 95) Robert presented over 350 concerts, performances and lecture/classes throughout North America between 1990 and 1997. These early pieces have been included on the examination syllabus of every major music conservatory in Canada, including the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, and are included in the new 3rd edition the well-known reference book Pianist's Guide to Piano Literature by Dr Maurice Hinson. This work is used by thousands of piano teachers and students and performed in many music festivals each year. His first CD The Piano Music of Robert Bruce - Performed by the Composer (1995), primarily a reference recording of his early work, has been featured on National Public Radio in the United States, and aired in Australia, Europe and Canada.
In the mid-1990s Robert's music took on new depth and entered a new phase of maturity which more intensely highlights its almost transparent simplicity, subtle blues-impressionistic overtones and a rather otherworldly "visual" quality. Since 1997 he has been developing new avenues for his music that include multidisciplinary and interactive concert programs. These programs, along with his educational programs and the book he is currently writing, have a decidedly motivational and inspirational slant. Robert advocates that true music and creative expression are inherently therapeutic and that the key elements for creative/artistic fulfillment are aesthetics and utilizing one's own natural desires and abilities.
He has recently begun recording his now substantial catalogue of songs, instrumental works and music for children's film and television productions. His second CD Bound for the Tenderness of Eden, a 4-year project, was completed in January 2003. This rather meditative CD (piano and percussion) is receiving increasing airplay in Europe and Australia on various Ambient and New Age radio programs. One of the tracks on this recording, Time Release, is also featured on the 2002-3 BravoFact video Pictures From Home with members of Toronto's OMO Dance Co.
In 2002 Robert formed Robert Bruce and the New Vision Ensemble to record and perform his varied works. His live performance programs feature various combinations of piano, voice, percussion, strings, woodwinds, dance, special lighting, set design, image projection and other visual arts. His first single A Little Bit of Neptune (for 2 female voices) was released in May, 2004 and features vocalists Karen Barrett Grignon and Corrinne Prevost and percussionist Julia Cleveland. This song will also appear on the ensemble's forthcoming debut album The World You Made which will be finished in late 2004 or early 2005.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.robertbrucemusic.com
Track List:
1. Dulciana
2. Face the Sun
3. Alma
4. Dance
5. Sound Room
6. Statues
7. Time Release
8. Crown
9. The Tenderness of Eden
10. Celeste
11. Soul Echo
12. Afterlife
13. Watercolours for Natasha
14. Waiting for August
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- NEW AGE: Meditation
- CLASSICAL: New Age
- FEATURING PIANO