What does American composer Primous Fountain dream of? Interview by Russian Journalist ‘Anastasiya Polovnikova’

You can access the original Russian article here. Below is the English translation for the article.

Primous Fountain is one of famous modern composers. He was born and grew up in Chicago in ordinary family. The first real great success came to him in 19 years, when he wrote his first symphony. By a happy coincidence, the young talented composer was noticed and taken under his patronage by producer Quincy Jones, who also worked with Michael Jackson.

The music of Primous Fountain  sounded in many concert halls around the world. Audience at Carnegie Hall, Sadler-Wells and the Olympia Theater in Dublin applauded to the maestro. Now the American composer is completing work on Symphony No. 8. In the USA, he was twice awarded the Guggenheim and other awards in field of musical art.

Primous Fountain intends to visit Russia and to please audience with his works. Therefore, he graciously agreed to do an interview to the magazine’s “ShkolaZhizni.ru” readers.

– Primous, tell us something about you. You are famous in America, but we know very few about you in Russia.

My name is Primous, like my father and grandfather. I have an older brother and two younger sisters. I have not eaten meat since 1980 and have not consumed sugar for many years. In the mornings I do yoga. I do not believe in age and have forgotten about it since graduating from high school.

– Tell me, is anyone in your family interested in music as you?

I am the first in my family who is really interested in music. Of course, my parents loved to listen to great jazz performers and their numerous recordings sounded in our apartment. One day, parents bought a piano for my sister to learn to play on it. Nothing happened with this idea, and later I began to play it.

– Where did you get such a great interest in music?

At the beginning of school year in high school, a music teacher came to our class and said: “Anyone who wants to join a musical group, stand in a row.” When the crowd of students joined and almost left the classroom, I felt an inner impulse, jumped to my feet and found myself at the end of this procession. We all learned how to read notes, and each of us chose their instrument. I’ve got a trumpet.

– What instruments do you play?

Trumpet, bassoon, piano, double bass, cello, violin.

– That’s really impressive! What do you choose for music creation – pen and paper or special computer program?

I always have pen and paper with me. It doesn’t matter, where I am – at home or in a cozy café. I create my music just writing notes on paper

– Do you create only symphonical music? 

No, not only. I write orchestral music, music for ballet and dance performances.

– Was your music used as soundtrack to some movie?

No. However, many people tell me that my music would be great soundtrack to movies. I hope that soon my music will sound there too, but for now the choreographers show interest in my works and use them for ballet and dance performances.

– Perhaps you know that P. I. Tchaikovsky heard music in every sound. How is your music born? What inspires you?

Music is like my beloved, I’m having a love affair with it. I breathe it. I feel it in my soul. This is my companion when I sit in a cafe or travel. Wherever I am, music is always with me. I find inspiration everywhere: in the air that I breathe; in a sip of water; on the lips of the woman I hold in my arms; in her eyes when our eyes meet. As A. S. Pushkin wrote: “It always seemed to me to seek for inspiration as a ridiculous and absurd oddity: you will not find inspiration; it must itself find a poet.”

– Oh, it’s so nice that you can quote the words of a Russian classic like this! How do you usually prepare for your concerts? What do you feel when your music sounds in the concert hall?

During the rehearsal I work very closely with orchestra and conductor. Much more than composer usually does. In Moldova, when a journalist was making an interview about me, visiting one of the rehearsals of my sixth symphony, she said: “The first thing I noticed, it seems, there are two conductors!” At the performance, I sit in the hall, and in the end I go on stage to shake the conductor’s hand and say something to the audience.

– Primous, when is your concert planned in Russia?

This is not completely decided. My music has never been played in Russia. But I am open to meeting people from orchestras and ballet troupes, during my first visit to your country. My music is ready to be performed in Russian concert halls as soon as the orchestras show interest in my work.

– You have achieved a lot. You visited different countries. Your music has received well-deserved public recognition. Do you have any dream?

I would like to meet your president Vladimir Putin in person and invite him to my concert.

– I wish your dream to come true! Thank you for interview! For me it is a great honor. We are waiting for you with concerts in our country!