Peter Pardine
There has been a long hiatus between the production of my short-lived off-Broadway musical, “How Fair,” in 1960 (Tuthill Productions) and the release of my first cd album, “The First Album: Compositions for Piano and Other Musical Voices.” Whether it was fate, serendipity, or some other random process that led me back to composing music, I am not sure.
What I am sure of, however, is that we are living in a time of turmoil, both at home and abroad. We live in a time when we are emotionally shut off from others; current technology disconnects us. And, the ‘speed of life’ often separates us from ourselves. We are living in a time when we are shutting down our own hearts. I believe we need “something” that brings us back to center, where we can enjoy our lives in a harmonious state. Music can offer a path to this end and the music that I create, hopefully, can help to open our hearts and soothe our busy minds.
I am Peter Angelo Pardine, a retired college professor living in Chicago. Trained as a social psychologist, I spent 35 years teaching and conducting research at the New York Institute of Technology, a private college on Long Island, NY. I am not a trained musician; I studied piano for 6 months when I was 12 years old. And, a few lessons in violin, flute, trumpet, and baritone round out my personal history in the study of music. Friends have referred to my talent as ‘natural talent;’ a dear friend calls me a ‘savant’ (she clarified the term by implying “an unlearned, untrained brilliance in a subject”…I like that!)
What I have, I have no idea…..but I do know that there is an enduring process of some kind that permits the creation of music from the heart. I say enduring because there was a period of 45+ years that I did not play the piano. Oh, I enjoyed listening to music. I was in awe of the compositions by Hamlisch, Legrand, Webber, Elmer and Leonard Bernstein, and Sondheim, as well as the moving arrangements of Peter Matz. Yet, I really had no desire to play or compose music .
The passion to create music, however, was rekindled a few years ago when my partner, Rudy, and I visited our ‘extended family’ in Maryland. They had just purchased a baby grand; I sat down at the piano and 45 years became a moment in time…songs from “How Fair” came back to me as if I had just written them. The heartfelt joy of playing my music overwhelmed me, as it did Rudy. For my birthday in December of 2004, Rudy surprised me with a Yamaha baby grand…and that was all it took. Since then I have amassed a catalogue of more than 40 songs…just about one for each year that I was away from the piano. The “First Album” is dedicated to this most special person whose love and support helped to bring the album to fruition. Without Rudy, there would be no music!
The “First Album” contains 12 of my songs. All were recorded on a Yamaha Clavinova (CVP 309GP), an amazing instrument that is programmed with the virtual and recorded sounds of over 450 musical voices/instruments. As an independent artist, the Clavinova has permitted me to arrange and perform my compositions with the fidelity of an advantaged recording artist who has the resources of an orchestra and a concert hall. Many thanks to my friend, Mary Ortigara, for introducing me to this incredible instrument.
In the liner notes for “The First Album,” I describe what the compositions mean to me. There are three very special pieces in the album that deserve a few comments here. “My Father, Petr’Angelo” was written to honor the memory of my father, Peter Angelo; my grandmother called him Petr’Angelo. My memory of his love, his support, his understanding, and his acceptance of others will endure forever.
The two compositions, “Prelude to Aries,” and “The Unsung Heroes” are very much related pieces. “Prelude to Aries” was written to celebrate the occasion of my sister’s birthday in April, 2006; it is semi-classical, very much in keeping with the kinds of music she loves. The second composition, “The Unsung Heroes,” was written to honor people, like my sister, who do quiet, miraculous deeds virtually everyday of their lives. The song honors caregivers…individuals who “watch over,” “who protect,” “who take care of,” other beings in this world.
Proceeds from the sales of my albums go to an organization, the Guardians of Mercy Animal League (gomal.org), founded by my sister, Marilyn Pardine, M.D. GOMAL was established in 1998 in Hawley, Pennsylvania as a non profit, no kill animal shelter.