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INTERVIEW:
Ivo
Sedlacek, who are you?
Well, if I REALLY knew this, I would be most happy :-)
How did you discover the violin?
I didn’t so much discover the violin, rather, the violin came to
me on its own. My parents sent me to a music school when I was about
seven. I immediately became very obsessed with the violin, and with
music in general. I used to play enthusiastically for hours. I remember
I always wanted to be able to play the most difficult things.
How did you learn the violin?
First, at the children‘s music school in our small town. Later,
after a break in my training, I studied violin at the Academy of Music
in Prague. After that, I spent 5 years in India studying Indian classical
music. I had the great fortune to study with several premiere Indian
violinists – N.Rajam, Sangeeta Shankar, Kala Ramnath, D.K.Datar,
T.N.Krishnan and R. Swaminathan. Also during this time, a deep musical
treasury was begun for me through my long-term association with Hariprasad
Chaurasia and Dinkar Kaikini.
During these years in India, in addition to my formal training, I was
able to travel a great deal and had the opportunity to systematically
learn some of the deeper aspects of yoga, mantras and spiritual disciplines
from several great Indian spiritual masters.
In India, I was also teaching Western classical music and violin (at
Bombay School of Music and American International School), and performed
many violin recitals with foremost Indian pianists.
Apart from violin, I also play different kinds of flutes, guitar and
other instruments.
How do you find your inspiration? How do you create your songs with
your musical partners?
I hardly create anything fixed. Music just flows and is never the same
…Your music turns us into our inner sensibility with a wide range
of
emotion. It's like you open a door into ourselves.
For me, your music is relaxing but also healing.
Can you explain your work with yoga, mantra, music therapy?
During my classical studies, I became more and more drawn to music which
has no boundaries, which is not dependent on any particular style and
which just flows freely from heart to heart. This kind of music touches
some very subtle levels in listeners. I have always felt that something
very deep and powerful is happening in those moments when you just fully
open yourself to some higher unknown inspiration and simply let the
music flow …
This kind of experience can not only happen during regular concerts
(we have performed many with this mood, all over Europe) but can also
occur during special, even more powerful occasions when you are not
confined by a common, formal concert setting.
When such music is connected with some intensive techniques of inner
harmonisation and self-exploration, everything becomes very very deep
and touching..
Together with a friend, Geza Timcak (a yoga teacher from Slovakia),
we have created our own original system called „Savita Yoga“,
where certain yoga and transpersonal techniques merge harmoniously with
live music and mantras. During the last twenty years (approximately)
we have conducted a great number of Savita Yoga workshops and seminars
in Europe, India and Taiwan.
Additionally, for two years, I had an opportunity to conduct music therapy
with mentally handicapped children. I still often conduct workshops
on „Healing Power of Music“ and „Mantra Chanting“.
But, of course, my main passion and direction is performing and recording
music. Thankfully, even in a recording you can project that special
inspiring energy.
We
don't know much things about your country. What can you tell us about
Republic Czech and your town?
As you may know, Czech Republic is located in the very heart of Europe.
Its capital city of Prague is considered to be one of the most beautiful
cities in the world. There is very long and famous music tradition here,
which has brought the world composers such as Smetana, Dvorak, Janacek
, Martinu and many others. The classical music hall of fame owes a lot
to Prague! The Czech Republic is also well known for its beer, ice hockey,
etc. but these hallmarks are not exactly the things closest to my heart.
I presently live in a small village at the foot of our highest mountain
range, the Krkonose.
What is the situation is your country (politic,
economic, cultural, spiritual, human!!!)?
Although it is 15 years after the communist nonsense was finally removed
from our land, we as a nation and people are still working towards even
better tomorrows.
There has been always a deep thirst in many people in the Czech Republic
to explore and experience the deeper spiritual levels of life. As a
result, you can find many branches of various spiritual disciplines
practiced here.
Which
other artists do you like in your country?
Whether in this country or anywhere else, I always like musicians playing
with full heart and a full surrender to the higher spirit. Shallow equilibristics
or dry academic attitudes have never really impressed me (not to mention
some rather empty and aggressive music styles). For me, a performance
should always have a „soul“: something which leaves you sitting
speechless and immersed …something which remains inside you even
long after the performance is over.
Specifically though, since you asked, I would like to mention three
Czech musicians whom I really enjoy and admire: the guitar magician
Stepan Rak, musical “mystic“ Pavel Klikar, who makes incredibly
uplifting performances and recordings of early baroque music and Jaroslav
Krcek, composer, conducter and founder of the ensemble Musica Bohemica.
Did you ever come in France? How do you imagine
France?
I have been to France several times. The first time was about 15 years
ago, when I played in a cathedral in Strassbourg with an early music
enemble. Some time ago we also played several concerts in Nice with
Yamuna – a trio with Japanese singer Sujata Kimiko, myself and
Canadian guitar player Shepherd.
About two years ago we were invited for a yoga conference in Annecy,
where we played concerts and conducted several Savita Yoga workshops.
I really love France and look forward to traveling there again soon
…
What are your plans?
After several CDs with vocals (3 CDs of Mantras and 2 Yamuna CDs) I
am once again entering the realm of pure and unlimited instrumental
music. Currently, I am finishing a CD called „Reflections“.
Together with a brilliant drum player Tomas Reindl, we are working on
to create a very dynamic album full of drums and vibrating energies,
which step by step slowly rise from earthly, watery, fiery etc. up to
celestial levels.
I am looking forward to the summer, as this year I want to record lot
of music in inspiring acoustic spaces like churches, castles etc. I
forgot to mention my very passionate hobby: over the course of time
I have managed to set my own very high end studio recording facility
and I truly love to be involved in the never ending process of music
recording alchemy.
There are also some tours in the future – this year we are invited
to Italy, UK and Switzerland to play concerts and to conduct Savita
Yoga seminars
And I am, as always, open to the possibility of meeting new inspiring
musicians, since a musical dialogue at a deeper level is always a very
uplifting experience.
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