Who is Johnny Hachem and some of his music philosophy: Johnny Hachem is one of the most brilliant pianists in today’s time. He has performed at various international festivals, including ones held in Ukraine, Lebanon, Switzerland, England, Austria, Germany, France, Spain Poland, Romania, The Netherlands, South Korea, as well as the Arab countries, where he played his solo works. It wasn’t until later on when young Johnny discovered how much talent awaited him in the music industry. He is a music prodigy who started learning piano and composition at the Lebanese Higher Conservatory of Music. He earned his master’s degree there with distinction too! Discover additional info at Johnny Hachem.
Some of your works are artistic storytelling of war drama, like “The Battle of Siddim” or biblical themes, like “The Fall of Jericho” or your award-winning “Jacob & Rachel, The Love Story” others are more of standalone pieces like “Dawn”. How do you choose your themes? Is there a constant composing process like Haydn had or you go with improvisations to hone your pieces? Johnny Hachem: My musical compositions often talk about specific events that happened in the past or about certain circumstances that I lived or I dream of living. But when I am playing my own compositions in a piano recital, I always like to have a space to improvise according to how I feel at the time. Improvisation is an essential part of composition. The great composer Rachmaninov did this at several concerts when he was performing his own compositions.
As for learning piano and music composition, Johnny got his training from the Lebanese higher Conservatory of Music and earned a master’s degree with distinction. Since then, there has been no looking back for him. In fact, Johnny has been composing for more than 20 years and has produced music for orchestras and chamber music. Moreover, many symphony orchestras have been playing his compositions on the stages in various countries across the world.
Let’s have some fun: Douglas Adams said Bach invented blues. I tend to agree with him. What about you? Johnny Hachem: I definitely agree! For example, the American Jazz composer and pianist, the founder of the “Modern Jazz Quartet” was heavily influenced by Bach. He did a Jazz album of Bach compositions “Blues on Bach” and The American Jazz saxophonist, violinist, trumpeter & composer Ornette Coleman did many solos on Bach’s Prelude in C major. For me, Bach is the father of all music genres.
Johnny Hachem composer and pianist, was born in Beirut. He is a live performer, as well as a film composer. He holds two international awards including the 2009 international award for the Music Composition from the The International Composition Conference (Cergy-pontoise, France). The music industry in the US is huge. With a lot of mainstream and underground musicians trying to make it big in the industry, it is only a handful of extremely talented individuals who shine bright in the crowd.
He is a very talented musician who has composed music for several films, including the award-winning documentary by Carmen Labaki: “I Knocked on The Temple’s Door”. To name just some of his work he also wrote piano concertos as well clarinet and violin pieces among others that have been performed around Europe & the Middle East. Johnny Hachem’s music is like a window to his soul. The way he sees things, the feelings that are evoked in people by his compositions – it all comes through so clearly and with such honesty of expression because Johnny himself has been there before you know.