Ward de Jonghe

What do you want to find out with your music?

There’s certain pieces or composers that I instantly like, that I’m intuitively drawn to. Afterwards, one can analyze the pieces and find out interesting contexts, structures or techniques, but though these can confirm certain technical qualities, they never succeed to explain this initial reaction. There is a certain magic at work there.

In writing music, it is quite similar: I try to create a certain internal logic in the material, try to find an interesting dramatic form, and try to refer to my own or another’s work, all of which I’m sure nobody could ever notice. And yet somehow, when hearing the music for the first time, either in real life or by reading the score, there’s again this intuitive connection – or not, then I should discard it!

I want to find about what this magical connection is, though I’m sure there’s no formula. The only way to find out is by discovering more music and by making more pieces!

What would you want to change about music or music making?

Ban musical capitalism? I’d be really curious what would be produced.

When do you need music the most?

After dinner, haha! Actually, I really tend to play the piano after eating, no serious studying, but sight-reading pieces, often also songs or opera’s if one of the roomies is up for singing along. Though I generally don’t consider music as meant to be mere enjoyment, these moments are very relaxing to me and can really make my day.