In the Area of the Heart

Programme Notes

Meditation has been an integral part of my daily routine for many years. My mind races, and I can easily become anxiously overwhelmed, so I rely heavily on meditation to maintain my mental health. Part of my life’s journey has been to use my musical voice to promote health and well-being. It’s always a wonderful experience to connect with fellow artists who share these values and creative approaches. When I met violinist Paulina Derbez, I knew instantly that we would collaborate to create music that embodies these sentiments.

When Paulina and I discussed potential themes for our collaboration, she shared that she had recently completed her certification in the HeartMath system—a set of tools focused on heart rate variability and coherence. Paulina guided my wife and me through several sessions, introducing us to techniques designed to bring the brain, mind, body, and emotions into balanced alignment.

As a meditator, it was refreshing to learn a similar system focused on breathing, specifically through the heart. The first HeartMath technique Paulina shared with us is called “Heart-Focused Breathing.” This composition is inspired by that technique. The voice you hear in this work is Paulina herself, reciting HeartMath’s guidance for practicing this method. My goal in composing this piece is to allow the listener to engage in the technique as they experience the music. A live performance is particularly special, as it enables the audience to practice communally while immersing themselves in the sound.

I’ve always believed that music can help the conscious mind turn inward, and many of my past compositions reflect this belief. However, this piece takes that premise to an entirely new level. The coherence between the heart, breath, and sound is profound. I hope you enjoy your journey.

Many thanks to the commissioner of this work, Paulina Derbez, for her inspiration and guidance and to the HeartMath Institute for providing these tools for better coherence.

– Frank Horvat

Live Performance Notes:

This composition was conceived with a highly reverberant venue in mind. The violinist should be positioned centre stage, with a pair of speakers on either side of the room amplifying the fixed electronics. Great care must be taken to ensure that the live violin and the fixed electronics are dynamically balanced. To achieve this, the violin may be amplified.