2013 – for solo piano – 5:30

Sheet Music

Score (pdf)

Performances

World Premieres:
November 14 & November 23, 2013
Vlada Mars (piano)
Musideum, Toronto & Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, Vancouver

October 10, 2018
Frank Horvat (piano)
Canadian Music Centre, Toronto

January 31, 2019
Frank Horvat (piano)
High Notes Concert for Mental Health, Steinway Piano Gallery, Markham

Recording

Album: A Little Dark Music 2
Date: March 27, 2020
Musician(s): Frank Horvat
Producer: Frank Horvat
Location: Canterbury Music, Toronto
Label: I Am Who I Am

Programme Notes

I’ve had an opportunity to see Vancouver pianist and composer, Vlada Mars, a number of times here in Toronto. Every time, I marvel at her ability to convey the simple beauty of life through the sound of the piano. So as Vlada and I grew to become friends, the idea arose of me composing something for her. The sound of her music along with a beautiful poem I saw posted on Vlada’s Facebook wall (see below) came to inspire this composition.

The title, “Life For Mars”, is a sort of tribute to Vlada’s enjoyment of David Bowie’s music, not a remake or adaptation of Bowie’s song, “Life on Mars”. How wonderful it would be if we could all just float away into space. With Vlada’s music, we can!

– Frank Horvat

“To run away from our own thoughts and emotions is like trying to run away from our own shadow
So let them be
Relax in them
Laugh at them
And if you can do that
It’s called self liberating your thoughts and emotions
Self liberation means liberating on its own
So therefore, there is nothing to do
Just to relax
Just to be happy
Just to be lazy
There is nothing to meditate
Let us celebrate
And that celebration is the dedication.”
Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, in “Pointing out the Dharmakaya”, La Petite Pierre, France, 2008, transcribed by Dylan Vaughn

LT#093