London based composer and multi-instrumentalist Barak Schmool has been studying the musics of the world since childhood. A perfect match for travelling percussion maniac Bernhard Schimpelsberger. At Beethovenfest, Schmool’s new percussion concerto will be premiered together with Beethoven Orchester Bonn.
You are a composer and musician of many musical genres. How did you acquire these diverse interests and skills? What is your musical home?
Barak Schmool: My home was pretty diverse already. I come from a Jewish family of complicated descent, where three or four languages are spoken. So I was exposed to different musical cultures early on. In London, where I grew up, you’re surrounded by people from other parts of the world. I heard Indian music every day, through the wall from my neighbours. Later, whenever I had opportunity to study music from other places, I did: varieties of African music, Cuban music, Brazilian music, music from Peru, from different parts of the Balkans. So do I have a home? Maybe I used to have one in my jazz groups. But this home is connected to London, that means it’s a diverse home.
What are your instruments?
I studied saxophone at the Royal Academy of Music. But whilst I was there I took up percussion. I had lessons in tabla with a very famous family of Indian musicians. My teachers were the sons of Imrat Khan, a top sitar player. I also studied Brazilian, Cuban and African percussion in general, but particularly different cultures from Ghana. I even played for the president of Ghana and for the Ghanaian football team.