ROBERT BRUCE
biography
Since the late 1970s composer/pianist Robert Bruce has developed a diverse catalogue of original music that includes music for young children; piano repertoire for students (which is used by all the major music conservatories in Canada, including the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, for formal piano examinations, is performed in many music festivals each year and is included in the 3rd edition of the well-known reference book Pianists' Guide to Piano Literature by Dr Maurice Hinson); music for film, television and animation; music for healing and meditation; piano works; ensemble works; orchestral works; music for various multimedia presentations and a collection of modern artsongs. His music, often displaying subtle blues-impressionistic elements in its basic language, is harmonically tonal but its true character has defied all existing genres and categories; he has termed his overall style and genre, as well as his performing ensemble, "Classical Nouveau".
Self-directed and primarily self-taught, by his early-twenties Robert had begun a dedicated lifelong study of how music and spirituality are inherently interrelated, a study that continues to hold great fascination for him. He advocates that true music and creative expression are inherently therapeutic and that the key elements for creative/artistic fulfillment are aesthetics and utilizing one's own natural desires and abilities. In 2007 he completed his first book "In Between the Lines - Book One", a 10-year project, which outlines the philosophy on music he has discovered and developed over many years. His second book " In Between the Lines - Book Two " is in progress and details his highly intuitive approach to writing music.
Robert continues to perform live with The Classical Nouveau Ensemble, his Live Music/Silent Film programs and the integrated talk/live performance program based on his writings. His recordings are played quite extensively on classical and ambient radio stations in many countries, particularly in Europe and Australia.
Releases
Piano Music in Book Form
1991 - Miniatures for Piano - Book I (6 intermediate level piano pieces)
1991 - Cities - A Musical Caricature (senior level piano piece)
1991 - Picture Studies for the Piano (6 pre-intermediate level piano pieces)
1992 - Miniatures for Piano - Book II (6 intermediate level piano pieces)
1992 - 24 Easy Pieces for the Piano (beginner to pre-intermediate level pieces, one in every major and minor key)
1995 - Miniatures for Piano - Book III (6 intermediate level piano pieces)
Recordings
1995 - The Piano Music of Robert Bruce (reference recording of all 6 books of piano music - out of print)
2003 - Bound for the Tenderness of Eden (piano music with light ambient percussion - 14 pieces)
2006 - All of My Tomorrows - EP (2 songs and 2 instrumental tracks)
2008 - Spirit of Song - EP (5 songs)
Other
2006 - Bonding Tranquility - DVD (30 min. audio/visual experience for infants 0 - 6 months in collaboration with Nancy Winlove-Smith)
2007 - In Between the Lines - Book One - An Essay on the Therapeutic Value of Music, Musical Aesthetics and the Spiritual Origins of Music (approx 25,000 words)