Entertainment

I found my place playing the guitar – Heike Matthiesen

By Adie Vanessa Offiong | Publish Date: Oct 2 2015 9:55PMThe German Embassy in Abuja recently invited Heike Matthiesen, one of Germany’s, leading guitarists, to perform. Weekend Magazine had a chat with her.

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‘I found my place playing the guitar’

Weekend Magazine: How did you get into music?
Heike Matthiesen: I would say there was no choice for me because my father is a conductor and my mother, a pianist. So I already heard music before birth. I got in contact with music super early but because of my parents being professionals, I never got pushed. This is why I switched from the piano to the guitar late and it was my decision then. I wanted it so much.

WM: Why the guitar and not another instrument like the saxophone?
Matthiesen: The guitar is the most direct instrument aside the voice because you touch it, embrace it. There is nothing between you and the song because you are touching the strings directly. There is no bow, nothing. For me it’s the most central instrument. When you touch it, you feel it. When I pluck a note, I feel the vibrations everywhere, where the guitar is touching my body. It is something physical to play the guitar.
I was always fascinated by anything connected with Spain. As a kid I asked my parents for flamenco CDs. I loved it a lot. I learnt the dance. I learnt Spanish to understand the culture, I read every book I came across about Spain and wanted to play Spanish music which is why I am here, playing Mozart.
WM: You performed a piece which you described as ‘difficult.’ What do you mean when you say a piece is difficult?
Matthiesen: There are a lot of what I would call technical circus, technical skills. You ‘jump’ up and down the bars. You have two kinds of difficulties. One is the musical side and the other, the technical one. You can have a piece that is fun but there is a lot of virtuosity. In the lyrical pieces you have the difficulty and there is nothing to hide; there are very few notes and you just play music with it. Figuratively you can say it is the expression and the sporty part. This last piece was really sporty.
WM: What’s the most thrilling part of what you do?
Matthiesen: I love to be on stage. I love to play for people. It is not about my ego, but there are those moments when the feeling of the music is just there. So it’s not of me performing but I am joining the people listening to also enjoy the music which by chance is made by my hands. This is magic! The music is there and can become addictive.
WM: Are there times in performance when you feel nervous?
Matthiesen: Almost every time on stage the excitement to play is bigger than the nerves. Nerves are never a problem. There are two kinds of nerves, one giving you energy and the one destroying you. You can catch the energy from the audience. They are waiting for a nice evening. And if you catch that vibe, there is no reason to be nervous. You are just excited to play.
WM: Is there a favourite piece you play at every occasion or one that you’ve played the most?
Matthiesen: Yes, but I didn’t play it today (laughter).
WM: Why not?
Matthiesen: Because it is Spanish. I play the ‘Recuerdos de la Alhambra’ (Memories of the Alhambra) which is a description of the Alhambra by Francisco Tarrega, it is a magical piece that captures the spirit of Spain. I couldn’t add it here because this event was dedicated to German speaking pieces.
WM: Have you had any contact with Nigerian music?
Matthiesen: No, I haven’t and it is my first time here and my first concert in Africa. So it really was a special day for me.
WM: Did you imagine the audience would be able to appreciate your songs?
Matthiesen: Of course, because the language, especially of Mozart is universal. The spirit when you play music with pure feeling is something which carries listeners. I have not seen anybody who wasn’t touched by Mozart.
WM: What’s been your most challenging experience being a classical artiste?
Matthiesen: Challenging would be positive and that is traveling, meeting and playing for people. That is the wonderful positive side of being a musician. Travelling and connecting with people all over. They hear you play and they know you. I usually don’t experience difficult audiences because people who come to listen to classical guitar are people who want to go there. It’s not that you go to a concert because you have a ticket. It’s always something special and people are there because they want to listen to guitar. Sometimes people ask me if I play songs of the Beatles, and I say no. When someone hires me to play a concert I tell him to watch my videos and they see if they like it. This is what internet has done. So they’ll only call me if they appreciate my work. Now, nobody is asking me to play the Beatles anymore. When they ask, I tell them I can play, but not in public. It’s like having an opera singer who then starts to play jazz. They’re not authentic and you don’t believe them. If somebody suddenly discovers a completely different style, you lose both audiences. For me it’s better to be a specialist of the thing I love. I love flamenco but it is still a macho thing. The men still play the guitar. Why then should I go there if I am happy with what I am doing?
WM: Do you have your own composition?
Matthiesen: No, because I always..., once a melody comes to my brain, I sleep one night and then I know who composed it. I have heard so much music all my life, I have so many of them at the back of my brain. So it’s very difficult for me to find something that’s new. I could recreate something but I would soon find out who really composed it.
WM: How does it make you feel that young people are inspired by you and want to play like you?
Matthiesen: It’s magical because you’re like part of a chain, of a tradition. My teacher was a pupil of his father, his father had a teacher and his teacher was Tarrega of whom I play these pieces. So you feel linked to the past and I know I am going to be a link to the next generation. You feel another kind of importance because you are the one who is saying something to the next generation. You really feel part of a long story to the next generation. It also feels like an obligation to people who come and these could be even people at a concert whom you inspire. Somebody goes home and says, ‘the guitar is wonderful.’
WM: What’s a typical day for you like if you are not preparing for a concert?
Matthiesen: Like an Olympian, I have to practice a lot. I practice the guitar for long hours and have to do office things. Many marketing things I do myself. Then I have to do something for my health and do sports almost every day from yoga, pilates, zumba dance, whatever so that I stay healthy for travelling. I do sports four hours, office two hours and then telephone calls, practice and before you know it the day is over. It is a life of discipline, but I know that when I go on stage, I’m prepared because of this discipline. When I have done my part, I can expect what is coming because I have prepared. I enjoy my life even though it is full of contrasts. Sometimes you spend long times alone at airports but I never feel lonely because life is rich and good. My music is with me all the time. I meet people from around the world and I’m immediately connected because of music.