Interview: Mr. Aldo Tagliapietra Musician/Composer Le Orme
Greetings Aldo, thank you for allowing me to e-mail interview you.
Sorry for the delay, but we have been on tour and now that it is finished, I can answer you.
When did you know that you wanted to be a professional musician? Besides the early influence of `The Nice-' What other types of music and performers influenced your musicality?
It was in the 1961 that I bought a guitar from a friend of mine and in that moment I
realized that music was my world. In the beginning I was influenced by The Shadows, The Champs, Elvis and all the American
pop music. Later on I was influenced by Traffic, Loving Spoonful, the early Bee Gees and
than by Quatermass, Nice, Colosseum and all the English music scene.
Why the name: Le Orme? As you were a part of early progressive era, please discuss the progressive music explosion in Italy during the early 70's- What was it like? In your opinion- what killed progressive music in Italy? A lot of Italian progressive bands flourished and died during the 70's/ early 80's, how did you (and Le Orme), survive?
The name came out because we were fans of The Shadows which, in Italian means LE OMBRE. We didn't want to put the exact meaning of the english word, so we choose LE ORME- that means footprints and sounds like LE OMBRE.
Everything started in the 1971. After the europe cultural revolution of young people. It was in the air: the young generation wanted their music, they wanted their artists, they wanted grown-up music with contents, experiments and new sounds. When we came out with COLLAGE it was a success here in Italy, so many records companies gave the opportunity to many other bands to do a record. We have been the first band, but I think it was only by pure chance.
I think that at the end of the 70's, all the world had a quality decline in all the arts. There was a change of generation. No more INNER FLAME in the hearts. The God MONEY helped to forget the passion for the music and finaly the record companies stopped to give opportunities to the REAL MUSIC for the commercial one. Now it is impossible to have our music on TV or Radio.
We survived because we WANTED to survive: we only started to play everywhere for few money and little by little, now, we have again a very big audience in spite of no radio or TV promotion.
How do you go about the composing process? What instrument do you write on?
I usually write on guitar which is my first love and also on bass or sitar- it depends.
The Sitar- not a common instrument in Western music, let alone: prog, rock or jazz. How did you get introduced to the sitar? Are you self-taught or did you have formal instruction?
I always had some sitar or Indian instruments in my house, since the 1971-72. Ten years ago I met BUDHADITYA MUKERJEE, one of the best sitarist in the world, so I started to study with him. I went to London, Frankfurt, Calcutta to meet him. Now I have a
very good formal instruction.
After one of the all-time Prog masterpieces- `Felona E Sorona,' (one of my favorite albums ever), which came out so early in your career, is there any pressure to live up to these progressive `glory days?' Do you mind being `labeled' as a progressive band?
In this moment we are playing the only music we are able to do. We don't care about the name they call it. We think this is FREE MUSIC and nothing else.
This might be a touchy question. Le Orme was supposed to join fellow Prog-legends: Steve Hackett, Nektar and Caravan, etc. at Nearfest 2002. We have heard Nearfest's story. In your own words- What happened? Why did Le Orme not play at this festival?
We didn't play only because of the bluntness of the organizer, it had nothing to do with the other artists that we regard a lot. He exploited the case against us. It is the first time something has happened like this. We think it was only a problem between him and us without involving the fans.
The classic question. If you were stranded on a desert island (With a CD player and batteries), and you could have any ten albums, what would you choose and why?
This is a question I never answer because I love all good music. Every good record gave me something, beginning from The Loving Spoonfull to Peter Gabriel.
What is your favorite book? Movie? Hobbies/interests outside music? Do you work outside of the music business as well?
I read very much about Indian History and Philosophy. I see all the new films coming out, I love Impressionistic painting and craftsmanship things, but music is the most important thing to me.
Your latest album album is `Elementi,' which contain 4 suites pertaining to the elements: earth, wind, fire and water. Please talk about the album. How was in conceived? The album has many soundscapes and flows beautifully into new elements of music. What is your favorite piece on the album and why?
In few words, the meaning of ELEMENTI: Every single atom of the universe- VIBRATE. This vibration can be called "DANCE".Since atoms form the material, we can affirm that the material dance the dance of life, so as God dances- the dance of creation.
In the material world everything tranforms, so all is in movement while elements dance the dance of the Nature. Man is formed by these elements, so man is the Nature.
I don't have a favorite one.
Some Prog bands that do not tour in the US (because of economics, time, etc.), have released concerts on tape and especially DVD to promote their music/worldwide sales. Will you ever release any live Le Orme shows to the world to see (besides compilations such as ProgFest `97)?
No, we don't have a record company and so we don't have the economic support to do that.
What do you think about todays music? Do you get frustrated that creative bands never seem to get much attention in this present-day corporate music environment?
Yes, I do, but not for LE ORME, just for the thousends of very good young bands all
over the world. Now there are two branches of music The Free music and the Recorded one which is conditional by compromises.
What is Le Orme and Aldo Tagliapietra doing now? Any solo works? Band Projects? How difficult is it to create a creative /non-commercial project in Italy? Do you have any pressure to put forth more commercial-based `popular' music?
We have just finished our summer tour in Italy and we are taking a rest. We start again in February. In the meanwhile I am doing some musical experiences with other musicians. There are no projects or solo albums.
We don't have any impression about comercial things because everybody knows that we don't have a flexible mind in this subject.
What is the next step in the evolution of Le Orme? If you could work with any musician(s), living or deceased, who(m), would it be?
Our project is to continue on our way. There are so many good musicians that I realy don't have preferences.
You have an open forum. Do you have any words to the Prog fans out there? Or to young inspiring musicians?
Through the site many people ask me about music and I do it often.
Thank you so much for this interview. Please continue to create wonderful music!
Sincerely, Lee
CIAO. Aldo Tagliapietra
