Lubomyr Melnyk (born December 22, 1948) is a composer and pianist of Ukrainian origin.
Melnyk is noted for his 'continuous music', a piano technique featuring extremely rapid notes and complex note-series, usually with the sustain pedal held down to generate harmonic overtones and sympathetic resonances.
Music
Melnyk links his piano technique to his national identity.
Melnyk often plays rapid sequences, and can play up to 19 notes per second with each hand. These overtones blend or clash according to harmonic changes. Most of his music is for the solo piano, but he has also composed chamber music and orchestral works where he plays the continuous piano and is accompanied by musicians with other instruments, for example: "The End of the World" or "Vocalises and Antiphons". Some pieces are performed for two pianos, where he plays over a recording of himself, for instance "Niche-Nourish-Niche-Xon".
Teaching
Melnyk offers lessons to a general audience of piano students, and has liked to run workshops at concerts in the past - when possible. Though, few have truly taken interest in studying. Two notable students who are successful pianists in their own right are Ell Kendall and Matthew Thomasson, who perform their own music which is (occasionally) seen to be inspired by Melnyk's technique. Another is Hauschka, who helped Melnykr's music become noticed by the record label Erased Tapes, which he has worked with for many years. One of the only current students of his, who performs and promotes his music online, is the student Nathan Adlam. He has also worked with Peter Broderick and Nils Frahm. He has expressed fears that his music will not outlive him.
Melnyk has also made certain educational recordings and has written exercises for students such as the Meditations and the 22 Circular Etudes. As mentioned in the below section, he wrote a book titled Open Time, which focuses on explaining his notation and surrounding philosophy and spirituality, in relation to the music.
Some of his pieces have individual scores available online, e.g. Cloud Nr. 81 or Barcarolle. There is also a scorebook of six pieces, published by Erased Tapes, wherein scores for Pockets of Light, Butterfly, Parasol, Evertina, Awaiting and The Moving Window may be found.
Biography
Melnyk was born on December 22, 1948, in Munich, Germany, to Ukrainian parents. After emigrating to Canada he received a degree in Latin and Philosophy from St. Paul’s College in Winnipeg. He lived in Paris from 1973 to 1975, supporting himself by playing for modern dance classes, most notably in conjunction with Carolyn Carlson at the Paris Opera. Many of his works were presented in conjunction with modern dance. Through his work with Carlson, he began to create continuous music for piano.
Melnyk has composed over 120 works, mostly for piano solo and double piano, and some for piano with ensemble. To explain the proper physical and mental techniques for his music, Melnyk wrote a treatise, OPEN TIME: The Art of Continuous Music (1981) and 22 Etudes, to teach the fundamental levels of his continuous technique.
In 1985, Melnyk set two world records, documented on film and with full audio, at the Sigtuna Stiftelsen in Sweden. He sustained speeds of over 19.5 notes per second in each hand, and played between 13 and 14 notes per second for one full hour.
