Welcome to this month’s “5 Questions with….” This is a series where I interview someone in the music industry via email. Today’s guest was recommended by “5 Questions” alum Eve Willems.
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Keep reading for an interesting interview with Roger Hewett!
While reading, why not give a listen to the Fischarper Blog Guests playlist below?
How would you describe what you do musically?
A little background info could be relevant here. Classically trained as a pianist from age 6, my first musical work was when I was 16, accompanying dance classes at a local school in my UK hometown of Norwich. From there I played with various bands in the region, entertaining holidaymakers. It was a stint on a cruise ship that took me out of the UK and eventually to
Canada, where I now live.
I always had an appreciation for orchestral music in films. As a youth, my guilty pleasure was buying scores and recordings of film versions of Rodgers & Hammerstein. Prior to my engagement with Cirque du Soleil, I worked for several film composers in Montreal, as an orchestrator. I like to compose whenever I can, and am taking advantage of the Covid-induced break from Cirque to bring my studio back up to date and get back into film music, where my passion still sits.
You have some pretty diverse musical experiences, from musical director of Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo to film work (also, this cartoon music is very cool!). How have you learned to succeed in these varied musical endeavors?
A solid musical training was paramount, but ‘getting out there and doing it’ was really the key. I learned that being able to wear many musical hats was the key to survival. Whether playing for a ballet class, as church organist, solo cocktail piano or accompanying cabaret artists with a band. I learned about the ensembles, and how to write for them. I also adore working with visual imagery, on stage and screen. One of my highlights was playing
piano/celeste for the ‘Just For Laughs’ in Montreal, a few years ago. Along with a symphony orchestra, we accompanied Bugs Bunny cartoons, shown on a giant screen behind us.
What is your advice for aspiring composers or arrangers?
Listen, and feel. Music is truly magical in how it can generate such a broad spectrum of emotions. Knowledge of musical theory is always a good thing, but it is okay to break rules, to push the envelope a little.
Today’s software is amazing, giving us the freedom to try things out. Make the most of it, but don’t become a slave to it. Sometimes a piece of manuscript, a pencil (and eraser!) can be your best friends. Cheaper too!
Which genre of music is your favorite to play?
I really like to play a whole variety of music. I still enjoy hammering out a rusty performance of a Rachmaninov prelude or a medley from Phantom [of the Opera].
I love the ‘standards’ from the 40s and 50s. They were little gems of creativity, and when arranged by the likes of Nelson Riddle they make me melt!
These days, I get the most pleasure from accompanying singers and instrumentalists. When we are on the same wavelength as we play, listening and breathing together, the feeling is almost palpable.
Who else should be a guest for the “5 Questions with…” series?
I would strongly recommend Rob Cookman, a Broadway music supervisor, MD and keyboard player. Most recently supervising the ‘Baby Shark ‘Live’’ tour. An all round wonderful person.
I think you will also find my friend and colleague Nate Lerohl a good candidate. Nate, like me, was also touring with Cirque, and has travelled the world since studying bass in Prague.
And there you have “5 Questions with…Roger Hewett.” Check out some of his work at RogerHewett.com or IMDb, & connect with him on LinkedIn.
Let me know who you think I should interview!
-Barbara
Originally from the east of England, Roger Hewett is an active musician for stage and screen. His credits include composing, orchestrating, performing (piano, keyboards) and conducting award-winning projects for Cirque du Soleil, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Disney, Alliance Atlantis, Lions Gate Films, CBS, NBC, CBC and the BBC. Roger now lives in Ontario, Canada, along with his wife, singer/songwriter Kari Lynn, and their two bengal cats Jeff & Beau.
Fischarper interviews may be edited for accuracy (spelling, punctuation, etc.), sentence flow, space, etc. Interviewee views are not necessarily endorsed or shared by Barbara Fischer or Fischarper, LLC.
Want to be interviewed or have a suggestion for a “5 Questions with…” interviewee? Let me know via the contact form!
Barbara Fischer runs Fischarper, LLC and loves her job as a harpist and private music educator. She enjoys blogging about various aspects of the music field on fischarper.com/blog. For more music resources, check out the Fischarper store. Find out where you can find Barbara on the interwebs here. And you can sign up to receive Fischarper updates by joining the email list.
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