Lucian Manea

Lucian Manea was born in Bucharest and with his parents moved to USA when he was 10 years old, while at age 8 he started learning violin.  He attended some well known music schools in New York named Mannes and Manhattan School of Music all up until the second year of College.  On top of having problems with his teachers and health, what convinced him to leave the music college unfinished was that he made little friends and the competitive cold atmosphere even when playing in the orchestra. He didn’t like the system that was used to teach music, and still today does not agree how music schools train musicians after taking some Juilliard courses.  Especially young classically trained musicians are forced to learn compositions/pieces from famous composers, which usually, they fall in love with for the rest of their lives. Usually they aren’t taught the ways to understand and appreciate all kinds of music from all kinds of styles, new and old. Our ears are one of the most important ‘instruments’ since through what we hear can we learn and explore the deepness in music.  After Lucian left the music school, he worked for 3 years in CD shops, and since he was curious about all kinds of music he began listening to all of them, from folk, to jazz, blues, to rock, soul, metal, rap, to avant-garde classical and from the most delicate styles/genres to the most extreme.  He found the most kind of unique and creative music in Jazz from 1910-1970, folk and traditional music from all parts of the world (Romania, Cuba, Madagascar, Indonesia, Spain, Iran, Morocco, India, Mali, ‘Gypsy’  etc…), and many rock styles, as well as classical music from beginning of its history to the most contemporary.

Little by little Lucian Manea began to improvise solo with the violin and learn his own styles of playing. At the age of 28 he began to learn how to compose music without any composition teacher. His teachers were the hundreds of CD recordings he has heard and learned from.  Since that time Lucian has developed many tools, approaches and styles to compose original music, with ways similar to how Ravel, Debussy, Bartok, Enescu explored not only classical music but other styles/genres in which they succeeded to create something new. Lucian’s music cannot be labeled in any one way. Frequently it does contain rhythm and pulse since this comes from our heart beat. His music has elements of all kinds of world music (traditional and folk), jazz, rock, rhythm, and classical music, yet its all new and original with its own roots/stamps/creations.  He doesn’t like to copy other composers and thinks that true new art is the most difficult to create with good quality which will remain interesting in our history. Almost all his pieces have motive, cause and finale while some have very developed stories. These days the definitions of music have changed drastically from even 20 years ago. For most composers and artists today the most important thing for them is to present themselves to the public with how good they look in a photo or a video, however they don’t value as much the music they create or put enough time, concentration and effort to make it quality. This is one reason why music suffers today and the music industry insincere.  Lucian only now after many years of serious composing feels ready to present his music to the public. He has been strict with musicians and has high expectations from musicians that want to play his music. They need to devote themselves if they want to learn/perform/record it.  With his latest single release ‘You gotta sing’ where his vocals are introduced to the media world he is confident and finally at peace to feel as a versatile creator of music.  In the future Lucian has many big/small plans to release new works and perhaps even CDs and your support would be greatly appreciated. (not financially, but in all other ways) He would also be happy to perform anywhere in the world where he is welcome!