Sketch of Paul Cheneour
Photo of Paul

Solo Flutes

Paul Cheneour's solo flute concerts are meditations for solo flutes.

'Hear the sound within the silence and the silence within the sound' - Quote Paul Cheneour

During the concert Paul plays various flutes from Concert flute, Alto Flute, Bass Flute, Piccolo, Chinese, Japanese and Indian Bamboo Flutes to Arab Ney flutes and all the pieces are spontaneous intuitive music or 'Direct Deed' played in the moment, nothing is pre-planned.

Throughout his career Paul has walked a somewhat different and broader musical path, fusing eastern and western music, encompassing European Classical, Jazz, Arab, Indian, Celtic and other music, culminating in his own 'World Fusion' style, but above all Paul feels his music always tells a story, you can hear examples on the three solo flute albums.

Paul says, "How I arrived at a state of being and playing can be likened to going through a doorway, whether I've done it by accident or design is still open to question. The fact is that it happened and for me is the most fulfilling way of playing both solo or in collaboration however, before you can combine the elements of composition and spontaneous performance it is essential to be completely still and empty. And after playing for over 33 year I delight more than ever in exploring and developing different sound qualities and textures".

When I recorded each solo flute album, the pieces just kept coming out one after another and felt like I'm just a vehicle observing, almost like an 'out of body' experience. Every piece was the first take, no edits or anything added afterwards. When the recordings were finished, I felt like I hadn't really done anything however, arriving home, I had to sleep for about two days.

Around the world every day events were unfolding very fast. Was it really a time for radical change? Or was it just the faster media coverage? In my own world I had many influences, it's difficult to list them all, but the significant early ones were: the humour and works of Spike Milligan, and the music Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Ravi Shankar and the Beatles, the first kiss and first love. Later ones include: many esoteric books, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, Monty Pythons Flying Circus, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, passionate relationships, two near fatal car crashes, severe PTSS (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome), and meeting some very remarkable people, both adults and children, who have nudged me to a more wakeful and aware state of being.

Music was very important to me. It was the one language that spoke directly to my heart. Then, at 19 years of age, a friend introduced me to the concert flute. It was like coming home. Luckily, since then I have been playing professionally, in many different styles: Jazz, Fusion, Arab, now also on authentic Ney flutes, Classical, Indian, and my own pan cultural style.

At this point I feel that I must give deep thanks, to my Guildhall flute teacher Professor Rainer Schuelein, who not only gave valuable flute instruction, but also through his teaching, pointed me in the direction of myself. He encouraged me to learn in my own way, with confidence. My late Mother and Father who gave warm, from the heart encouragement, never faltering in their belief in the process. To my brothers and sister for their generosity in times of crisis. Having now played and taught for over 31 years, I still really delight in and enjoy further exploration. I love what I do and I do what I love. The beauty of playing music is that there is no finite, no end. The music I heard inside, all those years ago when I was a boy now comes through me. I throw back my head and feel the sea, sun, and wind running through me, like rain. What a sound! To be alive is a privilege, but especially at this time in our history, even with all the struggles and hardships that each one of us faces. They make us stronger. Also remember that everything in the universe is in perfect order. Although it is a difficult paradox to hold, after a while it is well worth the effort.

During an interview I was asked to give my definition of the meaning of Life. After some thought I said:

"To participate in the realisation of God's planned. To be or not to be. That's not the question... It's the answer!"

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