Mazerand bringing words and music to P.G.
The music of life can be read in the pages of Serge Mazerand’s book or heard from the keys of his piano. He presents both, along with full discussion, at a pair of appearances in Prince George.
Concert pianist and inspirational author Mazerand resides in the Bulkley Valley and frequently makes the journey down Highway 16 to Prince George. He doesn’t always step into the public spotlight, however. He’s doubling down, on this trip.
On Tuesday he will be at Books & Company for an autograph event in support of his book 7 Keys To Serenity, then on Wednesday he will be live in concert at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (3590 Dufferin Ave.) for a solo piano recital drawing on his compositions and 10 albums of recorded materials.
“It’s mainly a musical event, not a workshop or a public forum,” said Mazerand. “It’s to entertain and uplift with music. My book, as you know, is a musical metaphor. I believe marrying the two is a great idea in the sense I can open people’s hearts and souls more by using the effects of the piano along with the power of the words. Prince George is the first of these events, then I’ll be going to Calgary then to Vancouver, and we will see where it goes after that.”
The book was released in autumn of last year and has landed in the world with a round of applause from critics and consumers alike.
“I was overjoyed to see the reaction. When you write a book you just never know how the public will respond,” he said.
Unlike the ephemeral experience of a concert, which gives instant reaction but then lives on only as a unique impression for those in the room, a book moves through culture in a different way. It can be picked up by someone randomly many years hence of the writing. It can have waves of popularity. Its influence can transfer into other mediums of communication. Mazerand feels he is only beginning to feel the rippling effects of his written work.
It can’t hurt that 7 Keys To Serenity earned a final-four position in the Inspiration category of the Body, Mind, Spirit Book Awards and was also a finalist in the General Health category of the American Book Fest’s International Book Awards.
“Sometimes it takes people a long time to read a book. And with a book, it’s always there in the world, so who knows what will happen in the future?” Mazerand said. “It has been a tremendous adventure for me, and healing therapy for me personally. If it can help others to find what might be a better pathway to a better life, that is great as far as I’m concerned.”
For those who already have the book or became fans of his music in past times, these two events are like the return of an old friend to catch up and have a visit. For those who haven’t yet experienced Mazerand’s music and message – it is difficult to say which is the underlying and which is overarching – it’s a pair of opportunities to get familiar and ease into it.
If you just want to sit back and let the piano wash over you, that is also welcomed by Mazerand.
“We are all made of music. We all resonate. Our bodies are made up of vibrations and amplitudes and rhythms. Our vocabulary is full of musical terms. We respond to life on musical terms because we are musical objects,” he said. “Whatever we are tuned to, that’s what happens, that’s what we focus on. We can be in control of that, and it’s important to realize how we can transform our lives by how we think and the actions we take. We create our reality by aligning thoughts, words and actions coherently. That is not always easy, and this is a world of massive distraction. I hope I can show people a clearer way of seeing these connections, and how the music is a pathway to our best ways of living.”
The appearance at Books & Company runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and is free of charge. Books will be avail- able for sale, or bring the copy you already have. Mazerand will be happy to sign it, discuss the content, and get to know the people who are using his musical life lessons.
The recital on Wednesday at 7 p.m. is another chance to buy the books, get his personal signature, and also hear the compositions that demonstrate Mazerand’s meanings. The title of the concert is PlayIng By Heart & Beyond for the multiple meanings that implies.
“Some of it is going into unexpected directions,” he said. “You might hear some jazzy or bluesy stuff but you will also enjoy classical pieces by Chopin, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Debussy. It is all really about our music – the subtle music that plays within us all. Music that needs to be expressed in all authenticity.”
Tickets can be purchased in advance on the Eventbrite website (type Mazerand into the search menu then click the links to the Prince George event) or at the door. Admission is $20 with a portion of each ticket price going to the Red Cross.