by Bożena U. Zaremba
Witold Tułodziecki picked up the guitar at the age of 11, thanks to his mother, who recognized his musical talent and sensitive nature. Private lessons and, later, music school instruction followed. Formal training at the State School of Music in Poznan, a large city at the heart of Poland, gave him impeccable technique, extensive knowledge of the theory and history of music, as well as the appreciation of music in general. But he kept his eyes and ears open. He loved to listen to the Polish Radio programs, which in the 80s presented a vast array of different music genres, and he expanded his musical horizons by forming a rock band. He also took advantage of the possibilities that his culturally refined hometown had to offer and attended as many live concerts featuring world renowned musicians as possible. Concerts by Paco De Lucia, Paco Pena and the Romero Guitar Quartet left a distinctive imprint on his sensitive musical soul. It was the vibrant flamenco music with its charismatic vitality, rich rhythm patterns and colourful harmony that captivated him right from the start.
When he was close to graduating from the Academy of Music in Poznan, Witold decided to spend summer vacation with his sister, who lived in the United States, but during the visit, he met his future wife and did not return to Poland. They settled down in Atlanta suburbs, where he chose to devote his musical energy and talent to flamenco. He played in various flamenco groups for years, but at some point he started to realize that being exposed to the nostalgic character of flamenco music and the dramatic themes of unfulfilled love and tragic revenge, so prevalent in the expressive flamenco singing, made him feel miserable. He also felt that playing most of the time with other musicians or accompanying a flamenco singer or a dancer inhibited his urge for individual artistic expression. After eight years of a hectic touring schedule, which involved travelling long distances even for a short rehearsal, he decided to break away in order to achieve personal and artistic freedom.
Witold Tułodziecki's debut album, My Heart for You, which he has just released, is influenced by the flamenco tradition, but it has contemporary rhythms and harmony. This CD is also absent of the traditional flamenco nostalgia and the ambience of existential suffering - this is Nuevo Flamenco, full of joyful melodies and optimistic mood, supported by electronic instrumentation, mainly keyboard and bass. Still, the dominant voice of the classical guitar gives this album acoustic sound. Elements of flamenco, Latin, jazz, classical and Middle Eastern music complement each other and blend harmoniously. The quality of sound and the virtuosity are imposing, but the artist's attention to detail and bravura techniques are not employed just for their own sake, but to serve the purpose of the consistent building of musical themes, both within each piece and in the entire album. Brisk tempos are intertwined with quiet moments; climaxes and resolutions are ingeniously planned and still sound like spontaneous improvisations. What makes My Heart for You even more impressive is the fact that this CD is the creation of one artist from the beginning to the end - Witold is the musician, the composer and the arranger; he is also responsible for the complete production and mastering process.
He is simply his own master, which comes from Witold's distinctive outlook on life, mainly from the holistic approach to the human being, which is based on the principle that man is a unity, whose all elements - physical, mental, and spiritual - are closely connected and interdependent. He believes that the music we play, or listen to, has a tremendous impact on our psyche. In the same way, our mental state determines what we create. Witold's artistic achievements have come through years of hard work, continuous self-improvement and the ability to use his time and energy most efficiently. He is confident in his power to influence and to shape his life and he consistently puts this belief into practice through healthy living. He is an advanced practitioner and instructor of martial arts; he is an avid mountain biker and skier. He has been a vegetarian for years and is a propagator of healthy and organic food. He is also passionate about alternative medicine, self-healing and therapeutic transfer of energy. Most of all, he is optimistic, open and generous to other people. Positive approach is his key to life and his key to music.
My Heart for You is available at AtlantaFlamenco.com
Bozena U. Zaremba, a bilingual journalist and translator, is editor of the Chopin Society of Atlanta's publication, Chopin Notes. She is a regular contributor to the Polish Daily News (Nowy Dziennik), published in New York. Her articles and interviews focusing on music, literature and culture have also been published in Jazz Forum in Poland and in the Polish-Canadian Gazeta. She holds an M.A. in English from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and is a graduate of the State School of Music in Krakow, where she studied voice. She is a Sudoku and Zumba enthusiast and loves making sushi and chocolate truffles for her family.
