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Crazy about music and buses

Driving and music: Have they anything in common? Marc Rochester, who is an ace musician and bus driver, tells K.PRADEEP how the twain co-exist

STEEPED IN CLASSICISM Marc Rochester drove London buses to fund his music studies PHOTO: H. VIBHU

Dr. Marc Rochester loves the lovely red London buses. Not for its efficiency alone but more because he relishes the lovely, rhythmic music of its well-oiled engines. Finding music in the whirr of the bus engines, harmony in its movement, must have been one reason why this musician, critic and music writer, chose to become a London bus driver.

"This love affair with buses and big vehicles began, I think, when I was a child. I always admired the drivers as they proudly rode those fine machines. When I had completed my studies and was looking out for a job the first thought was to try and become a bus driver. I applied, went through the mandatory tests and got my licence. Driving the big red buses along the London streets, doubling-up as a tourist guide was enjoyable. They were maintained meticulously. Even a slight difference in the pitch of the engine can be discerned," says Mr. Rochester who was in the city recently as an examiner for Trinity School of Music, London.

But before all this Mr. Rochester had had made his mark as a master musician, a magician at the organ. "I must have started off when I was five. My father was a church organist and my beginning was also with church music. Initially it was on the piano and very soon I went through all the grades. These years spent as a choirboy, learning the piano was an enriching musical education. Then in school it was the French horn and by the time I was 16, I had completed the grades in violin too. I was off to university in Wales. The harp is the national instrument of this nation and that was how I went about learning to play it. Music has been everything in life."

To fund his studies Mr. Rochester drove buses, long distance coaches, worked with the British Broadcasting Corporation as a producer and newsreader. "Yes, driving long distances, like once from London to Athens was fun. In the beginning I drove a school bus, taking the little kids to school and back. This gave me a lot of time to spend at the library. Then for a while I even drove the bus for Tottenham-Hotspur football club. I hate football and often sat in the bus while the game went on giving away my entry pass to some football fan. The BBC is the biggest promoter of classical music. I did a lot of programmes with the BBC. For the past 25 years I have been hosting the three-hour Christmas Music aired on Boxing Day."

Since the late 1980's, when he was invited by the Government of Sarawak to work with the ethnic musicians of Borneo, Mr. Rochester has lived in Malaysia. "Forget the music, I knew nothing of the place. I must have spent a whole year visiting each of the 26 ethnic groups. Each of these tribes had a different language, a different culture. Finally, we managed to get them together. Their music was played, recorded and we produced the first commercial CD of their music."

Malaysia was to become Mr. Rochester's destiny. He married Magdalene, who is Malay-Chinese, and has now settled there. For the last 20 years he has been involved in the musical life of Malaysia, examining for various music schools, lecturing at the country's first university music department and has played a vital role in setting up the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). He serves as its organist, repertory consultant and programme annotator. He writes programmes not just for the MPO but also for the Singapore Symphony and many other Asian orchestras. His `Organ and Friends,' with a string, brass ensemble and chamber players is highly rated.

"We'll be coming to Mumbai this year, a 106-member group. We have people from 62 countries who are selected based on the international recognition o their talents. The MPO has really come big despite a sluggish start. We have five performances every week and all of them have packed audiences. In the beginning it was misunderstood as religious. But we have succeeded in proving that it is secular, it is Western music, very, very international."

In the last 25 years Mr. Rochester has toured around 50 countries identifying talents. "On an average I come across 5,000 young musicians a year. Every country has its own music and it is important that the musicians retain that even as they learn the Western styles. I firmly believe that the two can co-exist."

A regular contributor to `Gramophone' and `International Record Review Magazine,' Mr. Rochester is also the co-author of the annual `Good CD Guide' and author of many books on music. His concert programme notes and CD liner notes are familiar to concert goers the world over. Mr. Rochester also runs a company that provides literary services to the music profession.

"For a few more years I'll be around in Malaysia. Then when it is time to retire from service it will be back to England. I'm not sure if I'll continue doing all that I have been doing now. But one thing is sure. I'll definitely be driving the London buses," says Mr. Rochester, with a broad grin and stretches out for his leather bag.

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