In 1966 he was hired as a director of the ensemble Ciocarlia, having under his baton 300 artists , including the symphonic orchestra, the ballet ensemble, the folkloric orchestra and the soloists. In 1966 Zamfir released his first Electrecord disc, deemed his most popular authentic compositions. The famous songs Doina de Jale and "Doina ca de la Visina were included. In 1968 Gheorghe released his second disc. Between 1968 and 1970 he went on his first tour in the Federal Germany, Switzerland, URSS, China; bringing him acclaim from critics and public alike.
Gheorghe left the Ciocarlia ensemble in 1969. In 1970 he forms the traditional concert group Taraf, obtaining amazing success in Paris at Vieux Colombier in 45 recitals, playing for the first time the 4 pan flutes soprano, alto, tenor, and bass that he invented in 1968. Introducing the pan flute in all the musical styles, beginning a world sound revolution, he got spectacular comments from the greatest musicians of that time, including Sergiu Celibidache, Hanz Hollinger, Maurice Bourg, Henri Dutilleux, Pierre Boulez and others.
In 1972 creates the Pan flute-organ style, introducing new repertoires and ways of interpreting. In 1974 composes the first "Mass for the Peace" for pan flute, choir, organ and orchestra, recorded in Bucharest with the Radio Orchestra and the Madrigal choir -lead by Marin Constantin, under the baton of Paul Popescu.
In 1976, his single "Ete d'amour" becomes one of the hits of the year. In one of the tours he meets the German composer and conductor James Last, with whom Zamfir collaborated for the " Lonely Shepherd ", his second European hit. He has tours in USA at Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center, Australia, New Zeeland, Japan, Canada, South Africa, Scandinavia, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria. He gets over 90 gold and platinum disks , 4 golden discs in South Africa, 4 platinum discs in New Zeeland, 4 golden discs in Australia.
In 1981 his discs are released on the American market. Until 1985 they were sold in millions of copies in USA and Canada. In USA he gets 2 golden discs, unique event for an European artist, and in Canada, through all 5 millions of sold discs he beats all the records.
In France, Germany, Austria and Belgium, Zamfir receives titles and medals, gold and platinum discs, the Order for Cultural Merit of France, the title of officer and cavalier of France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
In 1982 he creates the first rhapsody and the first concert for pan flute that he records for Philips with the Monte Carlo Philharmonic, under the baton of Lawrence Foster. In 1984 he creates the first quintet for pan flute and string quartet called "The Poplars Quintet", that he sang with the "Oxford Quartet" in Toronto in a live radio broadcasting; he composes several chamber works that he performed with the famous quartet "Enescu" in France and Germany.
In 1986 he records his first disc with baroque repertoire, among which the Double Concert in B minor for violin and oboe by J.S.Bach with British Chamber Orchestra.
Between 1988-1990 he is received for three times at the Vatican, being the first musician that sang during the private mass of the pope John Paul the second, receiving the Vatican Medal and twice the diploma of "Don Bosco" University in Rome. He receives twice the gold medal of the French Academy Association "Art-Science and Letters" of France, twice the Prize of "Charles Cros"Academy, "The Golden Sagittarius" in Italy, gold discs in Switzerland and Germany. He goes on tours in Latin America (in Columbia receives the Commander's order from the President ) in Ecuador and Venezuela he is invited for a great advertising campaign for a film using one of his own musical themes. He collaborated at the recording of the music of "Picnic at Hainging Rock", "Once upon a time in America" and "Karate Kid", in Australia, in Italy and Hollywood by the Paramount Company.
After 1990 he returns in Romania and continues his concerts and tours in France, Switzerland, and especially in Turkey where he is declared the most popular composer and artist of the XXth century. Author of over 300 works in the folkloric, chamber, choral, vocal, instrumental and symphonic style, Gheorghe Zamfir has a rich activity as a professor at the National University of Music in Bucharest, where it was created the first pan flute section in the world; he continues to give concerts on the most prestigious stages with symphonic and chamber orchestras, in recitals with piano and organ, achieving the status of one of the greatest musicians of the world, and for sure the most complex Romanian artist alive.
After nearly a decade-long absence, Romanian pan flute virtuoso Gheorghe Zamfir returned to Canada in January 2006 for a seven-city tour with TRAFFIC STRINGS quintet . The program included a world premiere: Vivaldi's Four Seasons for PanFlute and string quintet arranged by Lucian Moraru, jazz standards, and well-known favourites. This Master piece was soon after the subject to an album, released by SonArt Records in may 2006.
The repertoire of G.Zamfir is one of the most varied. He contains from baroque and classic composers like Bach, Corelli, Vivaldi, Telemann, Schubert, Schumann, Puccini, to contemporary known composers like Lennon, McCartney, Billy Joel and Elton John. We must also remember his own compositions, beginning with concerts for orchestra and pan flute, to simple songs reflecting the Romanian popular tradition:
- "Gloria", 1975
- "The breath of time", 1974
- "Colors of autumn"
- "Romantic Impression"(for pan flute and piano), 1988
- "Homage to J.S. Bach" (recorded for Philips with the pianist Georges Reboul, Paris, 1973)
- "Green Waltz"
- "Black Waltz"
- "Lyric Symphony"
Gheorghe Zamfir also published 3 volumes of poetry, 2 volumes of essays, an autobiographical book and had 4 painting exhibitions in the country and abroad. He is also involved in the actions of a foundation having his name, and who serves generous humanitarian and cultural purposes.
Tous les visages de l'amour
Gheorghe Zamfir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je ne sais jamais qui tu es
Tu changes si souvent de visage et d'aspect
Toi quelque soit ton âge et ton nom
Tu es un ange ou le démon
Quand pour moi tu prends tour à tour
Tous les visages de l'amour
Toi, si Dieu ne t'avait modelé
Pour donner à ma vie sa raison d'exister
Toi qui est ma joie et mon tourment
Tantôt femme et tantôt enfant
Tu offres à mon cœur chaque jour
Tous les visages de l'amour
Moi, je suis le feu qui grandit ou qui meure
Je suis le vent qui rugit ou qui pleure
Je suis la force ou la faiblesse
Moi, je pourrais défier le ciel et l'enfer
Je pourrais dompter la terre et la mer
Et réinventer la jeunesse
Toi, viens fais moi ce que tu veux
Un homme heureux ou malheureux
Un mot de toi je suis poussière ou je suis Dieu
Toi, sois mon espoir, sois mon destin
J'ai si peur de mes lendemains
Montre à mon âme sans secours
Tous les visages de l'amour
Toi! tous les visages de l'amour
These lyrics from Gheorghe Zamfir's song Tous les visages de l'amour (All the Faces of Love) express the idea of how a person can have varied and complex dimensions that may constantly change. The singer addresses his beloved and admits he can never determine who she is since she keeps changing her appearance and demeanor. The lyrics suggest that she could be a positive influence in his life, an angel, or equally a negative force, a demon. The song highlights how love can encompass diverse aspects of who an individual is, regardless of their name, age, or past.
The singer illustrates how the woman is essential to his existence to the extent that he believes that even if God hadn't created her, he would have had to make her exist just to have a purpose in life. He describes his feelings as a mixture of joy and pain when he sees her every day, portraying different aspects of love. Meanwhile, the singer refers to himself as the fire that can die or grow, the wind that can both roar or sob, the person who possesses strengths and weaknesses. He considers himself capable of creating and achieving great things, conquering the world and reviving his youth.
Line by Line Meaning
Toi, par tes mille et un attraits
You, with your countless charms
Je ne sais jamais qui tu es
I never know who you are
Tu changes si souvent de visage et d'aspect
You change your face and appearance so often
Toi quelque soit ton âge et ton nom
You, no matter your age or name
Tu es un ange ou le démon
You are an angel or a demon
Quand pour moi tu prends tour à tour
When you take turns being
Tous les visages de l'amour
All the faces of love
Toi, si Dieu ne t'avait modelé
You, if God didn't mold you
Il m'aurait fallu te créer
I would have had to create you
Pour donner à ma vie sa raison d'exister
To give my life a reason to exist
Toi qui est ma joie et mon tourment
You who are my joy and torment
Tantôt femme et tantôt enfant
Sometimes a woman and sometimes a child
Tu offres à mon cœur chaque jour
You offer my heart every day
Tous les visages de l'amour
All the faces of love
Moi, je suis le feu qui grandit ou qui meure
Me, I am the fire that grows or dies
Je suis le vent qui rugit ou qui pleure
I am the wind that roars or cries
Je suis la force ou la faiblesse
I am strength or weakness
Moi, je pourrais défier le ciel et l'enfer
Me, I could challenge heaven and hell
Je pourrais dompter la terre et la mer
I could tame the earth and sea
Et réinventer la jeunesse
And reinvent youth
Toi, viens fais moi ce que tu veux
You, come make me whatever you want
Un homme heureux ou malheureux
A happy or unhappy man
Un mot de toi je suis poussière ou je suis Dieu
One word from you, I am dust or I am God
Toi, sois mon espoir, sois mon destin
You, be my hope, be my destiny
J'ai si peur de mes lendemains
I am so afraid of my tomorrows
Montre à mon âme sans secours
Show my helpless soul
Tous les visages de l'amour
All the faces of love
Toi! tous les visages de l'amour
You! All the faces of love
Contributed by Skyler W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cristina Monteiro
Musica belíssima!!!