Composer, Pianist, Teacher, Performer
(Oct 10, 1960 to Nov 12, 2009)
This 8-minute video performance of Charles was shot casually in 2007 by professional photographer (and 26 Blocks participant) Brandon Sullivan as Charles shared selections from his portfolio with Joey Robert Parks’ Creative Round Table; of which Charles was a member.
A Lifetime Performance
When you were with Charles, you were the most important person in the world to him. His time, money, talents, and very life were continuously offered to others. We received all this and relished in who he was. Charles loved sipping Margaret’s Hope 2nd Flush Darjeeling and buying coffee for as many people as he could at Lux. He sometimes arrived at his Tuesday morning book study unprepared because he had given his book away. He had photographic memory. He had “absolute pitch”; play any note, on any instrument, and he could name or replay that note. At the age of 24, he had already composed four symphonies, three operas, multiple piano and organ works, a host of songs for voice and piano/orchestra accompaniment, string quartets and piano trios. He traveled extensively. He learned several languages; German particularly fluently. He performed many recitals at private concerts around the world, premiered and recorded works from some of the world’s most exemplary living composers. Yet, foremost, we discovered rather quickly the thing which was closest to Charles’ heart and soul: his passion for Jesus, his mother Louise, and everyone else he met. Charles gave us an understanding of what a life given to others looks like, feels like, and sounds like. He is greatly missed, but his music and his lifetime performance endures.
~ Joey Robert Parks, Nov 2009.
Who does Charles Wells sound like?
We put that question to many of his former students, colleagues, and close friends. The sound of the feedback was diverse and varied, but one Charles’ former students summarized perfectly the thoughts of everyone.
“Charles is especially difficult to pin down because he doesn’t fall into the laziness of most modern musicians. Hearing him play Beethoven, Chopin, or Chinary Ung is fresh and unique each time, because he breaths new life into their pieces as the unique works of art that they are. Usually pianists play the music, but Charles allowed the music to play him. You usually hear the modern pianist rather than the original composer, but Charles allowed each piece to have a voice of their own. For that reason, I would say that any attempt to compare him to any modern pianist will be futile – he is unlike any pianist that anyone today has ever heard. ”
~ Anthony Sciubba, former student
Purchase Charles’ Music:
Timeless Piano Classics (Chapter One)
Timeless Piano Classics (Chapter Two)
Chinary Ung: Khse Buon, Child Song, Seven Mirrors
(Charles Wells, tracks 3 – 7)
Visit the memorial page of Charles Kevin Wells