The Whole Music Experience

Classical / Jazz   Harmonia Ensemble Piotr Tchaikovsky/Duke Ellington Nutcracker Suites Harmonia Mundi No one was thinking of swinging to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker in 1892 when the Russian composer wrote the incidental music for ballet. Yet, when you listen to the Overture , we hear hints of jazz, even if this seems preposterous or impossible.   And when Harmonia Ensemble performs the March , again, we hear the delights of jazz.   Is this a coincidence? Perhaps, since Harmonia Ensemble performs back-to-back Tchaikovsky’s late romantic era ballet along with Swing Master Duke Ellington’s 1960 Harlem ballet version.   So if you’re wondering if much was lost in the translation, let’s just say a lot more layers were added. While this is a fabulous concept, I feel that the ensemble rushes through the classical version, which is probably why I’m thinking “swing” while I try to catch my breath.   Oh, the performance is still majestic and nostalgic,...

Lisa Spector and Sanchez Feed Your Mind with Whole Music  Originally published in the Natural Inquirer (Skagit Valley Food Coop) What if your shopping list looked something like: Organic broccoli, organic carrots, organic soy milk, and acoustic music CDs? It might if you think of music as an energetic substance that your body absorbs and digests.   Current research shows it does. According to psychoacoustic experts (researches the effects of sound/music on the nervous system) music entrains our minds and bodies.   Every cell in our bodies responds to musical vibration and while some types of music lifts our moods and immune responses, some music can lead us into a black hole of depression and low immune responses (think heavy metal).    While many of us recall Don Campbell’s 1997 book, The Mozart Effect , not everyone prefers classical music. We can still reap the benefits of music by listening to other genres including world...

Wikipedia  Print Publications: I found a new magazine Mindful at the library and in the August 2013 issue, the editors included an article on Evelyn Glennie (the deaf percussionist from Scotland), "Tune in, Turn on" written by Mariko Jesse.  Since I promote mindfulness through music, I highly recommend reading this article and the new magazine. http://www.mindful.org  In the March/April 2013 issue of Natural Health magazine,  a brief news piece on page 24 mentions mindful eating while listening to soft jazz music.  The article is based on a study in Psychological Reports .  You might also check out Brian Wansinka, Ph.D. book Mindless Eating (Bantam). http://www.naturalhealthmag.com  Online articles: Also check out the Guardian article, "Head First: Mindfulness and Music." http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/16/mindfulness-meditation-music "Mindfulness and Meditation Boosts Music Engagement, Study Finds", Huffington Post...

Jazz   Project Them A Jazz Collective   Miles High Records When veteran jazz musicians get together and collaborate, the music that results is often invigorating and in-the-moment.   Project Them, a collective (and album title), including: Bob Franceschini (saxophone and flute), Mark Sherman (vibraphone), Mitchel Forman (piano and organ), Martin Gjakonovski (bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums) and Paolo Di Sabatino (piano), contains performances where you can feel the musicians admiring and honoring each other’s talents.   They aim for a big ensemble sound with strong melodies, and intriguing musical texture.   And a track such as, Close Enough for Love , leaves a romantic imprint with its sweet use of vibraphone, piano, and a laidback rhythm section. However, don’t think for a minute that we’re listening to “smooth jazz” here.   One listen to rousing opener, Submissive Dominants with high-end drums, driving bass and go-man-go saxophone, w...

Book review How to Listen to Great Music   A Guide to its History, Culture & Art Robert Greenberg   Plume Book/Penguin I’m a music appreciation junkie and when I find a music appreciation book with a flowing narrative, theory that’s explained in a way I can understand, and biographical details of composers tossed in, I climb on board.   I have taught music appreciation courses, but my focus was on world and folkloric music.   Robert Greenberg, a composer and music historian not only teaches through the pages of How to Listen to Great Music , but he also teaches a series through his teaching company, Great Courses. In this book, he gets us started with medieval and renaissance music and then we’re off into the baroque, classical, romantic and post modern eras--starting with Gregorian chant and landing in the terrain of Arnold Schoenberg.   We learn about fugues and musical structures from each of the musical/cultural eras as Greenber...