The Whole Music Experience

So many times I have read studies about depression lowering immune responses and happiness boosting immunity.  I believe this is true and I believe that the pleasure of listening to delightful music enhances are immunity.  I know when I feel rundown with a cold or other infections, I bring out my favorite classical pieces.  Here is a list of 10 I highly recommend. Try them, and I guarantee you will shorten your recovery time. 1. Prelude to the Afternoon of the Faun--Claude Debussy (French) 2. Clarinet Concerto in A major--W.A. Mozart (Austrian) 3. Exsultate Jubilate--Mozart 4. Rhapsody in Blue--George Gershwin (American) 5. The Grand Canyon Suites--Ferde Grofe (American) 6. Appalachian Spring--Aaron Copeland (American) 7. Six Brandenberg Concertos--J. S. Bach (German) 8. Piano Concerto in G major--Maurice Ravel (France) 9. The Fountains of Rome--Ottorino Respighi (Italy) 10. The Swan of Tuonela--Jean Sibelius (Finland) If you need a huge ...

Oka! (Listen) Film Soundtrack Oka Productions I first became acquainted with the music of the Central African pygmies (Congo, Cameroon), when I discovered the music of the Afro-Celtic band Baka Beyond.  I felt fascinated with the pygmies’ music because these indigenous people learned to make music from the natural environment of the deep forest.  From exotic bird calls, to complex poly rhythms, and vocals not easily described, the pygmies celebrate life via music.  Not only that, even with strange and exotic sounds, the pygmies’ music is accessible. The feature film Oka! (listen) , brings us hybrid music that combines a movie soundtrack with a field recording sensibility.  And in fact, the movie revolves around ethnomusicalogist Louis Sarno, a leading expert of the pygmies music.  He ignored a life-threatening illness, according to the press notes, and stayed on with the pygmies for three decades, recording their music.  In a life imitates ...

Gregory Porter Be Good Motema Ever so often a musician blazes their way into my life--Gregory Porter is one such musician.  Last year I reviewed his sizzling debut Water .  Like other journalists, I leaped onto the Marvin Gaye comparison bandwagon. Oh, yes, there’s much to compare between the two musicians such as powerful voices that move mountains, a storytelling gift, and delightful music arrangements.  On the sophomore CD, Be Good ,Gregory roots himself deep with the African-American culture of NYC and currently resides in Brooklyn.  Listen to the rousing third track, On My Way To Harlem in Porter gives homage to Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye and the author Langston Hughes. He croons, more or less, roars, “You can’t keep me away from where I was born.  I was baptized by my daddy’s horn.” Porter sings from a vibrant palette and his songs range from the tender, yet ironic title track in which he waxes metaphors about lions and cages, to the sw...