Sunday, February 26, 2012

God Will - Holly Cole

An artist that I must confess, I do not know much of past this song, but she has an amazing voice that always captivates me and lifts my spirits every time I need it. The song I have selected by her is titled 'God Will.' One that evokes the heart and soul to be wrenched back to a long lost love in your past.

It starts out with a piano, swinging with the melody playing on its keys for 8 bars. Repeating the same phrase, then calming down and entering into a call and response with Miss Holly Cole. The first verse after this continues and is joined by a walking bass underneath everything, do a nice job of keeping the beat.

After this it goes into the chorus, re-iterating the same lines twice. Quickly after, the piano goes into its own solo, ripping up the piece with a quick romp through the keys, enticing Holly to come back with the Bridge, which causes another call and response between her and the piano. After this, we are lead back to the chorus, with the bass becoming more apparent everyone vamping up to a crescendo, before Holly ends it on a high note, and the piano winds down with a mournful chord, slowly fading out.

To be honest, its not a terribly complicated blues piece, and one that does not require much thought, but has a power behind it that I find to be exhilarating, deriving its style out of sheer simplicity. There is something to be said for a song that can have so little, but mean so much.

Frank Sinatra "Ol' Blue Eyes"

A man that needs no introduction. A man that single handedly reshaped the music and film industry. A man that was the epitome of cool...and still never seemed to care about it. A man investigated by the FBI for almost 5 decades, and no convictions made.

Frank Sinatra.

I first heard Frank Sinatra when my parents had me watch a small movie called 'When Harry Met Sally.' Little did I know, that this movie was going to completely change my life. Not only did it introduce me to Billy Crystal and all the wonderful roles he has done, but for the first time in my life, I heard a song that made me turn to my father and ask, "Who is this?"
Of course, I received a look of pure horror when he realized I didn't know this man. Since then, my love for Frankie has only grown. Tales of his sauve demeanor delighted me, giving me something to emulate that was surely lacking from my list of idols; class.

But who was this man? What dark and magical place did this God among men come from? Evidently, where devils come from, New Jersey. Frank was born on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey. He was an only child, and when born, was thought to be stillborn. But after putting him under a cold faucet, he burbled to life. This baby, not even 15 minutes old, was already showing the extraordinary resilience that would catapult him to fame and legend.

With humble beginnings, including an arrest in 1938, he caught his big break in 1943 when he signed with Columbia Records and started producing hit after hit. his film career also took off when he starred in From Here to Eternity, for which he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1953.

At this point, his reputation never faltered a bit. He didn't stop until he had his first heart attack in 1997, and stopped all public appearances. He died on May 14, 1998. According to his wife Barbara, his last words, after she had encouraged him to fight were, "I'm losing." His death caused a huge gapping hole in the hearts of many, that will not be easily filled. Sir Elton John was quoted with saying, "He was simply the best. No one even came close."

Yet he left behind a legacy of amazing music, films, and dedication to his craft that is not seen enough today in my opinion, and may never be seen again.

Sources:
1) Summers, Antony and Swan, Robbyn. Sinatra: The Life. Doubleday, 2005
2) Ingham, Chris. The Rough Guide to Frank Sinatra. Rough Guides Ltd. 30 Jun 2005
3) "Frank Sinatra". Hollywood.com. Retrieved May 15, 2008

Sunday, February 19, 2012

This Is Your Brian on Music - Introductory Review


It was suggested to me that I should take a look at Daniel Levitin's "This Is Your Brain on Music." After finding it, I sat down and read the introduction of it, and from just those few pages, I have gleaned some very fascinating information that I would like to share here now.

First, Daniel makes a very good point about the difference between science and music. Is there actually much of a difference between it? "Most artists describe there work as experiments (Levitin, 4)." This is a very true statement that Levitin brings up. There's even a process that seems to be similar to scientists and musicians alike. They both have an idea, they do research on it, then a trial run, and if it actually works, they proceed to produce something out of it. If people could actually see this connection, then the mathematically inclined and artistic minded could somehow find an easier common ground.

Second, he talks about how the perception of music in Western Society has changed over the past several hundred years. It used to be that everyone participated in creating music. Before radio, families would sit around and create music for themselves as just a mere form of entertainment. Just by simply playing and singing did not mean that you were a professional or were trying to be. You were just having fun. What is truly fascinating about this is the example that Levitin pointed out with a friend of his, Jim Ferguson.

"For his doctoral degree at Harvard, he performed fieldwork in Lesotho, a small nation completely surrounded by South Africa. There, studying and interacting with local villagers, Jim pa- tiently earned their trust until one day he was asked to join in one of their songs. So, typically, when asked to sing with these Sotho villagers, Jim said in a soft voice, “I don’t sing,” and it was true: We had been in high school band together and although he was an excellent oboe player, he couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. The villagers found his objection puzzling and inexplicable. The Sotho consider singing an ordinary, everyday activity performed by everyone, young and old, men and women, not an activity reserved for a special few." (6)
How interesting is that? I had never considered that to even be a possibility, that somewhere in the world, you could simply break out into song and no one would judge you as bad or good, you were just expressing yourself. However, as amazing as that sounds, I am not sure I would want to live there. I enjoy knowing what is good and what is bad to me. It gives what I love a special significance. But how much should we really know?

The third aspect I brought out of reading the introductory, was his addressing of a concern that I have had in the past as well. What if I learn so much about musical theory and history, that it loses that special meaning it has to me? But apparently, Levitin's students have also expressed the same concern that it will, "Steal away many of life's simple pleasures (10)." But Daniel has said that in his experience, it can't. Science raises just as many questions as it answers, and so does music. If anything, it will deepen your appreciation of it, because it broadens your knowledge of what to look for, and therefore, what you appreciate and enjoy.

From jut reading this introduction, I am inclined to read the rest of it and see what all he has to say. Now I just have to find the time to do it. There is never enough time. Even Darth Vader agrees.

http://nooooooooooooooo.com/

Will There Be Enough Water - The Dead Weather

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YtNu_T5cEs&feature=player_embedded

(Sadly, the youtube link with the picture would not work because of copyright issues, but the link above will get you to the video all the same if you just copy and paste)

What can be said about Jack White that isn't good? If you have never heard of him before, he is the closest to what I believe is the modern day Buddy Holly. He's our generation's Jimi Hendrix. This man is working single-handedly to revitalize music. And I did not add industry to that for a reason. His influence from Jazz and Blues are so evident in all of his music that it is a great example of the rivers of Jazz that have been discussed in class.

This particular piece is from one of his bands, called The Dead Weather. Also in the band is the singer Alison Mosshart from The Kills, another alternative band with a great sound.

The piece starts of simply, with a cool beat from a snare drum being played with brushes, which you can tell by the sliding sound on the drum. It is then accompanied with a piano, playing the same four chords over and over again. A guitar (played by Jack) is added in, laying down some sweet notes, walking over the guitar like he's strolling down the sidewalk.

The lyrics come in, with the addition of a cymbal underneath the vocals. They don't last for very long, going straight back to the intro style. So far we have ABAB, because then we go right back to the lyrics, same style.

Then we come to C as the song starts to build, with everything rising slightly in intensity, but still keeping that sliding smooth jazz sound to it. Never leaving that realm of cool that only Jack and Alison can bring to a song. After that we're back to A, with the guitar going on a slight solo.

Then we're back to B again, with the piano now starting to get more intense. After this, we go into section D, with everything really starting to amp up, with the addition of the bass drum on the drum kit, and the piano having his chance to finally join into the fray, improvising a little bit, then relinquishing back to his chord progression as Jack takes over with  his guitar again, lightly strumming over the strings.

Once back again to B, repeating the phrase, "Will there be enough water, when my ship comes in." After this, it builds up again in D, with the piano taking off a little bit, adding a second hand playing its on melody.

But after this, everything slows down into the finale, finally coming to a rest rather quickly, with the guitar playing a dying tune in the background, until absolute silence is heard (with a nice cricket chirping in the background for an ambience effect). The final tally of the style being ABABCABDBD. It is nice to see how the song slowly starts to build, finishing off strong, then fading into nothing.

Jack's influence from Jazz is so evident, yet he seems to take it and molds it into something new for a different generation. Just when it seems that all originality has been done, I was so rewarded when I discovered him about 5 years ago, and I have been a fan ever since.

Enjoy.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

One Flight Down - Norah Jones

Norah Jone's album, Come Away With Me, is one of my personal favorites and in my opinion, one of the best ever made. Sadly, the rest of her career did not fellow the beautiful, melodic and jazz style that this album so wonderfully showcased, but that's a rant for another blog.

Regardless, the track off of this album that I picked, 'One Flight Down,' is not a very complicated song. It has an AABABA format. It starts of fairly simple, with a bass and drum set keeping the tempo, while the piano plays an instrumental version of the melody. After this is done, it goes into the actual lyrics, mirroring the intro, with the bass and drums keeping the same slow, melodic tempo.

Then the song goes into the chorus, which has a beautiful jazz chord progression by the piano which is one that I have heard many times before, but I can't exactly tell what it is. After this, it goes back into the same style as before, back to A. Except this time, after about 2 bars, an organ comes in and adds a nice little variation from the first verse. We then have a reprise of the chorus, B, with not much variation to it at all.

It then goes back into A, with Norah's lyrics being a bit more wild and varied to add some needed emphasis to the lyrics themselves. As I said before, while this is not a very complicated piece to listen to or analyze, it is one that seems to thrive off of its simplicity. The main focus of the piece is not the instrumental, but Norah's sensual and beautiful voice. That is what draws you in and makes you listen to it over and over again.

Music Therapy

What is Music Therapy?
For the past two weeks, I skimmed the surface of what the power of music can have on all of us, both good and bad. This week, I have decided to delve a little bit further into one of those aspects, and where better to start than musical therapy. This idea of musical therapy first came to my mind when a friend of mine mentioned that she wanted to major in it. My first thought was, really? I mean, music is great but what good could it really be for therapy? Apparently, a lot.

According to www.musictherapy.org;
"Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program."
Now, that is just a big, fancy way of saying a doctor can help you with your problems by listening to music. Either by listening, singing, or playing music, a person can heal themselves in just the same way as drugs can. It has helped people in more ways than anyone could have imagined.

Who Does Music Therapy Help?
But what good is a new method of treatment, if you don't know who it's going to help. Music therapy is helping cancer patients, children with ADD, and hospitals are using it to help people who are having issues with extreme pain [2]. It is a way for dealign with high levels of stress, allowing you catharsis, but is also a way for you to feel excitement in your daily life. Matthew Lee, the acting Director at the Rusk Institute (a leading rehabiliation center in New York) said,
"Music therapy has been an invaluable tool with many of our rehabilitation patients. There is no question that the relationship of music and medicine will blossom because of the advent of previously unavailable techniques that can now show the effects of music [1]."
If one of the leading director's at a world-class rehabilitation center says that this is a concept that really works, it is certainly something that I am willing to put my money behind.

How Does It Work?
While I don't claim to be a bioligist or chemist, there is an easier way of explaining how this miraculous method works. Studies have shown that the brain reacts differently to certain styles of music. When exposed to fast tempo pieces, the brain becomes more attentive, and faster thinking. But when it is exposed to a slow tempo, it becomes more cathartic, calm and relaxed [2]. This is simply a good way for someone to calm down or get out of a depression. So with changes in the way our brain functions, also comes changes to how our body reacts to it;

"Those governed by the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing and heart rate can also be altered by the changes music can bring. This can mean slower breathing, slower heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response, among other things. This is why music and music therapy can help counteract or prevent the damaging effects of chronic stress, greatly promoting not only relaxation, but health."
Simply put, the more relaxed you feel, the better that your body is going to feel. Everyone knows that stress is a bad thing, and music is one great way to deal with it.

Pretty Great, Huh?
This new method of therapy is one that has many different types of potential. But it has been recognized by congress as a legitimate form of therapy, and has been proven time and time again to be helping massive amounts of people [1]. Wouldn't it be great if somehow music was proven to help people so much, that government's support for the arts would rise? This is something that certainly gives me hope and more motivation to continue striving to find better ways to get good music to the masses. Cause who knows, it might save their life.







Sources:
1. www.musictherapy.org
2. http://stress.about.com/od/tensiontamers/a/music_therapy.htm

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Mose Allison 'I Don't Worry About A Thing'


A very good song that I first discovered when watching the movie 'The Whole Nine Yards.' It was always a piece that has stuck with me as being one of those occasions where the melody and beat itself are happy, but the lyrics are rather dark and depressing. So its a toe-tapping good time all the way to the graveyard.

It begins with a rather punchy intro, vocals, piano, and a drum set. The vocals come first, with the piano and drums coming in one the last 2 beats for four bars. A very fine way to catch the attentinon of any listener. After that, it settles into the first verse.

As the first verse begins, an Upright Bass is added into the mix, creating a steady beat with the drums. Mose plays the piano, adding in a nice harmony for his own vocals (which, I will admit, I always thought for the longest time were female).

We then have a repeat of the intro, same style and beat, but with different lyrics. After that, he goes into the second verse, very similar to the first verse with just a different change in lyrics. But then, instead of repeating the intro, it goes into a solo for the piano. I will not pretend that I know exactly how many bars it goes on, but I would be inclined to guess either 16 or 32? But it is a wonderful solo, showcasing Mose's talent and making it seem like the piano itself just doesn't care what keys he hits next. A loose style that I believe is lost today with my generation feeling the urge to make everything 'gritty' and 'intense.'

After that, we have the repeat of the intro style, into the third verse. It ends with all of the instruments coming to a short crescendo, before going out on a final note from the piano. What I find very interesting about this piece, is that the chorus, in reality, is at the beginning. But the chorus is not in the lyrics, but the way that the music is played. Now, I am sure that this is not unusual in Jazz, but it is honestly nothing that I have come across before. Then again, I do not usually listen to music intensely like this trying to analyze it, unless I am playing it myself.

Overall, an excellent piece that I hope you enjoy.

Positive Effects of Music

As a result of my last post, I feel like I should do something slightly more along the lines of something that I believe, and that is the positive effects on music. As cliche and trite as it sounds, I truly think that music has the ability to change the world and make it a better place. Some of the concerts that I attend, I have not seen a more tight-knit group of people, coming together for a single purpose.
                                                          Okay, well yes, maybe in this instance.

But other than that, you have to admit, it does look strikingly similar to this.

Still, my point stands. Both are events that bring people together for a common purpose. Yet other than being a gathering event for humans from all walks of life, there are scientific benefits to listening to music.

1. Music Can Reduce Pain

     Now, as hold a statement as that is to make, it is one that is quite founded in evidence. In fact, some hospitals have even taken so far as to use it as a method to help with postoperative pain and ease the discomfort from childbirth, along with the use of drugs [1]. Imagine the possibilites that this could open up. People that are allergi to certain types of painkillers, or have moral objections to them, can still receive some kind of treatment and feel better.

2. Makes you Smarter

     There have been studies that have shown that listening to music makes you more intelligent. Indeed, there was a whole series of music aimed at new borns, mostly mozart, that was supposed to make your child smarter. This has been come to be known as the 'Mozart Effect.' However, recent research has shown that while the study done in 1993 by researcher Frances Rauscher did prove that Mozart helped children in reasoning tests, it has now been concluded that just listening to anything stimulates the brain better than a child sitting in a quiet room. Though I would not recommend blasting Metallica while your 2 month old tries to sleep [2].

3. Makes you Work Better

     Perhaps one of the most argued effects on music, is does it make you work better? While one study at Witchita University proved that, when choosing between listening to different kinds of music when working, Classical was the best, it has still been disproved in other tests as well [3]. My personal opinion on this, is that it all depends on the person. Myself, when studying German for the last 4 semesters, did find it easier to concentrate when I was listening to Beethoven. However, I would say the opposite for when I was working on Autocad (a rendering program) when I needed absolute silence. This is one effect, that will continue to be studied.


     But whatever your opinion on this is, there is no way one can deny that music has good effects. It is so ingrained into our society, that it will always hold a fascination to everyone.







1. Nilsson U, Unosson M, Rawal, N. Stress reduction and analgesia in patients exposed to calming music postoperatively: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2005 February; 22(2):96-102.

2. http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/11/mozart-effect-on-babies-a-myth-research-says/

3. http://www.workplacedoctors.com/wpdocs/qdetail.asp?id=1297