As we go through the book “How to Think life Leonardo Da Vinci” and come to section appreciating music set us to listen to some classical music and some famous scores of Western Jazz and Indian movies.

In his book Michael Gelb writes of techniques such as rhythmic variation, key cahnge, rests, and harmonic movement, the compose leads the listener along paths of motion, stillness, and melodic hights and lows, all leading to the raising of musical expectations and fulfillment.

As a project to try and listen to the key moments of momentum- building and release we went through The Story of Prince Kalendar
Interested persons can go through the links provided for the composition and the legend which goes with the masterpiece.

Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade: The Story of the Kalendar Prince [Part 2/4]

http://www.candlelightstories.com/2009/03/27/arabian-nights-the-story-of-the-first-kalendar-son-of-a-king/

Other interesting compositions which we tried to appreciate with their links are given below.

What a wonderful world-Loius Armstrong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM

Duke ellington things ain’t what they used to be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fJu-byjtRY

Charlie Parker-Moods

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-YQZoRcM9Q

Benny goodman sing sing sing

Ravi Shankar George Harrison Collaborations. I am missing you

Nat King Cole…After Midnight once more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGtFTac6ubw

Blues Guitar Lessons

http://www.youtube.com/user/SonicJunctionLessons/featured?v=jE2Aeiwqqf0

Sitar –

Ravi Shankar – and Chatur Lal Raga Mishra Pilloo in Thumri style

Ravi Shankar-Allah Rakha…speaking on Talas,…Tabla solo in Jhaptal

Flute- Dhun Dadra- Indian Classical -Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXznRVrRUpE

Santoor-Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Ustad Zakir Hussian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pax-yp32WyY

Nature of knowledge

The discussions following this book have opened up interesting vistas to explore. Why did the Renaissance take place when it did?

..what a modern Leonardo application would include

What has scientific knowledge which has led to the destructive wars of 20th century or ideologies like Fascism got to teach us.
Remembered the Dada movement, which gave rise to movements like Surrealism.

Many lovely hours spent listening, learning, appreciating.

We also remembered two guitar teachers of my son Sagar who has been playing guitar for 6 years now

Maben Oswald..of Orlem, Mumbai

Of Artists and Creators

http://prashantbhatt.blog.co.uk/2009/06/24/of-artists-and-creators-mumbai-6382750/

See blog

Tony Pace..of St.Venera , Malta

Walks in Malta again

Memories through compositions

As we spent a cold evening of subzero temperatures ( Minus 5, feels like Minus 10 with wind my son looked up the weather
charts) the theme of musical knowledge, culture and memory came alive. Where were you or your parents or grandparents
when the melodies like Dil Ki Nazar Se of Raj Kapoor were composed?

Is there something like musical cultural memory.

From the answers that came alive on a cold winter evening, the answer is Yes.
What those answers were, will make for a much longer and interesting composition.

See blog