HANDEL AND HEALING
In 1717 King George II was experiencing what I believe would be termed today “stress overload”. He was, after all, ruling the greatest nation of the age, carrying the responsibilities and pressure that goes with that. He was not thinking clearly, sleeping well, or making good decisions. After many attempts to remedy the situation, someone in the court reminded him of the biblical story of King Saul who found himself in a similar situation in ancient Israel. One of his advisors suggested he call forth a young shepherd boy from nearby Bethlehem to play for him with his harp (lyre). He did so, and the results are recorded in the book of Samuel: “And it came to pass, when the evil spirt...was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.” I Samuel 16:23 George asked if there was an equivalent in London to this “Hebrew harp healer”. It was suggested that Handel, a world renowned German/Italian Operatic composer had recently re-located in London, and might do the trick. He did indeed, composing the commissioned work to be played by small orchestra on board the King’s barge upon the Thames. Handel’s skill immortalized him with the British, even causing him to be buried in Westminster Abbey next to Kings and Queens. The element that sets Handel’s Water Music, as well as other works from the Baroque Era is the high degree of order that is used. All repetition proceeds with variation with each recurrence. Handel juxtaposed musical themes against each other and repeated thematic material using variance of instrumentation and texture with each statement. These subtle, and sometimes bold variations often stimulates the brain, which recognizes the difference, even without explanation or examination. This quality is the salient ingredient of the music of the Baroque period (1685-1750). It is marked by repetition always clothed in continual variation. Within the Water Music there are ?? movements of differing keys, tempi, and instrumentation. Within that collection, there should be something that will stimulate your personal cognitive needs. Experiment with it, and find which movements help you the most. There is a great deal of patterning in this music making it easy to evaluate. If we look at the Hornpipe movement we find that the outline or sequence is rather straightforward: a,a’(a theme repeated with slight variation) b b’(new material repeated with slight variation) a,a’ bb’c, (new material) then a bridge (new material forming connecting music) and a return to the a section. This kind of formal treatment of melodic sequence sets up expectations in the mind wherein modifications become evident and stimulating. The brain loves to juxtapose bits of information side by side and notice same and different. It is the salient quality that a computer uses to function.
My Purpose
My Purpose
The purpose of this blog is to help people understand that music can be more then just entertainment, and what those things are. I want be able to help people with this blog. I don't know everything about music, I am still studying it, however, I will share what I have found. I hope you will be enlighted and edified by what I have to share. I worry that some people might turn a deaf ear to my blog if they read something on this blog that they don't agree with. I respect your beliefs. I don't agree with everything I read either. But I know you can find something that can help and interest you, if you just keep reading.
The purpose of this blog is to help people understand that music can be more then just entertainment, and what those things are. I want be able to help people with this blog. I don't know everything about music, I am still studying it, however, I will share what I have found. I hope you will be enlighted and edified by what I have to share. I worry that some people might turn a deaf ear to my blog if they read something on this blog that they don't agree with. I respect your beliefs. I don't agree with everything I read either. But I know you can find something that can help and interest you, if you just keep reading.
"Quotes Worth Mentioning"
QUOTES WORTH MENTIONING
When asked where his inspiration came from, Johannes Brahms said, "I immediately feel vibrations that thrills my whole being. These are the Spirit illuminating the soul power within, and in this exalted state, I see clearly what is obscure in my ordinary moods: Then I feel capable of drawing inspiration from above, as Beethoven ... Straighway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration. Measure by measure, the finished product is revealed to me when I am in those rare, inspired moods." "The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach and Beethoven drew their inspiration is the same power that enabled Jesus to work his miracles. It is the same power that created our earth and the whole universe"
("Talks with Great Composers", Arthur M. Abell)
"Give me power over he who shapes the music of a nation, and I care not for who shapes it laws"
Napolian Bonaparte
“Intellectual enlightenment consists of instruction in the arts, numbers, history, speech, and government. Music consummates a man’s life, giving his rituals meaning. Music has a trensforming effect on its listeners, and should be the first principle of government.” -The Teachings of Confucius.
I quote some remarks between,Gene R. Cook, and Mik Jagger made a few years ago:
Cook: "I have the opportunity to be with a lot of young people. Many say your music does not affect them adversely in any way. Others say it effects them in a very bad way. What is your opinion? What is your impact?”
Jagger "Our music is calculated to drive the kids to sex. It's not my fault what they do. It's up to them. I'm just making a lot of money.”
Cook: He was in Mexico making a profane and pornographic music video because the cost is 1/3 there. In addition it is easier to produce such videos there at the moment. He explained that though such videos with explicit sexual behavior is illegal on US national television, it soon will be, and they want to have the videos ready. Now not only audio pornography can be portrayed, but they can view it as well. He was making more money this way."
Jagger:“It doesn't matter what you do in life, there are no rules. There is no god. You can take whatever you want. It doesn't matter."
"To encourage literature and the arts is the duty which every good citizen owns to his country."
George Washington
"Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it."
Aristotle
(more qoutes to come)
When asked where his inspiration came from, Johannes Brahms said, "I immediately feel vibrations that thrills my whole being. These are the Spirit illuminating the soul power within, and in this exalted state, I see clearly what is obscure in my ordinary moods: Then I feel capable of drawing inspiration from above, as Beethoven ... Straighway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration. Measure by measure, the finished product is revealed to me when I am in those rare, inspired moods." "The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach and Beethoven drew their inspiration is the same power that enabled Jesus to work his miracles. It is the same power that created our earth and the whole universe"
("Talks with Great Composers", Arthur M. Abell)
"Give me power over he who shapes the music of a nation, and I care not for who shapes it laws"
Napolian Bonaparte
“Intellectual enlightenment consists of instruction in the arts, numbers, history, speech, and government. Music consummates a man’s life, giving his rituals meaning. Music has a trensforming effect on its listeners, and should be the first principle of government.” -The Teachings of Confucius.
I quote some remarks between,Gene R. Cook, and Mik Jagger made a few years ago:
Cook: "I have the opportunity to be with a lot of young people. Many say your music does not affect them adversely in any way. Others say it effects them in a very bad way. What is your opinion? What is your impact?”
Jagger "Our music is calculated to drive the kids to sex. It's not my fault what they do. It's up to them. I'm just making a lot of money.”
Cook: He was in Mexico making a profane and pornographic music video because the cost is 1/3 there. In addition it is easier to produce such videos there at the moment. He explained that though such videos with explicit sexual behavior is illegal on US national television, it soon will be, and they want to have the videos ready. Now not only audio pornography can be portrayed, but they can view it as well. He was making more money this way."
Jagger:“It doesn't matter what you do in life, there are no rules. There is no god. You can take whatever you want. It doesn't matter."
"To encourage literature and the arts is the duty which every good citizen owns to his country."
George Washington
"Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it."
Aristotle
(more qoutes to come)
PLEASE NOTE: It would greatly benefit the reader to follow blog postings from the first post to the most recent. Using the Blog Archive in the left column of the page to jump to the oldest posts. For now I will see if I can find a way to display the posting in chronilogical order, first post to the latest post.
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