History of comment by Ben Parkinson

Plus signs (+) indicate lines added in most recent version, while minus signs (-) indicate lines removed in most recent version.

---- Original Content from Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:50:35 PST ----
Many thanks for this, John.  It's a personal thing, but modal music doesn't interest me, not because it isn't good, but because I believe in "the challenge" and the power of "harmony".  I taught youngsters with little knowledge of music to sing songs like "Rhythm of Life"  and the adults struggled with and semi-mastered most of the songs from "Cats".  When I worked on Scout shows, I avoided Ralph Reader, because I felt it lacked musicality and the power of good harmony.  To me, if this harmonic interest isn't present, then the music isn't complete.  As I say, I am a bit of a zealot in this respect.

You asked me, John, about the music I like and so let me give you a little taster of some harmonically interesting stuff (I'll see if I can find links):

Pretty much anything by Delius, but especially the Cello Concerto

Michael Brecker (the world's greatest ever saxophonist) with a string orchestra (Cityscapes CD) - but I have a wonderful Youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NGAAbpqj5M - it brought me to tears, knowing Mike is dead now - Don't miss this!

Brecker again with some jazz fusion with Don Grolnick's "Pools", a number I play in my band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5OX3xXAx2U&feature=related

Grieg lyric pieces - Nocturne is a favourite http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24shW29Hv_A
I am also a fan of the Schubert piano sonatas

Milhaud - I love his bitonal compositions (where he writes in two keys at the same time), due to the harmonic exploration - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3HfPEL2kNk Le Boeuf sur le Toit is not the greatest example, but it is quite a fun piece

Pretty much anything from the Simpsons - some of the music is really touching, but not this! It was so easy to enthuse the kids to sing music from their favourite programme, however hard it was!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPGDxv7bzwI a top version of the theme

Your comment on mini mp3 players and recorders is an interesting one.  I guess we could give them out as prizes and then offer musicians the chance to load up their material onto the web.  There might be some money in it, if the quality is high enough.  I'll take a couple out, if and when I go, to see what it produces.

The language issue is an interesting one.  English is the Nigerian national language, yet most rural people don't know many words at all.  Rural schools are supposed to teach in it, but they don't.  My personal view is that it may take a little longer, but learning songs in English has many potential benefits, including helping learning english.  I was astonished how quickly the Butterfly kids picked up english and they desperately wanted to learn it.

Anyway, I hope you like the clips...

---- Edit on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:20:28 PST ----
@@ -9,2 +9,4 @@
 Brecker again with some jazz fusion with Don Grolnick's "Pools", a number I play in my band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5OX3xXAx2U&feature=related
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+Bill Evans - anything - the "changemaker" of jazz piano - it's very introspective, but here is something he wrote performed not long before he died: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSf5RTy70FI
 

---- Edit on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:24:11 PST ----
@@ -25,1 +25,3 @@
 Anyway, I hope you like the clips...
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+EDITED: due to omission!