Wow!!! truly a one man music machine. pure genius…

• Live in Montreal. Free improvisation between Bobby Mcferrin and Richard Bona.

• Concert Solo (Drive)

Vale a dire: la musica ce l’abbiamo dentro? Quasi come fosse un tampax primordiale? Esiste una sorta di estetica musicale universale? Il signor Bobby McFerrin (Don’t Worry Be Happy) cerca di dimostrarlo al World Science Festival del 2009. Qui sotto il video dell’esperimento in questione. Ah, accendete le casse.

McFerrin semplicemente suggerendo le prime note alla platea e saltellando lungo tutta l’estensione del palco in posizioni stavolta non suggerite riesce a trasportare il pubblico a far cantare tutti all’unisono sulla nota corrispondente.

Pubblico selezionato di cantanti provetti?Improbabile che il World Science Festival faccia concorrenza a X Factor et similia.
Probabilmente e più semplicemente tutti (o quasi) abbiamo un bagaglio di esperienze musicali fondate sulla musica pop, folk, blues e rock che adottano la scala pentatonica e tutti (o quasi) in quella platea hanno subito l’effetto livellante della massa che non ci fa percepire distintamente tutte le singole stonature ma semplicemente le voci dominanti che hanno trascinato tutti gli altri livellandone le dissonanze (ma affinando l’orecchio si possono percepire ad esempio numerose incertezze del pubblico).
Quindi non “orecchio” innato ma semplicemente programmato e abituato dalla nostra cultura musicale basata su un determinato sistema di frequenze e intervalli.

L’esperimento è comunque esaltante e dimostra che aldilà di tutti i pipponi mentali di cui sopra la musica è una di quei linguaggi alla portata di tutti. Non innato certo, ma disponibile affinchè tutti possano teoricamente conoscere, hardcore.

“Hush Little Baby” is easily sung a capella.  But, if you would like to sing along with music, most music download sites have a number of good options.

A nice instrumental track is found on “Lullaby Magic” by Joanie Bartles: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lullaby-magic/id299023387.  She has two tracks for each song, one with her singing and the other instrumental, including “Hush Little Baby.”  The melody line is played out on the instrumental track, making it easy for anybody to sing along.  I like the “Hush Little Baby” from this one because it is not too slow or sappy, although a tad “idealized.”  Sweetness is fine, but this song can be more fun if it is a little sassy.

My favorite vocal versions are from the King’s Singer’s album NEW DAY and from the album HUSH by Bobby McFerrin and YoYo Ma

Nina Simone’s version of “Hush Little Baby” (recorded at Carnegie Hall in May of 1963) from her album “Folksy Nina” is hauntingly beautiful.  She combines “Hush Little Baby” with “Mighty Lak a Rose.”  Although the medley makes singing with the book difficult, her interpretation is enlightening.

Bobby McFerrin demuestra el poder de la escala pentatónica, con la participación del público, en el evento “Notas y neuronas: En busca del Coro común” del Festival Mundial de la Ciencia el 12 de junio de 2009.

PD: Si alguien del planeta sabe como redimensionar videos de vimeo de una resolución 4:3 a una 16:9 que me lo diga que le estaré eternamente agradecido.

Bobby McFerrin, 30 ianuarie 2010, la Sala Palatului. Biletele, 80-250 lei.

The post is more technical than usual ones, please bear with me and read on. Hope you enjoy it as much as other posts.

Thanks to Aditya T., I came across this wonderful video of Bobby McFerrin demonstrating how we have the pentatonic scale imbibed in us :

The pentatonic scale in Western notation is – C D E G A C (Sa re ga pa dha sa)as opposed to the regular heptatonic scale scale – C D E F G A B C (Sa re ga ma pa dha ni sa)

For Indian classical music aficionados, this is the Bhoopali raga of Hindustani and Mohanam of Carnatic music.

As the video will tell, no one is tone deaf or musically challenged. During a recent meeting with some friends, we discussed how humans from different continents with no contact with each other whatsoever ended up with the same 7 notes as the foundation of their respective musics. This seems to point out that we all have the basic knowledge of music. In more technical terms, our brain responds to frequencies that form the musical scale. Even more specifically, our brain is tuned to the logarithmic scale.

First, what is a logarithmic scale.

In our linear scale, the numbers form the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and so on. This is the scale we interact with on a daily basis.

In a logarithmic scale, the sequence would be 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and so on. Did you see what happened ? Each number is multiplied by 2 to get the next number. This is a logarithmic scale in base 2. Similarly, you can guess what a logarithmic scale in base 10 would look like. 1, 10, 100, 1000 and so on. Cool ?

Now for those who don’t know, frequencies of musical notes are logarithmic in nature. I’ll try to explain in simple words :

If a standard C note plays at 256 Hz, the next C — the higher C — the C of the next octave — plays at 512 Hz. The next C would be at 1024, 2048 Hz and so on.

From one C to its next higher C, are 12 intervals (C -> C# -> D -> D# -> E -> F -> F# -> G -> G# -> A -> A# -> B -> C)

Given a factor of two between the two extreme C’s, the factor between each individual interval is the 12th root of 2.

So the (frequency of C)*(12th root of 2) will give you the frequency of C#.

Then the (frequency of C#)*(12th root of 2) will give you the frequency of D.

Do this 12 times, you’ll get the higher C, which is exactly twice the lower C.

Update : As Pranav points out in the comments, this means each note is higher than the previous one by 6%. Hope that helps simplify things.

All this to show that the musical scale is logarithmic in frequencies.

During the discussion, a friend mentioned that babies respond to the logarithmic scale naturally. When they are shown a set of objects of increasing sizes (like 1 apple, 2 apples … and so on), they identify changes in the logarithmic scale i.e. the neurons of the brain that fire up on seeing these sets have peaks at logarithmic points (like 1, 2, 4, 8 and so on). I am not sure if the base of the logarithm is 2 or 10 though, I could confirm if someone is interested.

You can always contact me offline for a more practical explanation if none of this made sense.

P.S. : The choice of fruit was incidental.

Cred ca oricine a auzit de melodia Don’t Worry, Be Happy(cel putin vreau sa cred). Acum avem sansa sa ascultam aceasta melodie, si nu numai, in Bucuresti.

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Cunoscut inca din anii ‘70 ca “omul orchestra”, castigator a 10 premii Grammy si apreciat mai ales pentru cantecul Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin va concerta in Romania pe 30 ianuarie, la Sala Palatului din Bucuresti, de la ora 19:00, informeaza organizatorii.

Bobby McFerrin va canta in Romania pe 30 ianuarie 2010, la Sala Palatului din Bucuresti.

Biletele costa intre 80 si 250 RON si vor putea fi cumparate de pe www.eventim.ro, www.bilete.ro, www.vreaubilet.ro, de la casa de bilete a Salii Palatului, din reteaua magazinelor Germanos din intreaga tara, din librariile Carturesti (Bucuresti, Cluj, Iasi, Timisoara, Suceava, Constanta), din magazinul Muzica, Unirea Shopping Center, magazinele Vodafone din tara. Evenimentul este organizat de Sound&Image Events.

©HotNews

Today I’d like to introduce Thomas Quastoff – his bandwith goes from classic to jazz and he is very inspiring to me since his life obviously is not very easy…

Bobby McFerring and Thomas Quasthoff – Jazzfest Vienna

Thomas Quasthoff – Jazz

Thomas Quasthoff – All Blues

Thomas Quasthoff – Swing low, sweet chariot

Thomas Quasthoff – Ol’ man river

You know, I don’t think I’ve played Bobby McFerrin on here before. And he’s innovative enough that I really have to correct that.

Check out this performance of the song Drive by him. It’s frankly amazing. This whole performance is a cappella, using his chest as a drum, and singing and making music with both his mouth and throat. I have no idea how he manages it.

This video of I’ve Got A Feeling, now, is just amusing to watch. I think the woman he gropes during the song is his wife. She’s certainly cracking up during the whole thing. And so was I, watching, of course.

Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic scale, using audience participation, at the event “Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus”, from the 2009 World Science Festival, June 12, 2009.

For related content, please view the full “Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus” program at our website here.

posted on Youtube
July 23, 2009

Am primit intr-o zi acest clip de la un prieten , mi-a placut:

Nenea … care ne indeamna sa fim fericiti :

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Una calda :

Niederflur – Lumen EP
Label: Archipel
Catalog: ARCHPL018
Format: 4 x File, MP3, EP, 320 kbps
Country: Canada
Released: 18 Oct 2009
Genre: Electronic
Style: Techno, Minimal

Download…

"Hearty Tree Trunk" photo by Cynthia Winton-Henry

Anticipatory He(Art) poem

The Common Chorus video

Anticipating grace? practice

Raise Your Hand in Blessing movement

_____________________________________

Take a deep breath and let it out with a sigh….

Anticipatory He(Art) poem
by Cynthia Winton-Henry

By body grooves we know things.
A practiced heart anticipates heaven and hell
makes ritual out of sensitivities
-a joke, a hope, a connection,
a conjured chorus of love.

The Common Chorus video

Bobby McFerrin demonstrates our connection to the pentatonic scale using audience participation, at the 2009 World Science Festival on June 12, 2009, “Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus” http://vimeo.com/5732745

Anticipating grace? practice

Put hand on heart. Still  beating? Grace.

Take a deep breath. Let it out with a sigh. Still  breathing?  Grace.

Shake out what you’re sitting on. Let go a little? Grace.

Anticipated InterPlay outcomes: Grace, ease, connection. surprise.

Raise Your Hand in Blessing movement

When we dance hand-to-hand we often practice opening the space between us. We can feel that connection even when we aren’t right together. Raise a hand in blessing. Turn in a full circle (or not) and know that others are sending blessings to you too.

While you move, listen to Bobby McFerrin’s A Cappella improv http://vimeo.com/5823223

Take a deep breath and let it out with a sigh.

____________________________________________

PS. Phil Porter is keeper of our Bobby McFerrin black bottom muffin wrapper bought by Bobby for us after lunch one fine day in San Francisco long ago.

If you are in the Oakland area this weekend, come celebrate InterPlay’s 20th birthday on Saturday Nov 7 at 7:30 pm. Get the details!

this video is so happy.

he’s someone I would want to run into waiting for the bus, or during jury duty.

M’encanten aquestes enquestes del facebook que et pregunten: ¿1 jugador de futbol, un artista, un pilot, un algo…? Atenció que ningú et pregunta per el millor sui generi sinó que et demana de posar-ne un de cada. M’encanta perquè va molt més a gustos, perquè et deixen posar a un paquete que, però, et diu alguna cosa i no saps què o simplement aprecies. M’ha interessat molt posar a l’Atenes 5 músics, simplement. Aquí els tenen, de més vell a més jove:

Buddy Guy, nord-americà, per mi el millor bluesman de tots els temps. No tan sols té un so i una tècnica molt personals i desbordants de talent musical sinó que té una veu potent i versàtil. Mestre de mestres, sap transmetre energia sigui en cançons molt potents així com en temes calmadíssims. La meva cançó preferida de Buddy Guy és I go crazy.

Bobby McFerrin, nord-americà, és un vocalista amb influències del jazz complet, dinàmic, és un  experimentat experimentador i improvisador. A la seva veu li ha fet fer tot el que ha pogut i més, acompanyant-se de autopercussió. A més, ha acompanyat a grans artistes com Chick Corea – un monstre, també – i l’Richard Bona, entre d’altres. La meva cançó preferida – en aquest cas una versió – de Bobby McFerrin és Blue bossa, interpretada junt amb Chick Corea.

Stevie Ray Vaughan, nord-americà, és per mi el millor guitarrista de la història per tenir l’estil més ric i potent que he sentit mai. També és el meu bluesman blanc preferit, tot i que el seu estil tingui tan a veure amb el rock. Fou una bomba imparable – morí el 1990 amb 35 anys -, gran improvisador amb la guitarra i bon cantant, amb un timbre radiant. La meva cançó preferida de STV – també versió, d’Otis Rush – és All your love (I miss loving).

Antony Hegarty, anglès, és un cantant i pianista de màxima sensibilitat emocional, característica que expressa amb la música, junt a The Johnsons, la seva banda. Les seves cançons són del més potent que es pot aconseguir amb tan pocs decibels i notes. Tot i desafinar és una gran referència per a molts cantants i músics, ja que aconsegueix transmetre una sensibilitat anormal amb un estil molt personal. La meva cançó preferida d’Antony & The Johnsons és Hope there’s someone.

I per acabar.

Jari Mäenpää, finlandès, és ex-membre d’Ensiferum i fundador de Wintersun. És per mi el major exponent del death metal melòdic, una de les branques del heavy més populars actualment. Va fer el primer treball de Wintersun, de títol homònim, només acompanyat amb un bateria i assumint els papers de dues guitares, baix i veus; amb tot, va fer un dels àlbums més aclamats en molts anys dins del panorama heavy. Els seus guturals aguts són nets, molt potents i amb molt de caràcter i intenció. El domini que té de la guitarra és anormal i és capaç de fer solos impossibles mentre canta. És un perfecte compositor i front-man, comparable amb Chuck Schuldiner, fundador i front-man de Death i pioner del death metal. La meva cançó preferida de Wintersun és Beyond the dark sun.

I doncs, quins són els teus 5 músics?

The pentatonic scale that is. What’s the pentatonic scale you ask? Well, you likely know it already, just sing along, you’ll get it:

Is this some kind of universal kernel that is at the heart of all other scales and musics? Or is it that modern western music – based as it is on transcultural history particularly of the American South where the blues inhabited the pentatonic scale – has taught a certain set of scales to the world? I’d vote for the latter, but I’d be interested in hearing any case made for the former.

Maybe we can show this video to those still in the thrall of the “worship wars” to explain that all our music is much more similar than we suppose?

Lo sto usando come mantra…

Last week’s blog post was about the Nobel Peace Prize. Today’s blog post is not about a peace prize, rather true peace – shalom. 

MSNBC, Readers Digest, Bio-Medicine, and American Psychology Association (just to name a few) have written extensively about the increase and effect of life stress. Many top universities across America have performed surveys and research on the subject of stress in America. 

Most research concurs that approximately 40% of Americans have chronic or constant stress.  They live daily without shalom.  Stress can exhibit itself in health conditions: fatigue, headache, stomach ache, muscle tension, change in appetite, and teeth grinding.  Stress can also contribute to a person’ outbursts in anger, nervousness/anxiety/panic, plummeting energy levels, and emotionality (i.e. crying).  Numerous health and medical sources suggest our nation’s epidemic of obesity is triggered in part by stress.  

People admit readily that they are not at peace.  The causes of stress vary, but research shows five main stressors:

      1. Money issues

      2. Work issues

      3. Marriage, children, family issues

      4. Health issues

      5. Lack of faith, hope, love, purpose

People are attempting to locate lasting shalom and trying all kinds of remedies to address stress.  More exercise.  More alcohol.  More chocolate.  More meditation.  More medication (did you know that Americans consume 80 million aspirins……a day?  Some have tried the opposite.  Less rest.  Less smiling.  Less relationships.  Less golf.  Less church.  Less meals at home and more drive thru “dining”. 

Although Bobby McFerrin’s hit song in 1988 “Don’t worry. Be happy” has an appeasing Jamaican rhythm, stress is still getting the best of us.  Most people agree listening to music does help reduce stress (except the likes of AC/DC).  Maybe we should tune in to praise & worship songs in order to find true peace.  An old hymn comes to mind – “Turn your eyes upon Jesus”. It was written by Helen Lemmel in 1918. 

This leads me to my new stress remedy.  For shalom, I will listen to more praise & worship songs and turn my eyes upon and look at Jesus and not at my problems.  

For your shalom, what are you going to listen to and look at?

Here’s another classic Bobby McFerrin video.

This time beatbox. Shame the quality is not so good – but so worth watching .. and the expressions in the audience are almost as entertaining as he is!

Sì, era un po’ che non davo buone novelle. Come per le altre tre precedenti (che se volete potrete trovare cliccando sul tag “La buona novella” qui sotto al post), io vi dico la mia, e v’invito a dirmene una vostra nei commenti. Qualsiasi cosa che per voi rappresenti una buona notizia, anche esservi alzati più tardi del previsto, aver trovato solo un paio di mutande nel cassetto e aver scoperto che non erano bucate. Cose così.

Mia nonna abita nella casa qui accanto alla mia. Oggi pomeriggio ha messo a soffriggere in padella del cavolo, poi ha spento il fuoco, si è vestita ed è uscita. Due ore dopo è tornata, ed è venuta dritta a casa mia, a dirmi di andare da lei a prendermi dei pasticcini che mio zio ci ha portato dalla Sicilia (fatti con la pasta di mandorle, blllleah, mi fan schifo solo a guardarli). La seguo a casa sua, entriamo nel garage e il mio naso sopraffino fiuta già qualcosa di strano.

- Nonna… cos’è sta puzza di bruciato?

- Ah niente, non è bruciato, è che ho cotto il cavolo e fa un po’ puzza.

Apro la porta che dà nel cucinino, rimango pietrificata sulla soglia e le dico lentamente:

- Si…cu…ra?

Il cucinino è coperto da una coltre di fumo nero e denso, che si sprigiona dalla padella sul fornello (ovviamente acceso). Apriamo tossendo finestre, porte e tutto l’apribile, ma penso che avrà quell’odore acre ed orripilante in casa per molto tempo. Insomma quando secondo lei aveva spento il gas, l’aveva soltanto abbassato.

- Da quanto tempo era lì, nonna?

- Da quando sono uscita, due ore fa…

- Zzziopiiinoooooo!!!!

- Sì, ma era a fuoco basso eh!

- Ah beh!

Qual è la buona novella? Beh, avrebbe potuto dare fuoco alla casa.

Avrebbe potuto andare peggio. Potrebbe sempre andare peggio.

Pensate positivo!