universal language

It is the one thing that incorporates science, mathematics, language, history, physical education, insight, research and art in order to create expression. It is most universal yet inexpressible. It is none other than music. - M. Slawsky

Music has brought people together time and time again, and it has been an important way for me to interact with people of other cultures. I traveled to Cambodia in summer of '09 and Togo, West Africa in summer of '10, and even though I did not really speak their languages, I knew the language of the heart and spirit, the language of music. I brought with me a harmonica and one of my friends brought a guitar and we were just there playing and dancing with the villagers who have no idea what we were singing but still danced to the rhythm and sound. And those Africans really knew how to play 'em beats! My body, mind, soul, and spirit were enjoying the deeps resonances of the djembe, conga, and their scattered singing. We didn't need much words. We communicated through our emotions in our playing, singing and dancing.

Here are some of my favorite music that have painted beautiful imageries in my mind:





There is nothing in the world that is as powerful as music. And I want to leave you with this: "When you listen, don't just let it go in and out, but tentatively listen with your heart and use your imagination to draw out the picture of the music."

It's not just music. It's food for the soul.

jw

music & moods & productivity

Music has much dominion over our emotions. One upbeat song can easily cheer us up due to it's fun and light melody and style, yet one slow song in the minor key can bring us to tears. This is, to me, something beautiful and miraculous.




If you think listening to soothing music is relaxing, then what about animals? I recently saw a YouTube video of cows listening to Classical music while milking, and surprisingly these cows produced more milk while listening to classical music than without music (or Opera Serenades).




And just to spice it up, the following video is a crazy parrot dancing the night away--these two videos show that not only humans have feelings toward music, but even animals have various reactions toward different types of music too.




When these cows listen to Classical music, they are happier and more relaxed, and thus the increase in productivity. I listen to movie soundtracks of Forrest Gump, Amelie, and O Brother Where Art Thou when I study, and I believe they have helped me to relax and stay focused with my work. On the subject on studying, one of my friends who is an artist partnered up with a musician and created a YouTube channel called "Study Music Project", where they posted videos of art and original music pieces made for students when they study. You can even create a playlist and just let the music run for hours without clicking on new videos! Go give it a try, I hope that this channel will help you focus too!

jw

music in movies

During the "silent motion picture" age, music was provided by live orchestra but was regarded as only an accompaniment. Nowadays, music plays an equally, if not, an even more prominent role in movies. If we watch the clips below without sound, we would not have the same experience because music brings out the overall emotions of the clip.

Below I will introduce two of my favorite movie themes of 2010:

TRON: LEGACY
Hands down to the French-duo who simply bring the movie that is already visually stimulating to another level with their soundtrack that will go down in history. I do not think anyone else can make a better soundtrack for Tron: Legacy than Daft Punk. The electric sound blending with orchstral scores gives the viewers a futuristic sound that matches the awe-inspiring CG effects in perfect harmony (pun not intended). I almost started dancing in the theatre.

INCEPTIONOne word: E-P-I-C. Hans Zimmer will go down in history as possibly the most successful movie score composer of the twenty-first century. Inception soundtrack is his best work yet, and I am already looking forward to his mind-blowing sound for the next installment of Batman. The music of Inception not only enhances, but it generates an ever-growing confusion of the mystery of dreams and the puzzling plot.

There's this special connection between music and movies that musical themes are written to "define" the movies themselves so now movie score composers are stepping up to bring the audience deeper into the story. We buy soundtracks because they can reminisce the movies by just listening to it and tap into the world of TRON or the never-ending dreams of Inception.

jw