On Friday evening last week, Dr. John Harrison gave a talk on the great power creative art has to connect with people and how that power can communicate at a profound local.
John Harrison's special interest is with music and he told how a wealthy Venezuelan businessman had provided funds to give musical instruments to the street children of the cities and towns of his own country. With constant support and encouragement there are now 270,000 children in Venezuela learning music, which has given them a new life.
Music as a power of healing conflicting ideologies is shown by the success of the East West Divan Orchestra instigated by Daniel Barenboim bringing Arabs and Israelis together to make music.
In our daily lives we hear music in birdsong, movement of water, the rhythm of a train and many other sounds. The speaker explained how a tune is built up with first one note, then several notes (a figure) and then a succession of notes making a phrase. Vertical notes (chords) produce harmony. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata was an example of this progression.
John Harrison then told of some of his personal connections with music. One outstanding occasion was his meeting with the conductor, John Barbarolli. Another was through his father's gramophone records, particularly hearing Tchaikovsky's fifth symphony.
In 1965, in Toronto, Canada, John heard an organ recital of Vidor's Toccata from his fifth symphony which greatly impressed him. During his time at Aberystwyth University, John Harrison found that many famous composers such as Elgar and Parry had been frequent visitors there.
Musical connections are frequently made with places, institutions and associations. Saint-Saens' Organ Symphony No. 3 has a special association with the RNLI.
John Harrison made special reference to the power of music in worship. He spoke about church music and his memories of a 1952 performance of Handel's Messiah conducted by Malcolm Sargeant at the Royal Albert Hall. In contrast, at Greenhill School in 1960, he took part as a schoolboy in a karaoke version of the Messiah.
The music of many famous composers has connections with each others works. Brahms used a hymn tune in his prelude for organ originally used by the 16th century composer Pretorius. There are many other examples of this.
Finally, John Harrison ended his talk with the Christmas carol 'In the bleak mid-winter', which has been voted the best loved carol by choir masters throughout the country.
John Harrison's talk with his musical illustrations had been a joy to listen to and the audience thoroughly enjoyed another special evening.
This (Friday) evening, Pat Price will be talking about 'A Life in the Theatre'. All are welcome at 8 pm in Church House. Admission £1 members, £2 non-members.