Friday, September 16, 2011

Silly little things that make me happy - Part 1

In life there are various things that make me happy. Some of them have to do with music or art, some are specific people that are a part of my life, and others are related to nature. (...and there are still others that I am forgetting at the moment, I'm sure.)

Anyway, the one that is shining bright in my mind is a snippet of the song Never Neverland from the musical Peter Pan. I love the entire song, really. It makes me happy and sad at the same time, which is quite the paradox.

The specific part that gives me a sense of euphoria, though, is from 1:15 to 1:26 in this video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDbp0_vIlAg (Side note, Mary Martin was and will always be awesome.)

Now, the reason why it pleases me so much has to do with music theory. The chords played during that part are F, Cm, C#dim, Dm7, and F7. Listening to (and even more so actually playing that part) gives me a wonderfully great sense of well being that is unlike any other. This sensation seemingly only comes from music, for me. (As I mentioned before, a great many things bring happiness to me. This particular type of happiness only comes from music, though.)

Interestingly enough, there were two main composers for the music in Peter Pan. Mark Charlap and Jule Styne. Never Neverland is by Jule Styne. There is another tune by Styne in the show that I really enjoy, as well. The title of that one is "Wendy."

--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xUSkX89rZ4

Still another by Jule Styne, Captain Hook's Waltz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwuPqeG0qI4

For the most part Styne's songs are much more interesting (to play, anyway) than Charlap's compositions. Mark Charlap's songs are dreadfully boring to play. They are fine to listen to, but just not very interesting in a music theory sense.

I digress, though.

There are other songs that give me the same feeling that Never Neverland gives me, but I can't think of them at the moment. When I do, I will post about them.

Have a good one.

http://www.youtube.com/WheelzOfFortune
http://www.youtube.com/JosephVisaggi

More Than Yesterday - Joseph Visaggi

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