What is it that focuses the mind, that balances the other half of life. As we go in persuit of love knowing the reward to be great.

Just a smile is enough to make ones day. then you realise that you are there. That simple place where the smallest things are enough. Where you say things that make you wonder, and then afterwards can not believe that you said them.

We are guided spirits caught by what we attracted to and at the same time scared by it. The I and I of us that wants to live this life reach out and if we ready enough we can grab it and fly with it. Existing in this world where we become free by setting our love free. We give our love the chance to reach the highest mountain and not fear the deepest valley.

Yes.

Finding time to do things that are personally important to us, is a major part of life to get right. So much that we do is for other people, other causes. Perhaps it is more important these things come first. I have been meaning for a while to write a few things here. I have some case studies to prepare for tomorrow and it is already a quarter to eleven. Still though I am going to find time to write about a concert that I went to recently. Mainly because these small things are important too. I reckon it will make me feel better, than anything else that I can do now.

Last Thursday I saw Libor Novacek as the concert guide describe:

“A formidable Liszt interpreter, the Prague-born Libor Novacek has already been compared to such great pianists as Claudio Arrau and Wilhelm Kempff, his music-making described as being of ‘exceptional poetic verve and inwardness’. The former Young Concert Artists Trust performer follows a delightful sonata from Hadyn’s middle period and eight capriccios and intermezzos from Brahms’s middle years, with the fantastic nine-part product of the Swiss period of Liszt’s colourful years of pilgrimage.”

I am not familiar with his work so it was a first time experience. I can testify that it was an electrifying performance. I have seen quite a number of piano recitals but nothing like this. He was unstoppable even though the stool was squeaking he was not to be deterred or distracted. I was truly moved by his soft delicate interpretation of Liszt in the first half of his performance. After a break of 20 minutes he focused on slightly heavy and less well known pieces. To play dissonance requires impeccable timing and a thorough understanding of the music. Although I could not reach the left cerebral heights enjoyed by the first half. It was an uplifting experience. Performing for over an hour and a half, I was so glad that he choose to play pieces that are not so well known. I believe that we will be able to buy the record soon as that was his last performance before going into the studio to record these songs that he has been performing on this concert tour.

It took about 4 days for the rain to stop. It had rained most of the summer but as I was not here what did it matter. It did matter though its shiny elegancy has been worn away not just by the weather but by the change in economic times. With its best houses still standing from the Georgian period. Lancaster was still not comfortable with its future. What a name I remember thinking outside the Judges museum. Is it related to the Lancaster bombers? Probably not they come from the American town with the same name which than comes from here. Americans with all there development could not help but take a little bit of England with them when they left.

It all looks worn and noisey, and than there are surprises like Williamson Park with its manmade waterfalls, There are landscapes of true beauty like the lake district behind it . And the most unbelievable architecture built in a park just because it looks good. Giving a view as far as the eye can see. An excellence established long ago but somehow passed its peak.

There has been a growing number of record deals in the last year that for a whole host of artists that manage not just their albums but there entire output. For many of the big artists more money is coming from tours than from sales of records. Is this a good trend? To answer that we have take a close look at the music. In the past music has been a limited supply. It is only in the last 20 - 30 years that access has grown to the epidemic portions we now see. For anyone who has internet connection they are now able to access hours and of just about every type of music all legally through online radio stations, websites, and blogs. What happens when you have too much of something? You get lazy and fat.(figuratively speaking) It no longer holds that special feeling, that rush of excitment. Gone are the days when you could listen to Rock and Roll and your parents would break the disc.

There is of course still great rock and roll music being made, maybe better than at any other time in history. But it is less relevant than every. We are not passionate about it. Not to be passionate about music is probably the biggest crime. (Music is passion a out ward directed flow of creativity) As we may or not know it is enormously influential on our thoughts, what we wear and how we think. So our the current changes good for the industry.

I believe so, it is with recordings one must remember that they are one dimensional. What we may see now is a return to live music, people creating their own music and uploading it on to the internet. Instead of just a few thousand pop stars any body can make and create. Which is what fundamentally music is about.

Radio 4 recently presented a program about Madonna at 50. The focus of the program was how Madonna had adaptive her style to match each new style of music. There is in principle nothing new about that. Rolling stones have been doing that for a long as they have been around taking on attributes and current trends with each new album they have made. What was interesting is how she would live out the personas. Totally engulfing them enabling her to understand pursue that area of music or style.

While some may say change is not good for changes sake. I do think it has been very successful for her. I also think change opens doorways to greater learning and challenges. What do you think? How much would you change?