The title of this blog is a little misleading.  First off, let’s see if we can start off by all agreeing on this one maxim — there is no such thing as “the greatest melody ever written”.  If you believe that such a thing does exist, you might also be someone who is prone to asking the question, “What’s the most difficult instrument to play well?”  Again — no such thing.  All instruments take a great deal of time and effort to perform on at a very high level.  At least in my estimation and in the opinion of my musical peers…

As for the concept of great melodies, they are very subjective to the individuals who are listening to them at certain times in their lives and very much in relation to what else might be going on around them.  When you were 17 you might have thought that a particular song resonated with you in a way that no other song ever could.  And then when you were 25, so much has now changed in your life including your ability to see and understand more of what the world has to offer, that the music that you best relate to may have taken a dramatic turn, too. Music and art will always be subjective and beholden to the eye and ear of the beholder.

But there are certain songs, melodies and combinations of words and music that stay with us for a lifetime.  More often than not, we do not even discover much of what is out there until we have lived long enough to have invested the necessary time to discover what I would like to refer to as the spiritual beauty of music.

When music has it’s most significant impact, it’s seems to be able to lift us up and transform and transport us into another dimension.  It can quiet our soul or bring us to great ecstasy all with passion and inspiration that allows us to feel a magical connection to the world through this often non-verbal, always non-tangible vibration in the air.

We all have different play lists that make up the soundtracks of our lives.  For my own eclectic tastes this could range from Bach to Basie to Bird to the Beatles.  But for today, it’s Puccini, and certainly a melody that will live forever: “Nessun Dorma”.

If you’re not familiar with the Puccini aria Nessun Dorma you owe it to yourself to experience it right now.

Towards the bottom of this blog you will find a link to the public video on Youtube for Luciano Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of Zubin Mehta.  This is from a live concert performance.  The aria was originally composed by Puccini for his opera Turandot, which would turn out to be his last work.  But the song has entered the concert world as a solo aria for great tenors all through the last century.  And this melody always raises the little hairs on my arms and makes me realize why music has been such a significant part of my life.  And equally important — why it’s important to share it with others.

New York January 14,1980 Lincoln Center with Zubin Mehta
http://youtu.be/TOfC9LfR3PI

So while there is no such thing as “the greatest melody ever written” there are, from time to time, a very special combination of those 12 musical pitches in western music that when placed in the hands of a gifted composer and rendered by a great artist, can make us feel alive.  They allow us to see, hear and experience the world through the inspiration given to an individual and meant to be shared by many.  The relationship between an audience and an artist is a very intimate relationship, even when the moment is shared by thousands at the same time in the same place. Music is at it’s very best when shared with others.

Make sure you click on the link above.  I promise you that it will be 3 of the best minutes you will spend today…

Rich Daniels

Where do we even begin?  As hard as times have been for so many of our friends and family with the nations economy continuing to reap havoc over millions of Americans, it would be difficult not to stop from time to time and to still see just how full our glass really is.  Thanksgiving Day seems like the perfect time to do so.

We live in what is arguably the greatest nation on earth that has ever been developed in the history of mankind.  So much of what we value most, we owe to what has come before us.  Our Founding Fathers and our citizens have taken the best elements from the history of civilization and bound them together to create one nation, under God, “conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal”.  How much better can it get?

And despite all of the partisan bickering that goes on during an election year in this country, it always seems important for us to remember that there is much more that unites us than divides us.  We truly need to be thankful for all the many blessings that have been given to us as Americans…

It also seems to me that the concept of giving is a moral imperative.  As members of the human family it’s necessary for us to access that part of our DNA that continually allows us to show compassion and understanding for those around us while doing what we can to make better the lives of our neighbors.

And, of course, that also leads us to gratitude.

Gratitude for our families and our friends.  Gratitude for the morning sunrise and the days end.  Gratitude for the birds in the sky and the beasts in field.  Gratitude for the path we are on for the unknown road that lies ahead of us.  Gratitude for the freedom we enjoy as Americans…

And in keeping the flame alive of what our founders referred to as the “American experiment” it’s important for us to remember that our freedom isn’t really free.  It has come at the highest cost to those millions of men and women who have come before us and have defended our rights to live in this republic with their own lives.

The men and women of our armed forces have been safeguarding our liberties since the day that we proclaimed our independence some 235 years ago in Philadelphia…and for that, we are truly thankful…

Living an “attitude of gratitude” can only make us more appreciative of all that we have been given.

So during this Thanksgiving week in America, my personal goal will be to strive to be ever thankful for all of you, and to take that extra step in order to show my appreciation for being given the opportunity to live in this great country.  Happy Thanksgiving.