What YOU have
just heard is a remarkable accomplishment.
YOU are
one of the few to hear the 2010 Contemporary Jazz Trio Arrangement. As you know, our
video has gone viral.
Over 350,000 people have already viewed and
listened to the power of Da Vinci's music.
Frequently Asked
Questions: Here is why the music
so intriguing.
Q:
When did you figure this out?
A: In 1988, I
began looking into the encoded musical works of JS
Bach. I also looked into the music of Leopold Mozart
who was composing music for pictures and paintings. I
became very intrigued by BACH & Leopold's concepts, and started to
write my own codes into my own music. I actually
wrote a piece of music called Bouree in A Major in
1988 that contains a short love letter to a girl I
dated at the time. I would be curious to know if she
ever figured it out.
However, around that same time, I had also
learned about a book that had come out in 1982, "The
Holy Blood, The Holy Grail", and I had taken it
out from the library a few times. At that age I
found that the book really challenged my belief
system, and I found myself losing interest quickly.
It appeared to be to far fetched for me. Plus, music was way more important
to me.
However, in September 2003 , after the birth of
my son, Casper Leonardo, I began looking for music
that Da Vinci would have composed. I wanted a few
piece's for my third jazz album that was going to be
titled after him, Dear Leonardo. An open musical
letter from one gift artist to another. I found one
piece, and then I found a quote of Da Vinci's.
He said, "Music is Second &
Painting is First, If I could put my music in my
painting, then both would live forever."
With that information, I once again
began examining & studying Da Vinci's paintings over
the following year. The
last supper appeared to contain the most independent
objects, and the most logical straight lines I found
in any other painting.
Plus, this time, I had
a open mind, and I was more mature.
After years of examining Da Vinci
paintings, drawing lines, reading,
and learning about Da Vinci. I stumbled onto what I
believed to be musical notes in his painting. However,
I have now come to believe that Da Vinci disguised his
music as independent objects in
his painting.
Q:
Are you the only one who has discovered this?
A: No,
I am not the only person to look into Da Vinci's paintings for
music. Giovanni Maria Pala, an Italian drummer/musician wrote
his book, and started his work in 2000.
Me on the other hand, I took over 6
years to arranged my contemporary piece for modern ears to hear.
I wanted the world to hear it, not read about it. If you were
to examine both of our pieces of music you will notice that they are
not exactly the same, and there are differences in the music.
Edify yourself first, before you judge.
Q:
Why was Music
Second ~ Painting First?
A:
Leonardo Da Vinci
believed that music was second to paintings, and that
paintings would out last music. However,
Leonardo also believed that if he were to cleverly
encode
his music into his paintings, then both of his works
would last forever.
Q: Could Da Vinci
really have encoded music into his paintings?
A:
Leonardo Da
Vinci encoded his music into his paintings in the form
of objects. This type of encoding
was a common practice in Leonardo's day, and even
shows up in JS Bach's [March 31, 1685 - July 28 ,
1750] work over 166 years later. For Example;
Bach's D Minor Violin Partita,
is a tribute to Maria Barbara, his dead wife, Bach
encoded their two names into the piece of music.
Bach also encoded his own name into his last fugue
he ever wrote just before he died. This work is
entitled, "Fantasia
und Fuge über BACH Trascrizione da Concerto per
Grande Organo". Many musicians today
pay homage to Bach by encoding his name, or their own
names into their own works.
Ask yourself, "Where
did JS Bach get the encoding idea from?" It is
not quite certain, but it is a well documented fact
that Bach studied music from Italy, and therefore he
may have come across Leonardo's encoding concepts at
one point.
Q: Why is the music
played backwards?
A: Leonardo
wrote left handed and backwards. In order to remain as true &
honest with this piece of music, I had to play it the way it was
written. Only then, could you really receive the entire
benefit of hearing what Da Vinci intended you to hear.
Q: Why is the music
in a 3/4 time signature?
A: The
painting contains several references to the number 3, which
represents the Christian belief in the Holy Trinity. First,
the
Apostles are seated in groups of three; there are three
windows behind Jesus; there are three walls around the room;
and the shape of Jesus' figure resembles a triangle. There may have
been other references that have since been lost to the painting's
deterioration. Therefore, the music must be in ¾. I
tried this piece in almost every possible time signature and
the most logical signature was ¾.
Q: Why
are there 13 bars?
A:
Consider this, there are 13 people at
the table, 26 hands, and bread. The 13 bars represent the 13
people. Since the 1600's we have been taught to count music in
even numbers, and not odd numbers. So the number 13 appears to
be odd. It was my job to make those 13 bars feel normal to
you, so it didn't feel odd when you listened to the music.
Q: Why is the music
so slow?
A: The music
may only appear to be slow, however, it is played a 120 bpm's with
dotted half notes. This tempo provides a nice flowing feeling.
"Music is the only art form that is governed by time" ~ Jeari
Czapla. For the contemporary version, I agreed with the
question, and I sped the music up to 152 bpm's.
Q:
Why does it sound so bad to my ears?
A: In Da
Vinci's time, the Middle Renaissance era, resolving
music was second, and creating an emotion was first.
Composers were starting to widely use counterpoint,
and suspensions ruled the day. Music as an art
form was still developing, and the use of Consonance &
Dissonance was experimental. Our modern day
practices of musical resolution only came into
existence and proper usage around 1600, just right
around the Baroque era.
Q: Is
this just a coincidence?
A: Leonardo
would have encode his music into his paintings
intentionally, as it was the common practice of the
day. Da Vinci believed that music was second, and
paintings were first. He also believed that if
he encoded his music into his paintings, then both of
his work would live forever.
Q: Why
is it not played on a piano?
A: Leonardo
would have written this piece of music on an
Organetto. In Leonardo's day, this was one
of the more popular instruments. Because the
Organetto was small, it was therefore portable, and
could be carried around easily. However, because
it was small, it could only play one note at a time,
and that is why Da Vinci's melody consisted of single
note phrases without harmony.
Dinner
With Da Vinci
Renaissance Organ Version Follow the link
Q:
What does the media say?
A:
Follow
the link to find out,
Media Link
Q:
What Instruments Did Leonardo Play?
A:
Leonardo
would have played a few of these
Renaissance Instruments,
and composed his music on them. Listen to these
instruments and imagine what Leonardo's music may have
sounded like when he played.
Q:
Was Da
Vinci a talented Musician?
A:
Leonardo Da Vinci was
born April 15, 1452 and passed away May 2, 1519.
It is said that by the age of 30, in 1482 Leonardo,
who according to Vasari was a most talented musician.
Leonardo created a silver lyre in the shape of a
horse's head. The lyre is said to have been more
resonant and had a more beautiful sound than any
conventional wooden lyres of the day.
Q:
Did Leonardo changed the violin?
A:
During Da Vinci's
live time, he made over 30 amendments to some of the
musical instruments we currently use today. It
is also believed that Leonardo changed the violin from a 6 stringed instrument, to the four
stringed instrument we know today by removing two of
the drone strings. This made the instrument
easier to play.
"By a kind of
organic, triangulative process between craftsmen,
players, and composers, early violins came into
existence around 1520 in northern Italy. The
4-stringed "true" violin family was complete in its
basic structural features - though not standardized
- around 1550. Changes in the violin after 1600 were
largely decorative." "Peter
Wilson"
Q:
Are you Looking at other paintings?
A: Yes, is
the quick and simple answer. I have been looking at 2 other
paintings, and any more information than that, and those of you out
there will get to it before I do.
Dinner with Da Vinci
Notes, Bread, & Hands
A
Brief Summary of the Painting:
Leonardo Da Vinci painted “The Last Supper” between 1495 ~
1498. It portrays the reaction of each apostle when Jesus
said one of them would betray him. All twelve apostles have
different reactions to the news, with various degrees of
emotion.
The
painting contains several references to the number 3, which
represents the Christian belief in the Holy Trinity. The
Apostles are seated in groupings of three; there are three
windows behind Jesus; and the shape of Jesus' figure resembles
a triangle. There may have been other references that have
since been lost to the painting's deterioration. Therefore,
the music must be in ¾.
When Da Vinci painted the
last Supper and encoded his notes; he knew the monks at the
Santa Maria delle Grazie, in Milan, Italy, would understand
his work and be able to sing along the painting during their
dining hours. It would have provide the monks with
additional hymns to sing.
Jeari’s Music: Despite all the
controversy over Da Vinci’s painting. My intentions have
never been to re-visit those debates, but to look deeper into
the music of Leonardo Da Vinci. Oh, they all play BACH
renditions, but who pre-dates BACH? Well, Da Vinci does, and
there is nothing like a good ole Da Vinci rendition?
It
became my mission to generate a modern jazz tune from Da
Vinci’s original music I discovered in his painting.
So, I researched Da Vinci’s painting and music for well over a
year to get the music just right, and I believe I did. In Da
Vinci’s time, musical resolution was not common, as it was all
based off of emotions. It wasn’t until BACH came along that
music resolved itself. So far, nobody else in
the world has taken this challenge as serious as I have, nor
have they taken it as far as I have.
Da
Vinci hid his music in the bread on the table, and in the
hands of the apostles. Da Vinci’s original hidden music
portrays each apostle’s reactions to the news. My music &
arrangement had to convey those same reactions so the listener
could see & hear the painting in their mind. Keep in mind; Da
Vinci painted from right to left, Left handed, and backwards.
Thank you for taking
the time to read this page. I trust you have enjoyed the
music, and are looking forward to purchasing, Dinner With Da
Vinci for your collection.
TUSCANY
This tune has no
official name, and was believed to have been written in
TUSCANY between 1460 ~ 1464. I have titled it according
to the place Da Vinci would have written the original
composition.
This tune is
scheduled for the album, "Dear Leonardo", and I am currently
arranging this to also become a contemporary jazz tune.
As you can see, there are a number of different chord changes
available, and a few different ways to approach the tune.
I have chosen to post this Da Vinci sheet music to provide you
with the opportunity to see the difficulty in arranging a
piece of music that has not been arranged for modern ears.
