Page 163 - July ONLINE VERSION

By Tammy Yosich

Beethoven removed the legs of the piano, placing the are going to get or preempting a sound.
instrument on the ground where he could feel the
vibrations of the music. Beethoven also lost his sight. I always think of conductors being at three places at
the same time. They give an impulse to get a sound;
I think when you are a musician like Beethoven, you
Peter study a score and because you spend so much time at sic and process it. And then you remain cognizant of
really don’t need your hearing. For example, when I
being ahead of the music. Then you listen to the mu-
a piano, you can hear it in your head. It can become
the changes that need to be vocalized.
very technical and mechanical. So, after a certain
Shannon thoven you’d have to multiply that by a quindecillion. them are off?
Interview with amount of time of pressing those keys, I know what ZGP: Ok, so if you are standing before
the sound is. This is my musical ability but with Bee-
some 250 musicians, can you tell if one of

PS: Sometimes you can if there is a glaring mistake.
Beethoven’s final piece, the 9th Symphony, was per-
The orchestra is composed of several sections, the
Conducting More Than Kindness haps the greatest, yet saddest of his career. The pow- strings, the woodwinds, and so forth. So, while you
erful solos created quite a stir in the audience. It was
may not be able to pinpoint the exact instrument,
not until the nearly deaf Beethoven was urged to turn gaffes can be narrowed down to a section. Conduc-
around that he absorbed the exuberance of the audi- tors learn how to take things apart and put them back
ence’s applause and satisfaction for the glorious 9th together. However, we step lightly not to interrupt the
Symphony. The Jackson Symphony will be performing creative nature of music. It is a delicate balance to be
Peter Shannon, the Conductor for The Jackson Symphony, is conducting more than music, more Beethoven’s symphonies starting with his first through open to what the orchestra is playing and the techni-

than kindness, even. Shannon is part of a worldwide effort to scientifically bring the power of his last. The finale will be the “Ode to Joy,” with the cal problem-solving aspects of the creation.
music, one song at a time, to ease the suffering of cancer patients going through treatment. As solos performing a sort of ode to humanity. Talk
Shannon will explain, music activates multiple systems within the body, releasing ‘good hor- about kindness, that piece is German romanticism at For fun, I felt it necessary to pose a
mones’ as well as providing respite while a patient is going through one of the most challenging its best. ‘what if...” for Shannon and well, take
times of their lives. ZGP Magazine is very fortunate to have sat down with Shannon to discuss all a listen.
the powers music possesses and how Shannon, and others like him, are conducting more than ZGP: This might be a silly question but
what does a conductor do? Explain how
kindness through their music. what appears to be merely waving a baton
passionately about, produces such soul-mov-
ZGP: When did music start for you? ZGP: Who are some of your musical ing music from an orchestra?
PS: My earliest remembrances of music was piano and influences?
singing lessons with Mrs. Murphy in Ireland. I was PS: Freddie Mercury
around six but coming from a family of five children, ZGP: Really?
your parents found ways to get you out of the house: PS: My musical influences are all over the place. I’m
music, sports, anything. Soon after that I joined Saint a massive Freddie Mercury fan. I get a lot of laughs
Fin Barre’s Cathedral as a choir boy. from the orchestra when I wear my Freddie Mercury ZGP: Music heals, evokes emotions, and
t-shirt into rehearsals. I studied German Romanticism triggers memories. As a scientific guy, can
ZGP: Did I read correctly you come from a – Ludwig Van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Johann PS: I heard it best explained to a lay audience as “the you shed some light on the mystery of mu-
family of physicians? Sebastian Bach, and of course Wolfgang Amadeus art of suggestion.” I joke a lot about conducting, but sic? Is there a scientific explanation?
PS: Yeah, I suppose that is part of my heritage. Both Mozart –after leaving Ireland for Germany. there is a lot happening, technical things, and so it PS: The quick answer is that there is science behind
my grandparents were doctors. My father is a profes- can be difficult to explain. To become an orchestra the power of music. A great place to start is with the
sor of medicine, my sister is a doctor, and my brother ZGP: Often, we take for granted how read- conductor, you must be able to play the piano, to sing, harmonic series, with the octave as the first of the
just finished his doctoral thesis on the efficacy of ily available music is to connect with emo- and to show proficiency in a stringed instrument but overtone series, then the 5th, and 3rd, then it's the 6th
mindfulness and end of life care. My other sister, tionally. However, legendary composers what you really need to have is very good ears. We are and 7th. Some intervals are processed as consonant
June, is a medical journalist and another sister is a such as Ludwig van Beethoven was deaf there because of our ability to create an acoustic vi- and others as dissonant depending on where they are
nutritionist. We are all in the medical business, except most of his life. How can those of us who sion of what we hope to achieve. All this aural vision on that series. Our perception of music is also a factor.
for me. However, I’m edging my way in. may not understand, comprehend Beetho- comes together with manual suggestion to an orches- Music has semiotics, signs that we treat as comforting
ven’s abilities for music? tra of 50-100 musicians. Basically, you make a gesture or disturbing.
PS: Beethoven progressed into deafness. Late in life, (suggestion) ahead of the music knowing what you Continued Next Page

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