Listening to Jax’s Theme, by Music 2 Work 2, the first word that comes to mind is majestic. The organ swells elicit an almost sacred feel to the music. The imagery produced for me is one of the majesty of nature – a sunrise, a sunset, majestic mountains, a beautiful rainbow.
This session gives me a feeling of peace and calmness, but also reminds me that I am only one small element in a much larger and more powerful universe.
Digital Music News reports that “the art of stalking has now gone digital.” A 27 year old fan of Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington was able to acquire phone numbers and photographs by hacking into his mobile phone. The woman had apparently also been able to get into Bennington’s personal email account and made threats against his wife.
This woman is said to have used a computer at her former employer Sandia National Laboratories, a nuclear weapons research and testing laboratory, to carry out her acts.
Being the subject of stalking by a fan, I am sure is unnerving enough for celebrities. The addition of yet another means of stalking and the breaching of ones security is even more cause for concern. However, it is disturbing to me to think that this woman worked where research and testing of nuclear weapons was taking place.
Lab spokesman Michael Padilla said that the woman’s computer “wasn’t connected to classified data.” That is little comfort to me - it also wasn't connected to Chester Bennington's mobile phone and email! I feel for Chester Bennington and his wife and anyone subjected to stalking, but it concerns me that a person such as this woman would be hired by a company dealing with such sensitive matters and that this part of the story seems to be of so little concern to anyone.
The little piece Anam Cara is another one from Music 2 Work 2 that I can't listen to without smiling. It just speaks of joy to me. It brings to mind happiness, fun, goodness - maybe an appropriate piece for the holiday season.
Digital Music News Daily Snapshot reports that Nielson Media Research revealed “iPod owners spend a relatively small amount of time viewing downloaded videos.” These results are understandable considering the “multitasking” of individuals today. It is the music, Nielsen concludes, that is the most important component for most iPod buyers, even the iPods with video capabilities.
These results are reassuring for Music 2 Work 2.com. They are consistent with the thinking of Music 2 Work 2 and reaffirm the premise on which it is based. Individuals at work and play spend so much time during which focused attention to action on a screen is impractical. But, background music, which does not require focused attention, makes the task more pleasant, enables concentration on what is necessary, or prevents boredom while performing repetitive tasks. Looks like Music 2 Work 2 is right on the mark!
There is a brand new session now available on the Music 2 Work 2 web site. Late791 is a piece consisting of only the piano and has a somewhat different feel to me than some of the other sessions. It is a slow, melodic piece that has a rather somber tone.
The imagery for me from this session is of a rainstorm. In the beginning I see the sky grow darker. At 4-5 minutes into the piece, the raindrops begin - the clear notes of the piano representing the rain as it falls. As it waters the earth, the clouds begin to break but the rain continues to softly fall. It brings needed sustenance and it leaves all of nature refreshed and clean. It gives me the sense of a renewal or revitalizing – leaving existence better than when it began.
Check out this new piece. As background music, it is good while doing work at the computer, cleaning the house, any kind of work. But, also try listening closely to the session, focusing on the melody, the clearness of the piano, and see what image it evokes for you.
In spite of the big budget marketing campaign and months of pre-release hype, Microsoft’s Zune was released on Tuesday with disappointing results. Digital Music News reported that it was available in 30,000 retail outlets, “more than any other Microsoft product." Even Bill Gates himself gave it a push by extolling its virtues.
Apparently, however, it was not well received by everyone – there were complaints about it’s size – larger and heavier than the iPod and its sharing capabilities possibly hurt by the refusal of some big names, such as the Rolling Stones, to license their music for Zune-to-Zune sharing.
So, what is the message here? Perhaps that success can’t always be bought. Regardless of how much money Microsoft has spent on the Zune, it’s popularity and success ultimately lies with the consumer.
The changes heard in 1218 Clip 1 – tempo, instruments and melodies, are present in this clip as well. But listening to 1218 Clip 2, the image I get is of being willing to risk and explore change even further. The piano seems to take on an energy that allows it to push ahead, to take the lead and try new and more complicated things.
This clip makes me think about a person who is willing to experience life with all its changes and forge ahead, following new paths and trying new things. The changes and experiences may not all be easy, but they do not discourage the individual from continuing to experience life and grow.
The 1218 session on Music 2 Work 2.com, from which both these clips come, is a pleasing, up-lifting and encouraging piece. It is one of my favorites.
The theme of the Music2Work2 1218 clip1 that stands out to me is change - the change from piano to piano and strings, the change in tempo, the change in melody. There seem to be different moods, and different actions taking place within the piece.
The tempo varies - slow, fast, slow, and even the voices or instruments carry different tempos simultaneously. The mood changes from soft and mellow to one of excitement or heightened feelings/activity, then back to mellow again.
Having spent the past week dealing with technical support people in trying to get new phone and Internet service set up, this piece is particularly representative of the changes, the varied feelings and emotions I have gone through. There is a lot going on in this piece, and there has been a lot going on with my thoughts and feelings through my ordeal – from extreme anger to resigned acceptance of spending hours trying to finally reach someone who could solve the problem.
I have spent four days on the phone or online chat support trying to get Earthlink’s TrueVoice service set up. Every single part of this process that could have been screwed up, was. I found that most of the people who work at technical support, either do not have enough training or they just plain don’t know what they are doing.
After spending 21 hours and counting either on the phone, mostly on hold, or waiting for a response from someone on the chat support, I have discovered a new use of Music 2 Work 2 pieces. They are also “music to help maintain your sanity.”
I was so angry I could have chewed gravel today - - instead of making things better, one of these “technical people” not only could not get my phone working, but made it impossible for me to have Internet access. I knew that I was either going to do something drastic or my blood pressure was going to shoot right through my head. So I put on the sessions from Music2Work2.com and was able to calm down and maintain what sanity I had left. As the calming, soothing music played, I felt myself start to relax. The music is so beautiful, it is hard to stay so upset while listening to it.
Earthlink needs to play Music2Work2 while they leave their customers on hold. If they are going to be so incompetent, maybe at least the customers won’t have coronaries or nervous breakdowns while they wait!
