Music & Education Talks: Music and Taxes?

Hi, all. Stephanie here with VSM sharing today a quick method for tax relief. Now, you may be wondering what this has to do with the world of music and education, but like everything, it depends on your perspective. In my case, tax relief is literally that. A relief from tax otherwise known as escaping the paper-ridden, dreary, and oppressive world of online declarations. Yet, I've just spent the last two hours trying to interpret fiscal codes and financial jargon and I've literally flat-lined.

So in a desperate attempt to reign in the brainwaves, I'm looking for some music that will kick-start the heart and stimulate curiosity in the mind. And what have I found? Well, I initially wanted to use Stravinsky's Infernal Dance from his Firebird. The shocking opening chord is enough to make anyone jump after all a cardiac massage. The problem, however, is after with its menacing winds which threaten disaster.

In my current mental state, I'd associate this with a catastrophe that comes from an incorrect tax declaration. You know the endless phone calls to the accountant, letters accusing you of fraudulent behavior, financial penalties, get the drift? Have a listen and you'll see. I, meanwhile, will try and think of something else. Pause this video and go to the link:

Stravisnky's Infernal Dance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wZFdbg7d9U


So then, I thought of Liszt's Mephisto Waltz "The Dance in the Village Inn" could be another possibility. You know? The energy is clearly a diabolic reference here to Faust, of course. And this diabolical energy is certainly a pick-me-up after being financially drained. Swinging between the sheer heaviness of textual and a harmonic madness, passages of crystal clear magic, and voluptuous melodies. Liszt flings at us a bewildering array of sentiments that match the emotional turmoil of fiscal self-assessment. Have a listen now using the link below. And I, again, will try and think of something else:

Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No. 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaBa9q3u9H0


I think I've got it. It's the last movement from Korngold's Violin Concerto. In an extremely playful way, this piece is light and energetic, getting the heartbeat up while stimulating the mind with its continual contrasts. Arco set against pizzicato. Lovely melodicism juxtaposing movements of near on atonality. Speeds are changing and the final movements of the work, heading towards a drunken dance of virtual sick joy.

Now, obviously, if this doesn't unite heart and mind. Then, opt for my last adjective, i.e. drunken, and I can assure you, your fiscal woes will be gone or alternatively, write in I suggest some of your works which do the job better. Enjoy the last link now and see you next month. Bye.

Korngold's Violin Concerto, 3rd movement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZjYUZbfGiM

Automatic video-to-text transcription by DaDaScribe.com

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