Dense Music of Bruckner & Wakeman

Anton Bruckner (1824-96) was an Austrian Catholic composer whose music, including nine symphonies was known for dissonances, unprepared modulations & roving harmonies. They were also very dense in their orchestrations. His name is also curiously linked with Haydn & Mozart in this way. Haydn dedicated his Symphony No.48 to the Empress of Austria, Marie Therese, which carries her name. She also reportedly took the infant Mozart on her lap, after one of his virtuosic performances. Bruckner, after a successful rehearsal of his fourth symphony, in 1881, presented a "Marie Therese Thaler" (a commemorative coin bearing her effigy) to Hans Richter, the conductor.

Similarly dense is the music of Rick Wakeman, (1949-) a classical, rock & jazz fusion musician. He was classically trained in the Royal College of Music & later was a member of "Yes", a progressive rock band. After that he started his solo career with a bang, recording "The Six Wives of Henry the VIII",(1973) giving the musical piçtures of the six unfortunate ladies! A later LP named "Criminal Record" gave sonic pictures of famous criminals. These were followed by more than 100 albums. More than six feet tall & with enormous hands spanning the keyboards, he is a virtuoso on the synthesizer.

Universality of the Gita

"For the protection of the righteous,

For the destruction of the wicked,

And for the establishment of Dharma,

I manifest Myself in every age."

Lord Krishna declares in Gita (4.8)

This statement need not be restricted to Hinduism. In the early part of the twentieth century, in Portugal,  the monarchy was overthrown & a de facto Police State was established which was anti-religious & prohibited priests & nuns from wearing their customary habiliments. They were also embroiled in the first world war.

In this predicament, a divine apparition, identifying herself as "The Lady of the Rosary" appeared to three shepherd children & talked to them. Even the local pastor did not believe them & the administration persecuted them. Only after a public miracle, were the authorities convinced & allowed the churches to open & continue their religious activities. However, two of the children died young as predicted by the apparition named Fatima, (a pseudonym of the Virgin Mary), ostensibly because of the then raging influenza epidemic.

To buttress the words of the Gita, the basilica of St.Fatima, which has become a bustling pilgrimage centre, is called the "The Shrine of the World." (St.Fatima having come down to alleviate the anarchy & authoritarianism then prevalent.)

Films about Inspirational Teachers

"To Sir, With Love" (1967) with Sidney Poitier battling rowdy boys in London East End & winning over their hearts, was a hit & was followed one month later by the release of the similar "Up The Down Staircase".

"Up The Down Staircase" (1967) with Sandy Dennis as the visionary teacher, dealt of with the indiscipline in a New York High School, which was gradually brought under control, by the teacher using classic English literature ("The Best of times....The worst of times") to instil a sense of values to the students.

Maggie Smith in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969) was undoubtedly inspirational, but preaching too much freedom to her Scottish girl students in Edinburgh, led to one of her favourite girls to rebel against her.

Julia Roberts, teaching Art History in a Women's college in "The Mona Lisa Smile" (2003) encouraged her students to look at Art with new eyes. However, though popular with her students, she was unconventional enough to be shunted out by the college administration.