Violin Demo: Gavotte and Ma-ala-ala Mo Kaya

 Violin Demo: Gavotte and Ma-ala-ala Mo Kaya

Dr Abe V Rotor

The Music of Nature - the most therapeutic sound on earth

Listen to the Music of Nature!

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]

Identify the sounds of nature in this painting, translate them into notes. Arrange the notes into melody, and expand it into a composition. Try playing the melody with an instrument - guitar, piano, violin, flute. 

This is your composition.

Mural detail, Nature: Rivulets and Streams, AVR 2011

Ethnic music makes a wholesome life; it is therapy.

Have you ever noticed village folks singing or humming as they attend to their chores? They have songs when rowing the boat, songs when planting or harvesting, songs of praise at sunrise, songs while walking up and down the trail, etc. Seldom is there an activity without music. To them the sounds of nature make a wholesome music.

According to researcher Leonora Nacorda Collantes, of the UST graduate school, music influences the limbic system, called the “seat of emotions” and causes emotional response and mood change. Musical rhythms synchronize body rhythms, mediate within the sphere of the autonomous nervous and endocrine systems, and change the heart and respiratory rate. Music reduces anxiety and pain, induces relaxation, thus promoting the overall sense of well being of the individual.

Music is closely associated with everyday life among village folks more than it is to us living in the city. The natives find content and relaxation beside a waterfall, on the riverbank, under the trees, in fact there is to them music in silence under the stars, on the meadow, at sunset, at dawn. Breeze, crickets, running water, make a repetitious melody that induces sleep. Humming indicates that one likes his or her work, and can go on for hours without getting tired at it. Boat songs make rowing synchronized. Planting songs make the deities of the field happy, so they believe; and songs at harvest are thanksgiving. Indeed the natives are a happy lot.

Farm animals respond favorably to music, so with plants.

In a holding pen in Lipa, Batangas, where newly arrived heifers from Australia were kept, the head rancher related to his guests the role of music in calming the animals. “We have to acclimatize them first before dispersing them to the pasture and feedlot.” He pointed at the sound system playing melodious music. In the duration of touring the place I was able to pick up the music of Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven and Bach. It is like being in a high rise office in Makati where pipe in music is played to add to pleasant ambiance of working. Scientists believe that the effect of music on humans has some similarity with that of animals, and most probably to plants.

Which brings us to the observation of a winemaker in Vienna. A certain Carlo Cagnozzi has been piping Mozart music to his grapevines for the last five years. He claims that playing round the clock to his grapes has a dramatic effect. “The grapes ripen faster,” he said, adding that it also keeps away parasites, fruit bats and birds. Scientists are now studying this claim to enlarge the limited knowledge on the physiological and psychological effects of music on plants and animals.

Once I asked a poultry raiser in Teresa, Rizal, who also believes in music therapy. “The birds grow faster and produce more eggs,” he said. “In fact music has stopped cannibalism.” I got the same positive response from cattle raisers where the animals are tied to their quarters until they are ready for market. “They just doze off, even when they are munching,” he said, adding that tension and unnecessary movement drain the animals wasting feeds that would increase the rate of daily weight gain. In a report from one of the educational TV programs, loud metallic noise stimulates termites to eat faster, and therefore create more havoc.

There is one warning posed by the proponents of music therapy. Rough and blaring music agitates the adrenalin in the same way rock music could bring down the house.

The enchantment of ethnic music is different from that of contemporary music.

Each kind of music has its own quality, but music being a universal language, definitely has commonalities. For example, the indigenous lullaby, quite often an impromptu, has a basic pattern with that of Brahms’s Lullaby and Lucio San Pedro’s Ugoy ng Duyan (Sweet Sound of the Cradle). The range of notes, beat, tone, expression - the naturalness of a mother half-singing, half-talking to her baby, all these create a wholesome effect that binds maternal relationship, brings peace and comfort, care and love.

Serenades from different parts the world have a common touch. Compare Tosselli’sSerenade with that of our Antonio Molina’s Hating Gabi (Midnight) and you will find similarities in pattern and structure, exuding the effect that enhances the mood of lovers. This quality is more appreciated in listening to the Kundiman (Kung Hindi Man, which means, If It Can’t Be). Kundiman is a trademark of classical Filipino composers, the greatest of them, Nicanor Abelardo. His famous compositions are

· Bituin Marikit (Beautiful Star)

· Nasaan Ka Irog (Where are You My Love)

· Mutya ng Pasig (Muse of the River Pasig)

· Pakiusap (I beg to Say)

War drums on the other hand, build passion, heighten courage, and prepare the mind and body to face the challenge. It is said that Napoleon Bonaparte taught only the drumbeat of forward, and never that of retreat, to the legendary Drummer Boy. As a consequence, we know what happened to the drummer boy. Pathetic though it may be, it's one of the favorite songs of Christmas.

Classical music is patterned after natural music.

The greatest composers are nature lovers – Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and our own Abelardo, Molina, Santiago, and San Pedro. Beethoven, the greatest naturalist among the world’s composers was always passionately fond of nature, spending many long holidays in the country. Always with a notebook in his pocket, he scribbled down ideas, melodies or anything he observed. It was this love of the countryside that inspired him to write his famous Pastoral Symphony. If you listen to it carefully, you can hear the singing of birds, a tumbling waterfall and gamboling lambs. Even if you are casually listening you cannot miss the magnificent thunderstorm when it comes in the fourth movement.

Lately the medical world took notice of Mozart music and found out that the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart music can enhance brain power. In a test conducted, a student who listened to the Sonata in D major for Two Pianos performed better in spatial reason. Mozart music was also found to reduce the frequency of seizure among coma patients, improved the interaction of autistic children, and is a great help to people who are suffering of Alzheimer’s disease. The proponents of Mozart’s music call this therapeutic powerMozart Effect.

What really is this special effect? A closer look at it shows similar therapeutic effect with many sounds like the noise of the surf breaking on the shore, rustling of leaves in the breeze, syncopated movement of a pendulum, cantabile of hammock, and even in the silence of a cumulus cloud building in the sky. It is the same way Mozart repeated his melodies, turning upside down and inside out which the brain loves such a pattern, often repeated regularly. about the same length of time as brain-wave patterns and those that govern regular bodily functions such as breathing and walking. It is this frequency of patterns in Mozart music that moderates irregular patterns of epilepsy patients, tension-building hormones, and unpleasant thoughts.

No one tires with the rhythm of nature – the tides, waves, flowing rivulets, gusts of wind, bird songs, the fiddling of crickets, and the shrill of cicada. In the recesses of a happy mind, one could hear the earth waking up in spring, laughing in summer, yawning in autumn and snoring in winter – and waking up again the next year, and so on, ad infinitum. ~

Katydid, (upper photo) a long horned grasshopper (Phaneroptera furcifera), and the field cricket (Acheta bimaculata) are the world's most popular fiddlers in the insect world.

And, of course the Caruso in the animal kingdom - the frog. Here a pair of green pond frogs, attracted by their songs which are actually mating calls, will soon settle down in silent mating that last for hours.

Hello, Welcome, Goodbye. What’s in a Greeting?

Hello, Welcome, Goodbye.  What’s in a Greeting? 
Greetings are spices of good relationships that bind humanity and the whole world. Greetings are universal and they come in a rich variety of expressions, verbal and non-verbal, personal and collective, traditional and contemporary with social media.   
   
Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature School on Blog

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio

738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class Monday to Friday

Simply, not a good day for the two.

Hello ….contracted to Hi! Or the formal way, How do you do?

And you get either OK lang … or equally in a formal way, I’m fine, thank you.
Well, it depends where you are and who you are.

• Filipino - Mabuhay! There is more to it than just Hello. It is full of life. It could be Kumusta ka? Which literally means How are you?

• A fine morning to you, says the Arabs on meeting you their unique syllabication.

• In Egypt they greet you, How do you perspire? Egypt is at the northern edge of the Sahara, and imagine how people work under the sun on the fertile delta of the Nile.

• God grant you His Blessings, the Turk says with much gravity.

• Have you had your rice? This is how the Chinese greets you, rice not only a staple crop but “a way of life.”

• How are you getting on? Besides personal greeting, the Greeks are keen in business.

• How goes it? Says the German casually.

• Be well! Russians say it in salutation.

• How can you? Swedes have this unique greeting, but they really mean “Are you in good vigor?”

• The Spaniards say, “How are you passing it?” indeed a benevolent way of saying share your grace.

• In my native tongue Ilocano, greetings may come as Good Morning (Naimbag nga bigat ) or Good Afternoon (Naimbag nga malem,), usually accompanied by Apo, Tata, Nana, Manong, Manang, Lelo, Apong – all in deference to age, position or relations. Or yo, (Naimbag nga bigatyo, which is addressing the person with courtesy, instead of Naimbag nga bigatmo, which is informal and personal. Imploring the Almighty is casual in saying Thank you (Dios ti agngina – God is precious), and in Goodbye (Dios ti agbati – May God stays with you, or Dios ti kumuyog – May God go with you, depending on who is staying or leaving.)

• It is the act of bowing that is the universal mark of respect, and this is done by bending. The bow is often accompanied with verbal and non-verbal greetings, such as folding of the hands, waving, and thumbs up.

Of course the universal greeting is smile. ~
• Handshake, while it is universally an act of expressing friendship or acquaintance, has rules and customs to follow. Traditionally it is the woman who offers her hand, not the man. Handshake with the right hand, with the exception of boys scout and certain fraternities. Some do the informal way of grabbing the thumb instead of the palm, or holding the forearm instead, followed by a hug or tap of the back.

When greeting a person or returning a greeting be aware of his or her facial expression - and be conscious of your own.  After all, facial expressions are spontaneous non-verbal greetings,

Make one happy with your greetings. Make friends. Recognize. Perk up low feelings - just be cautious. Brighten the day, bring in the sun. Greeting is an expression of good grooming. 

Here are illustrations

  Facial expressions showing emotions.  

How to say ‘Hello’ in 20 Languages

This diverse and widespread language group includes most European languages as well as some from further East. 

1. BONJOUR – French

2. HOLA – Spanish

3. HALLO / GUTEN TAG – German

4. CIAO – Italian

5. OLÀ – Portuguese

6. NAMASTE – Hindi

7. SALAAM – Persian (Farsi)

8. ZDRAS-TVUY-TE – Russian

9. OHAYO / KONNICHIWA / KONBAN WA- Japanese

10. AHN-YOUNG-HA-SE-YO – Korean

11. MERHABA – Turkish

12. SAIN BAINUU- Mongolian

13. SALEMETSIZ BE? – Kazakh

14. SZIA – Hungarian

15. MARHABA – Arabic

16. SANNU / SALAMA ALEIKUM – Hausa

17. JAMBO / HABARI – Swahili

18. NI HAU – Mandarin

19. NAY HOH – Cantonese (Yue)

20. HALO – Bahasa Indonesia

Boy scouts' greeting 

Therapy through meditative sketching

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Living with Nature School on Blog

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Grace Velasco

738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, August 11, 2015

Sketch by the author on Angels' Hill, Tagaytay. 2010

Before you reach the dead end of a busy lane,
     stop and look back;
Before you lose your cool and curse the world,
     stop and look beyond;
Before you get trapped in the concrete jungle
     stop and get out;
Before you lose faith in God and your fellowmen,
     stop and pray;

Sketch life, the simple and real you have missed,
     and denied yourself;
Sketch the road you have walked on, not in hurry,
     but in peace and leisure;
Sketch the world as perfect as a globe should be,
     bright and complete;
Sketch yourself in a cabin on some mountaintop,
     far from the city. ~ 

San Vicente Botanical Garden Series: Turmeric (Luyang dilaw) - Medicine-and-Spice in One

Turmeric (Luyang dilaw) - Medicine-and-Spice in One
Luyang dilaw (Curcuma longa) has outstanding medicinal properties that are a vital cure to many ailments and diseases associated with our postmodern living. 

Dr Abe V Rotor 

You may miss the plant on the farm, roadside, pasture, or the garden.  It is because it is unassuming in its vegetative stage - appearing like lily, Baston de San Jose, Heliconia, camia or any of its relatives under Family Zingiberaceae or ginger family.

Miss Jules SM Rojas poses with luyang dilaw,  Curcuma longa) at SVBG.

But no one can't miss it in its flowering stage, this plant universally known as turmeric,  Its flowers are typical of ginger species led by the popular Zingiber officinale or luya, no kitchen is without.
  

Luyang dilaw is a leafy plant, 1 to 1.5 meters tall, with 5 to 6 leaves. Rhizomes are bright yellow inside, thick and cylindric. Leaf blade is green, oblong, 30 to 45 centimeters long and 10 to 20 centimeters wide. Petiole is as long as the blade. Peduncle is 15 centimeters or more in length, borne within the tuft of leaves. Spikes are 10 to 20 centimeters in length and about 5 centimeters in diameter. Floral bracts are pale green, ovate, 3 to 4 centimeters long, the comabracts tinged with pink. Flowers are pale yellow, as long as the bracts. Fruits are in capsules.

Luyang dilaw is pantropic, native of India, Its rhizomes contain flavonoid curcumin (diferuloylmethane) and various volatile oils, including tumerone, atlantone, and zingiberone. It contains volatile oil (3-5%), tumerol (alcohol), d-alpha phellandrene, carvone, camphor, curcumone; fat, 3%; starch (30%); resin; curcumin (yellow orange pigment). - A good source of phosphorus and iron. (Philippine Medicinal Plants)

As one who grew up on the farm, luyang dilaw is a familiar wild plant which old folk would gather for spice like the local luya.  Yaya Basang would dig up a hill even if the rhizomes are still young and small, and would crush them as poultice for minor wounds and insect bites. She would prepare decoction to expel bad air, or ease breathing when you have colds or flu. Little did I know about this annual plant. It aestivates in summer, waking up with first strong rain in April or May, profusely growing to overcome weeds around. It would bloom shortly, then dries up leaving its rhizomes beneath the ground - if not harvested -  only to germinate again in the next monsoon season.  

Here is a summary of some distinct characteristics of luyang dilaw, largely coming from researches I conducted in the university and from the Internet. Thanks to Philippine Medicinal Plants, and Alternative Medicine.  My gratitude goes to the late Dr Eduardo Quisumbing, author of Medicinal Plants of the Philippines, and to Dr Fernando de Peralta who were my professor in botany in the early sixties.
                                           Roots and young rhizomes of Curcuma longa

This list serves only as a guide and does not endorse self-medication. Medical advice is recommended before using the product or any of its preparations. 

1. The rhizome is pungent and bitter tasting, warming, carminative.(prevents formation of gas in the gastrointestinal tract or facilitates the expulsion of said gas, thereby combating flatulence.. 

2. Studies have demonstrated various therapeutics effects: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, immuno-modulatory, hepato-protective, and anti-carcinogenic activity.  In Chinese medicine it is believed to Improve Ch'i circulation.

3. As a folkloric medicine luyang dilaw is used as antiseptic, anti-contusion, antibacterial, anti-fungal. This is greatly appreciated with its aromatic, stimulant, tonic, cordial, emmenagogue and astringent properties. It is also used as carminative.  In China used for colic, amenorrhea, congestions.

4. Turmeric paste mixed with a little lime and saltpeter is applied hot to sprains and bruises.
For smallpox and chicken pox, coating of tumeric powder or thin paste applied externally to facilitate scabbing.Paste made from flowers used for ringworm and other parasitic skin infections. Ointment is used in neuralgia and rheumatism.

5. In the Philippines rhizome with coconut oil is used as stomachic and vulnerary (promotes healing of wounds). Internally, juice of fresh rhizome used as anthelmintic  Rhizome is also used for intermittent fevers, flatulence, dyspepsia. (Dyspepsia is a group of symptoms which often include bloating, nausea and burping. Belching, nausea and a bloated feeling are common symptoms of dyspepsia).

4. As condiment, it is an ingredient of curry powder, and for food coloring In dried or powdered form, and is used like ginger. 

5. It is used for menstrual irregularities, contusions and associated with painful swelling.

Crush rhizome and apply to wounds, insect bites, leech-bites,.ringworm, bleeding and the like.

6. Fumes of burning turmeric are trained as inhalation in catarrh and severe head colds.

·

7. Turmeric is one of the best known material dyes, used for dyeing silk, wool and cotton. Rhizomes are used for dyeing mats in the Philippines.

8. Ointment: Wash the unpeeled rhizomes, chop and fill half a glass of water. Sauté with one glass of coconut oil on low heat for five minutes. Place in a clean bottle and label.  Application: Antiseptic for wounds, relief for gas pain (kabag). Extract juice of the fresh rhizome and apply directly on the wound or swelling.

9. Here is a list of studies on luyang dilaw

• Tobacco Chewer and Chronic Smoker De-Addiction : 
• Anti-parasitic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory
• Anticancer 
• Antifungal activities against Trichophyton longifusus.
• Antibacterial 
• Antioxidants and showed significant reduction in blood glucose. 
• Anti-Inflammatory 
• Peptic Ulcer Healing 
• Antifertility Effect
• Radioprotective
• Antithrombotic 
• Antiplatelet Effects 
• Effect on Arsenic Toxicity
• Renoprotective: 
• Healing Effect on Smoking-Induced Liver Damage :

Continuing researches in these fields or topics challenge the young to pursue medicine, pharmacology, and other related careers, including the promotion of alternative medicine and natural healing. ~

Crypt in an Old Cathedral

Dr Abe V Rotor

Underground crypt  an old cathedral at Ho Chi Ming City, Vietnam. Photos by the author. 

A cathedral – but where is its door?
A barred gate, heavy lock at the rear,
Forbidden view the eyes couldn’t tour,
Footsteps only radar could hear.

That was before; the war is over now.
I knocked at the door. A kindly nun
Let me in and showed me all around.
I saw through the stained glass the sun.

Into the Crypt I dared not tread,
My shoes dusty, I was in slack,
Yet dared I to ask from the dead,
The martyrs the courage I lack. ~

A crypt (from Latin crypta "vault") is a stone chamber beneath the floor of a church or other building. It typically contains coffins, sarcophagi, or religious relics.