Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Man With Dementia Brought To Tears After Tune He Improvised Is Turned Into Full Orchestral Piece

Man With Dementia Brought To Tears After Tune He Improvised Is Turned Into Full Orchestral Piece
@BBCBreakfast/Twitter

A former music teacher with dementia will release a single he recorded with the BBC Philharmonic orchestra, originally improvised from just four notes.

Paul Harvey, 80, composed the piece after being given four random notes to play by his son, Nick.


The clip was shared on Twitter and went viral, with more than 1.6 million views.

After it was broadcast on the BBC, the philharmonic orchestra got involved and now a single will be released with proceeds split between the Alzheimer's Society and Music for Dementia.

Nick told the PA news agency:

“It has been such a crazy rollercoaster ride over the last few weeks."
“It's amazing for dad at this age, but also amazing for the charities. It's a win-win for everybody."
“Dad has got a twinkle in his eye again, a skip in his step because of the fact that his music is resonating with people, and people are touched and moved by his story."
“It makes him happy, it has given him a new lease of life and it is such a wonderful thing to behold."

He first asked his father to improvise the tune as a way to cheer up him one day.

Nick said:

“He was pretty low. When dad plays piano he transforms. It is wonderful to watch."
“I remembered an old party trick he used to do when I was a kid. The first time I saw it he was teaching a jazz masterclass in a summer school."
“He composed this incredible piece of music on the spot."
“Everyone rose to their feet, rapturous applause and my heart swelled with pride. For everyone watching, it was magic."

The composition began with the notes F, A, D and B.

Grace Meadows, program director at Music for Dementia, said:

“We are so honored to be a part of this exceptional endeavor and delighted that Paul and Nick have chosen us in this way."
“It is extraordinary how Paul's prodigious talent is still so evident. This is a remarkable example of the power of music for people living with dementia and why we believe music should be part of dementia care."
“We are so pleased that Nick's filming of Paul has led to this performance and single. We hope people far and wide will be as enthusiastic about downloading it as they have been about hearing and sharing the original video."

The single will be released this Sunday on November 1.

More from Entertainment/music

Car lights on a dark street
black car on road during night time
Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash

The Scariest 'We Need To Leave, Now!' Experiences People Have Ever Had

We all have memories of a scary experience we would much rather not have in our memories.

Experiences such as horrific turbulence on a flight or waiting for a loved one in a life-or-death surgery, where there simply was no getting out of.

Keep ReadingShow less
A parking machine, with a care parallel parked on the street behind it.
black car parked on sidewalk during daytime

People Reveal The Secret Loopholes They Exploited Until They Finally Got Fixed

Who wouldn't take an easy route around an everyday inconvenience.

It's hard to imagine anyone would say no to anything that would save them time or money.

Keep ReadingShow less
JD Vance; Picture of Renee Nicole Good at vigil
Celai Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images

JD Vance Slammed After Baselessly Claiming Woman Killed By ICE In Minneapolis Was A 'Deranged Leftist'

Vice President JD Vance was criticized after he claimed without evidence that Renee Nicole Good—the woman fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday—was a "deranged leftist."

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claimed Good “weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them.” But Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pushed back against this narrative considering witnesses described seeing Good in the vehicle trying to flee officers when she was shot.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Break Down Which Careers Are A Total Relationship Turn-Off

Not every job is a desirable job to a romantic partner.

Even in this day and age, where people are scrambling to find any kind of job, potential romantic partners are compiling a 'not going to happen with me because of what you do list!'"

Keep ReadingShow less
Nicotine pouches now appearing in vending machines
John Keeble/Getty Images

Tech Companies Spark Backlash After Adding Nicotine Pouch Vending Machines As Office 'Perk'

More vacation time. More maternity, paternity, and sick leave. Walking paths and healthy snacks provided for free. Mental health break rooms and emotional support office dogs.

These are great examples of "office perks" that would encourage people to return to an in-office setting.

Keep ReadingShow less