Knowledge (XXG)

Paul Harvey (pianist)

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184: 329:"Four Notes – Paul's Tune" – originally an improvisation using only four notes: a charity single released in 2020. The song is a collaboration between Harvey, Daniel Whibley and the BBC Philharmonic. It reached number 32 on the UK singles chart and number 1 on the UK singles download chart. The single raised over £1 million; all proceeds were donated to Music for Dementia and the Alzheimer's Society. It was featured on the 175: 248: 301:
Music for Dementia later arranged for Harvey to perform with the BBC Philharmonic to mark the first anniversary of the original video. The performance consisted of Harvey playing "Four Notes" on the piano as well as conducting arrangements of "Four Notes" and "Where's the Sunshine", a song he wrote
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Harvey was moved into sheltered housing in 2015 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019. To help fight the onset of the disease he plays the piano, sometimes through the persuasion of his son Nick. One such occasion was on 17 September 2020, when Nick asked his father to improvise a song
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For his charity work, Harvey was honoured with an Outstanding Achievement Award at the virtually hosted Dementia Hero Awards in 2021. He was one of three finalists. Harvey was surprised with the honour, stating that he "was really quite shocked to win".
282:. Music for Dementia used the money to set up the Paul & Nick Harvey fund. The fund distributed money to charities that support people with dementia through music. Over 170 charities applied for funding, with 27 achieving grants of £5,000–50,000. 294:, contacted Harvey after seeing the video. In a video message to Harvey given through the BBC, he called the piece "very special" and said that he "can't wait to steal" it. Sondheim was Harvey's favourite composer. 302:
for a musical at Imberhorne School. His son Nick played the piano. The performance was broadcast on BBC Breakfast. Harvey was moved by the experience, calling it "magical" and "very, very special".
263:, this took place remotely, with all orchestra members recording and submitting their parts from home. The piece was arranged for the orchestra by Daniel Whibley. The finished version was entitled " 1170: 344:– a charity Christmas single created with Nick Harvey and Aled Jones. Lyrics to the song were provided by Pete Talman. The single was broadcast through Music for Dementia's m4d radio station. 1231: 973: 1256: 338:"Where's the Sunshine" – Harvey wrote this song in 1981 for a school show at Imberhorne School. The lyrics to the song were written by Pete Talman, head of drama at the school. 1236: 679: 126:. He played piano from an early age, completing his first-grade exam at the age of four. At 15, he completed his Grade 8 exam, achieving one of the best results in the 1216: 1211: 767: 309:
to create a Christmas charity single. The end result was titled "Christmas Isn't Just Another Day". The single was made for Music for Dementia's m4d radio station.
1126: 874:"One year after Paul Harvey's Four Notes captured the nation's hearts, he fulfils a lifelong ambition by conducting the BBC Philharmonic playing his composition" 1018: 547: 1069: 739: 313: 94: 585: 1241: 235: 1040: 1226: 1221: 390: 1251: 428: 206:. He taught there for 20 years and became head of music. Other experiences teaching included working at a summer school organised by musicians 873: 467: 841: 785: 614: 135: 1127:"Paul Harvey – who captured the nation's hearts with his Four Notes composition – collaborates with Aled Jones on new Christmas song" 643: 513: 331: 264: 192:
Harvey first improvised in his "four notes" style at a summer course organised by Cleo Laine (left) and John Dankworth (right)
1246: 1097: 267:". It was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 3 October. The single was released to purchase as a digital download on 22 October. 150:
After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music, Harvey began work as a composer and pianist. One of his compositions,
812: 708: 214:. It was at that course that his son Nick recalled he first heard his father improvise in his signature four notes style. 28: 947: 111: 992: 251:
Paddy O'Connell arranged for Harvey to make a recording of "Four Notes - Paul's Tune" with the BBC Philharmonic
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using only four notes: F, A, D and B. The two-minute long performance was recorded and uploaded to Nick's
139: 103: 768:"Stephen Sondheim Surprises 80-Year-Old Composer Living With Dementia After Improvised Piece Goes Viral" 317: 183: 1201: 680:"WATCH: Former music teacher with dementia stuns with improvised composition using only four notes" 259:
arranged for Harvey to record the piece as a charity single with the BBC Philharmonic. Due to the
1152: 1147: 842:"Story of former music teacher Paul Harvey with dementia inspires £1m donation from billionaire" 256: 651: 557: 477: 436: 363: 260: 199: 974:"Paul Harvey: Viral pianist with dementia helps Edinburgh charity secure £37,799 cash boost" 285: 155: 586:"79-year-old with dementia remembers song he wrote decades ago, plays it on piano for son" 290: 274:
to donate £1 million to charity. Hunter and his wife found the performance while watching
247: 99: 65: 391:"Incredible moment pianist with dementia fulfils dream of conducting symphony orchestra" 211: 203: 127: 123: 51: 364:"At 80, my dad Paul improvised a masterpiece, raised £1m+ for charity and got to no.1" 1195: 275: 548:"Dementia sufferer Paul Harvey on his surprise viral hit, Four Notes — Paul's Tune" 241: 813:"Piers Morgan speechless as pensioner with dementia writes piano tune live on GMB" 514:"'It's the power of music' musician living with dementia wins prestigious award" 228: 174: 107: 306: 271: 227:
account. The clip went viral and gained over 2 million views. It was aired on
207: 655: 561: 481: 440: 1041:"Inspirational pianist, 81, who lives with dementia fulfils orchestra dream" 552: 472: 740:"How this viral performance from a pianist with dementia is helping others" 644:"My father's dementia led to a hit record and a million pounds for charity" 1098:"Aled Jones teams up with pianist with dementia on Christmas charity tune" 240:
as a guest following the viral video. On the program, he was requested by
154:, is used regularly on the Grade 6 piano syllabus. He was featured in the 895:"Paul Harvey: Single gives 'new lease of life' to composer with dementia" 590: 320:
for services to charity and people living with Alzheimer's and dementia.
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to create another four-note improvisation using the notes C, D, G and B.
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of him playing the piano. The video led to Harvey performing with the
131: 786:"80-year-old former music teacher with dementia releases new single" 429:"'I didn't expect a fuss': How a composer with dementia got to No 1" 198:
Around the time of his son Nick's birth, Harvey became a teacher at
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After radio listeners requested an orchestral version of the song,
138:. It was during this time that he met Sue, who later gave birth to 246: 468:"Pianist Paul Harvey defies dementia to conduct BBC orchestra" 615:"Sussex pianist stuns Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan" 106:
in 2019, he rose to prominence in September 2020 following a
278:. The donation was split between Music for Dementia and the 1070:"Music helps composer with dementia find new lease on life" 921:"Paul Harvey: Composer with dementia inspires £1m donation" 305:
In December 2021, Harvey and Nick collaborated with singer
1171:"Paul Harvey's dementia charity single reaches the Top 40" 98:(born 29 January 1940) is a British composer and former 948:"Paul & Nick Harvey Fund Now Open for Applications" 1019:"Sussex musician wins prestigious Dementia Hero Award" 993:"Four Notes viral pianist boosts dementia projects" 270:Harvey's playing inspired the Scottish billionaire 77: 58: 35: 23: 1232:Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama 8: 231:on 21 September for World Alzheimer's Day. 1257:Officers of the Order of the British Empire 946:ahsw.org.uk, Arts & Health South West. 314:Officer of the Order of the British Empire 20: 1237:British contemporary classical composers 1156:(Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B13. 766:Culwell-Block, Logan (4 November 2020). 1217:21st-century British classical pianists 1212:20th-century British classical pianists 354: 1121: 1119: 1092: 1090: 835: 833: 733: 731: 729: 703: 701: 674: 672: 122:Harvey was born on 29 January 1940 in 1165: 1163: 1063: 1061: 1034: 1032: 868: 866: 864: 862: 761: 759: 757: 755: 753: 637: 635: 613:Bullmore, Harry (24 September 2020). 541: 539: 537: 535: 461: 459: 457: 7: 1039:McDonnell, Seamus (7 October 2021). 580: 578: 508: 506: 504: 502: 500: 498: 422: 420: 418: 416: 414: 412: 385: 383: 381: 379: 377: 840:Gallagher, Paul (2 November 2020). 811:Needham, Lucy (21 September 2020). 114:and recording a number-one single. 162:in 1964 when he played a piece by 130:. When he was 18, Harvey moved to 14: 642:Lawrence, Morgan (3 March 2021). 427:Tapper, James (1 November 2020). 362:Harvey, Nick (29 January 2021). 342:Christmas Isn't Just Another Day 182: 173: 1242:British male classical pianists 1227:21st-century British composers 1222:20th-century British composers 972:Elliott, Shona (13 May 2021). 546:Taylor, Interviews by Jeremy. 1: 1252:Musicians from Stoke-on-Trent 738:Dunham, James (13 May 2021). 332:Now That's What I Call Music! 102:. After being diagnosed with 1017:Hewitt, Phil (29 May 2021). 952:Arts & Health South West 16:British pianist and composer 991:Horton, Tom (13 May 2021). 1273: 112:BBC Philharmonic Orchestra 136:Guildhall School of Music 265:Four Notes – Paul's Tune 234:Harvey was invited onto 118:Early life and education 1045:Manchester Evening News 142:, Harvey's eldest son. 1175:www.officialcharts.com 978:Edinburgh Evening News 252: 1247:British male pianists 318:2023 Birthday Honours 312:Harvey was appointed 250: 237:Good Morning Britain 280:Alzheimer's Society 104:Alzheimer's disease 1153:The London Gazette 1134:Music for Dementia 1104:. 20 December 2021 881:Music for Dementia 792:. 10 November 2020 253: 927:. 2 November 2020 901:. 25 October 2020 686:. 26 October 2020 261:COVID-19 pandemic 200:Imberhorne School 160:Variety Playhouse 91:Paul Ragle Harvey 85: 84: 1264: 1186: 1185: 1183: 1181: 1167: 1158: 1157: 1144: 1138: 1137: 1131: 1123: 1114: 1113: 1111: 1109: 1094: 1085: 1084: 1082: 1080: 1065: 1056: 1055: 1053: 1051: 1036: 1027: 1026: 1014: 1008: 1007: 1005: 1003: 997:Evening Standard 988: 982: 981: 969: 963: 962: 960: 958: 943: 937: 936: 934: 932: 917: 911: 910: 908: 906: 891: 885: 884: 878: 870: 857: 856: 854: 852: 837: 828: 827: 825: 823: 808: 802: 801: 799: 797: 782: 776: 775: 763: 748: 747: 735: 724: 723: 721: 719: 705: 696: 695: 693: 691: 676: 667: 666: 664: 662: 639: 630: 629: 627: 625: 610: 604: 603: 601: 599: 582: 573: 572: 570: 568: 543: 530: 529: 527: 525: 510: 493: 492: 490: 488: 466:Gibbons, Katie. 463: 452: 451: 449: 447: 424: 407: 406: 404: 402: 397:. 4 October 2021 387: 372: 371: 359: 286:Stephen Sondheim 186: 177: 156:BBC Home Service 134:to study at the 97: 49: 45: 43: 21: 1272: 1271: 1267: 1266: 1265: 1263: 1262: 1261: 1192: 1191: 1190: 1189: 1179: 1177: 1169: 1168: 1161: 1146: 1145: 1141: 1129: 1125: 1124: 1117: 1107: 1105: 1102:The Independent 1096: 1095: 1088: 1078: 1076: 1068:Baddoo, Terry. 1067: 1066: 1059: 1049: 1047: 1038: 1037: 1030: 1016: 1015: 1011: 1001: 999: 990: 989: 985: 971: 970: 966: 956: 954: 945: 944: 940: 930: 928: 919: 918: 914: 904: 902: 893: 892: 888: 876: 872: 871: 860: 850: 848: 839: 838: 831: 821: 819: 810: 809: 805: 795: 793: 784: 783: 779: 765: 764: 751: 737: 736: 727: 717: 715: 707: 706: 699: 689: 687: 678: 677: 670: 660: 658: 641: 640: 633: 623: 621: 612: 611: 607: 597: 595: 584: 583: 576: 566: 564: 545: 544: 533: 523: 521: 512: 511: 496: 486: 484: 465: 464: 455: 445: 443: 426: 425: 410: 400: 398: 389: 388: 375: 361: 360: 356: 351: 326: 291:West Side Story 257:Paddy O'Connell 220: 196: 195: 194: 193: 189: 188: 187: 179: 178: 148: 120: 100:concert pianist 93: 88: 73: 66:Concert pianist 50: 47: 46:29 January 1940 41: 39: 31: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1270: 1268: 1260: 1259: 1254: 1249: 1244: 1239: 1234: 1229: 1224: 1219: 1214: 1209: 1204: 1194: 1193: 1188: 1187: 1159: 1139: 1115: 1086: 1057: 1028: 1009: 983: 964: 938: 912: 886: 858: 829: 803: 777: 749: 725: 697: 684:HeraldScotland 668: 631: 605: 594:. 26 June 2019 574: 531: 494: 453: 408: 373: 353: 352: 350: 347: 346: 345: 339: 336: 325: 322: 288:, lyricist of 272:Sir Tom Hunter 219: 216: 212:John Dankworth 204:East Grinstead 191: 190: 181: 180: 172: 171: 170: 169: 168: 147: 144: 128:United Kingdom 124:Stoke-on-Trent 119: 116: 87:Musical artist 86: 83: 82: 79: 75: 74: 72: 71: 68: 62: 60: 56: 55: 52:Stoke-on-Trent 37: 33: 32: 27: 24: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1269: 1258: 1255: 1253: 1250: 1248: 1245: 1243: 1240: 1238: 1235: 1233: 1230: 1228: 1225: 1223: 1220: 1218: 1215: 1213: 1210: 1208: 1207:Living people 1205: 1203: 1200: 1199: 1197: 1176: 1172: 1166: 1164: 1160: 1155: 1154: 1149: 1143: 1140: 1135: 1128: 1122: 1120: 1116: 1103: 1099: 1093: 1091: 1087: 1075: 1071: 1064: 1062: 1058: 1046: 1042: 1035: 1033: 1029: 1024: 1020: 1013: 1010: 998: 994: 987: 984: 979: 975: 968: 965: 953: 949: 942: 939: 926: 922: 916: 913: 900: 896: 890: 887: 882: 875: 869: 867: 865: 863: 859: 847: 843: 836: 834: 830: 818: 814: 807: 804: 791: 787: 781: 778: 773: 769: 762: 760: 758: 756: 754: 750: 745: 741: 734: 732: 730: 726: 714: 710: 704: 702: 698: 685: 681: 675: 673: 669: 657: 653: 649: 648:The Telegraph 645: 638: 636: 632: 620: 616: 609: 606: 593: 592: 587: 581: 579: 575: 563: 559: 555: 554: 549: 542: 540: 538: 536: 532: 520:. 26 May 2021 519: 515: 509: 507: 505: 503: 501: 499: 495: 483: 479: 475: 474: 469: 462: 460: 458: 454: 442: 438: 434: 430: 423: 421: 419: 417: 415: 413: 409: 396: 392: 386: 384: 382: 380: 378: 374: 369: 365: 358: 355: 348: 343: 340: 337: 334: 333: 328: 327: 324:Musical works 323: 321: 319: 316:(OBE) in the 315: 310: 308: 303: 299: 295: 293: 292: 287: 283: 281: 277: 276:BBC Breakfast 273: 268: 266: 262: 258: 249: 245: 243: 239: 238: 232: 230: 226: 217: 215: 213: 209: 205: 201: 185: 176: 167: 165: 161: 157: 153: 152:Rumba Toccata 145: 143: 141: 137: 133: 129: 125: 117: 115: 113: 109: 105: 101: 96: 92: 80: 76: 69: 67: 64: 63: 61: 57: 53: 48:(age 84) 38: 34: 30: 22: 19: 1178:. 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Index

OBE
Stoke-on-Trent
Concert pianist
OBE
concert pianist
Alzheimer's disease
viral video
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Stoke-on-Trent
United Kingdom
London
Guildhall School of Music
Nick
BBC Home Service
Variety Playhouse
Mozart


Imberhorne School
East Grinstead
Cleo Laine
John Dankworth
Twitter
BBC Radio 4
Good Morning Britain
Susanna Reid

Paddy O'Connell
COVID-19 pandemic
Four Notes – Paul's Tune

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