Saturday, November 10, 2007

Leonardo DaVinci musician?


Two Italians one musician and other technician claims to have discovered secret notes in Leonardo's "Last Supper", raising the possibility that the genius of Renaissance might left behind a stand full composition to accompany the 15th-century wall painting.
Painted between 1494-1498 in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie from Millan, depicts a key moment of the Bible, Jesus last meal with the 12 Apostles before his arrest and crucifixion.
Pala, a 45-year-old musician, began studying Leonardo's painting in 2003 , after hearing on a news program that researchers believed the artist and inventor had hidden a musical composition in the work. She explains in a book released in Italy how she took the the symbolic elements how have a value from Christians theology and interpret the as musical clues. First Pala notice that by drawing 5 lines of musical staff across the painting, the loaves of bread on the table as well as the hands of Jesus and the Apostles could each represent a musical note.
Alessandro Vezossi, a Leonardo expert and the director of a museum dedicated to the artist in his home town of Vinci, had not seen Pala's research bu admits the hypothesis could be true. "There's always a risk of seeing something that is not there, but it's certain that the spaces (in the painting ) are divided harmonically," . "Where you have harmonic proportions, you can find music."
Vezzosi also noted that though Leonardo was more noted for his paintings, sculptures and visionary inventions, he was also a musician. Da Vinci played the lyre and designed various instruments. His writings include some musical riddles, which must be read from right to left.
Reinterpretations of the "Last Supper" have popped up ever since "The Da Vinci Code" fascinated readers and movie-goers with suggestions that one of the apostles sitting on Jesus' right is Mary Magdalene, that the two had a child and that their bloodline continues History

Thursday, November 8, 2007

BMW’s 7-Series


Bigger than ever before, sportier and more luxurious – that’s BMW’s 7-Series replacement. But will it be better to look at when it’s revealed in 12 months time?
With a new-look grille and a lower and wider bonnet, the 7-Series takes some of its styling inspiration from the sensational CS concept, revealed at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show. The car also promises to lose the slab-sided look of the current model, thanks to sculpted flanks and a more rounded rear end.
And to match the new design, BMW is also claiming that the new 7-Series will represent a big step forward under the skin. Leading the way is an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and the option of BMW’s xDrive 4WD transmission. Inside, the gearlever will be moved from its current position next to the steering wheel to the transmission tunnel, while a simplified iDrive cabin control system is also promised.
A new range of engines is being developed, with power coming from a choice of 272bhp six-cylinder and 412bhp eight-cylinder petrol units. A new hydrogen model is also planned. Prices have still to be confirmed, but the car is likely to cost from £55,000 – that’s a slight increase over the current model.