[bitontheslide]

The story of a former music teacher with dementia who composed a piece based on just four notes has inspired a £1m charity donation from Scotland's first ever billionaire.

Sir Tom Hunter told BBC Breakfast when he saw a video of Paul Harvey, 80, performing the piece, he immediately wanted to stump up the money.

Mr Harvey's son Nick had posted the clip online to show how musical ability can survive memory loss.

He "lit up the screen", said Sir Tom.

The donation will be split between the Alzheimer's Society and Music for Dementia.

Mr Harvey, a composer from Buxted, in Sussex, was diagnosed with dementia late last year but has continued to be able to play piano pieces from memory - as well as create new ones.

His son said it had been an "old party trick" of his father's to request four random notes and then improvise a song.

In the video Nick picked F natural, A, D and B natural for his father to play.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54772218

Youtube video

[Ammi]

...I saw him last week when his melody was played by the BBC Philharmonic and he heard them play for the first time......beautiful...

Youtube video

...also when he ‘met’ his idol, Stephen Sondheim......

[Ammi]

Youtube video