In a scarred and ruined corridor, lit by dim gas lights, a boy slowly crept forward, one hand stretched out, toward the unmoving snake that was the body of his teacher.
Harry looked at the crumpled body of the police officer he'd stunned, the already-drying blood from the minor cuts and slashes, the burned places on the intricately embroidered red robes.
He'd been stupid. It might not be too late, whispered a voice inside him.
Slowly, Harry's hand started to rise, pointing his wand at the police officer and -
Harry's hand halted.
He had a distant sense he was behaving uncharacteristically of himself, somehow. Like there was something he'd forgotten, something important, but he was having trouble remembering what it was, exactly.
A sense of puzzlement accompanied the thought, he couldn't quite remember why other people's lives had seemed valuable...
All right, said the logical part of him, why has my mind changed between then and now?
Because he was in Azkaban...
And he'd forgotten to recast the Patronus Charm...
Doing anything at all, somehow, seemed like a tremendous effort, like the thought of action itself was a weight too heavy to lift; but it did seem like a good idea to recast the Patronus Charm, for he was still able to be afraid of Dementors. And though he couldn't remember what it was like to be happy, he knew that this wasn't it.
He couldn't... quite remember... what he'd used as his happy thought.
His body was shivering, Azkaban hadn't seemed so cold before, and it seemed to be getting colder even as he thought. It was too late for him, he'd already sunk too far, he'd never be able to cast the Patronus Charm now -
That may be the Dementation talking rather than an accurate estimate, observed the logical part of himself, habits that had been encoded into sheer reflex, requiring no energy to activate. Think of the Dementors' fear as a cognitive bias, and try to overcome it the way you would overcome any other cognitive bias. Your hopeless feelings may not indicate that the situation is actually hopeless. It may only indicate that you are in the presence of Dementors. All negative emotions and pessimistic estimates must now be considered suspect, fallacious until proven valid.
(If you'd been watching the boy as he thought, you would have seen a distant, abstract, puzzled frown move across his face, below the glasses and the lightning-bolt scar. His hand stayed in the starting position for the Patronus Charm, and did not move.)
The presence of Dementors interferes with the part of you that processes happiness. If you cannot retrieve your happy thought by mnemonic association on the key of happiness, perhaps you can get at the memory some other way instead. When was the last time you talked to someone about the Patronus Charm?
Harry couldn't seem to remember that either.
A crushing wave of despair swept over him, and was dismissed by the logical part of himself as untrustworthy, external, not-Harry, the dull weight still pressed him down but his mind went on thinking, it didn't take much effort to think...
When was the last time you talked to someone about Dementors?
Professor Quirrell had said that he was already able to feel the presence of Dementors, and Harry had said to Professor Quirrell... he'd told Professor Quirrell...
...to hold to the memory of the stars, of falling bodilessly through space, like an Occlumency barrier across his entire mind.
It didn't take much effort to remember them, the searing points of white against perfect blackness.
Harry remembered the great cloudy wash of the Milky Way.
Harry remembered the peace.
Some of the coldness at the fringes of his limbs seemed to retreat.
There were words he had spoken out loud on the day he'd first cast the Patronus Charm, his mind could remember the sounds and the speech even as the feelings seemed distant...
...I thought of my absolute rejection of death as the natural order.

 - excerpt from Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowski

Dementors

A relaxing song, ideal for waking up and having some coffee.

Peace of mind

Peace Of Mind

“It was the sound of hope to Harry . . . the most beautiful and welcome thing he had ever heard in his life. . . . He felt as though the song were inside him instead of just around him. . . . It was the sound he connected with Dumbledore, and it was almost as though a friend were speaking in his ear. . . .”  from Harry Potter.

The Song of the Phoenix

A bunch of mallets sounds together (+ castanets).

Liquorice countdown

"A Doe in the Mist" is an enchanting composition that invites listeners into a world of ethereal beauty and gentle emotions. This delicate piece for strings captures the essence of a serene morning, as the mist rises, and a lone doe gracefully moves through the tranquil landscape. With a tender solo violin as the centerpiece, the melody weaves a captivating narrative that evokes a sense of peace, wonder, and introspection.

"A Doe in the Mist" is perfect for moments of quiet reflection, meditation, or simply to create a serene ambiance. It is an ideal companion for artists, writers, or anyone seeking solace and inspiration in their creative pursuits. Let the soothing sounds of this tender composition transport you to a place of serenity and beauty.

Written using only Peteris Vasks Strings by Orchestral Tools.

A Doe in the Mist

"Romance of the Fireflies" is a captivating composition that weaves a tale of enchantment and mystery. With a delicate interplay between the violin and viola solos, this lyrical piece takes you on a journey through a twilight atmosphere, where fireflies slowly dance in the dimly lit dusk.

The strings whisper softly, creating a constant internal motion that heightens the sense of intrigue. The accompaniment features a delicate blend of musical elements, with the double bass pizzicato providing a rhythmic pulse, finger tremolos at the cellos adding an upbeat energy, and the first violins using harmonics to add an ethereal touch.

As the music unfolds, a sense of romance and mystique fills the air, transporting you to a world of hidden wonders. The intertwining melodies of the violin and viola solos create a delicate dialogue, evoking emotions of longing, anticipation, and a touch of melancholy.

"Romance of the Fireflies" is a perfect soundtrack for moments of introspection, twilight walks, or when you simply want to lose yourself in a world of beauty and intrigue. Let the enchanting melodies and intricate textures of this captivating composition ignite your imagination and immerse you in a twilight realm.

Written using only Peteris Vasks Strings by Orchestral Tools.

Romance Of The Fireflies

Born as a challenge at the Ecole d'Humanite, where I teach music, mathematics and physics, this EP is a homage to the latter.

Feynman
"There is also a rhythm and a pattern between the phenomena of nature which is not apparent to the eye, but only to the eye of analysis; and it is these rhythms and patterns which we call Physical Laws."

Einstein
"Sollen sich auch alle schämen, die gedankenlos sich der Wunder der Wissenschaft und Technik bedienen und nicht mehr davon geistig erfasst haben als die Kuh von der Botanik der Pflanzen, die sie mit Wohlbehagen frisst.

Denket auch daran, dass die Techniker es sind, die erst wahre Demokratie möglich machen. Denn sie erleichtern nicht nur des Menschen Tagewerk, sondern machen auch die Werke der feinsten Denker und Künstler, deren Genuss noch vor kurzem ein Privileg bevorzugter Klassen war, der Gesamtheit zugänglich und erwecken so die Völker aus schläfriger Stumpfheit."

Die Kuh von der Botanik

The Physical Law

Born in Rome, Alessandro Viale is an eclectic musician who believes in the artist as a well-rounded person, active in society. This is why he studied piano, harpsichord, composition, conducting and chamber music, not to mention a degree in physics.

In his career to date, Alessandro has conducted orchestras and choirs, founded ensembles, has been the accompanist in national and international competitions and for important European conservatoires. He has won several prizes, composed a film score, played extensively in many important venues in the UK, Norway, Germany, India, Switzerland, Malta, Spain, and Italy.

He has appeared on radio and TV, his music being performed and broadcast throughout  Europe by renowned musicians. His collaboration with composers has  resulted in the world premiere of a significant number of new pieces,  many written for him. He has recorded several CDs of piano solo and chamber music, with labels such as Stradivarius, Brilliant Classics, KHA Records, Sheva Contemporary, Da Vinci and Cremona Records, which have been reviewed in prestigious magazines such as Gramophone, Musical Opinion, BBC Music Magazine, and The Financial Times.

Alessandro Viale

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