Music really is miraculous. Together with a glass of wine it can make the most tedious of culinary tasks really quick enjoyable. Having just finished Oliver Sacks’ book Musicophylia, I now know it can do very surprising things to help the mentally ill. And it bursts through to bring joy and sense and reward in a landscape of ugliness and hopelessness. I would hate to be labelled ‘holier than thou’ (small chance) but this video gives some pause for thought about the culinary packaging and rubbish one throws away. The pegs of the boy’s cello are made from an old tool used to tenderise meat, and another part of his cello is formed from something used to make gnocchi.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXynrsrTKbI]

And below listen to the most appropriate I’ll Remember April, from the George Shearing Quintet.

Anyway – music to cook to for April – fools, easter, yellow, English….