Lyle Mays: Minuano (Six-Eight) AMAZING Intro: Analysis.

Minuano (Six-Eight) intro section by Lyle Mays.
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[@davidfleuchaus]

1. This analysis is A.) expert, B.) generous, C.) kind and emotional and heartfelt 2. The details of the harmonic and melodic contours are enlightening and elegant. 3. I end up feeling so deeply happy deep within whenever I encounter people that appreciate this music as much as this. Part of it is because it is a lonely world living amongst a general public who, somehow, just doesn’t get it. (I don’t understand why but they don’t.) Secondly, when I encounter appreciation at this level (musically knowledgeable, relationally insightful, emotional yet measured) I feel like I have found a member of a long lost tribe to which I have always belonged. Its validating. 4. Thank you for digging into the details of this piece, thank you for taking the time to communicate what you found and thank you for sharing it with the world.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you David for your kind words. I feel the same way about finding people, getting in touch and sharing insights with people who were also touched by this music. Thank you!

[@Will-A.]

Beautifully said David - couldn't agree more!

[@lappi62]

@@Will-A. So do I!

[@jeffreyfeinstein5525]

@@lappi62 '... another echo of the original expressive comment here! Amen.

[@tharcismendes3510]

OH MY LORD the way you explain was very profound. Beautyful words my friend.

[@DATABANKMUSIC]

Rest in piece to a legendary pianist and composer. No one will ever be like him.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

There will never be such another Lyle.

[@jimwiskus8862]

How right you are. He was and is astounding. Thank goodness we have a recorded history of his genius works.

[@sebastianomilardo7069]

congratulations on this analytical fragmentation of this masterpiece by the late Lyle Mays

[@stevedmusic560]

For me Metheny and Mays are the classical composers of our time. Great video again Guy!

[@ajadeleye4970]

R.I.P. Lyle. One of the greats

[@Richardiba]

I've always loved this tune without understanding it's true complexity. Hearing your musical theory take on things makes me appreciate this and other masterpieces even more. Thank you. Would you kindly consider doing a take on September 15th.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you Richard. I'm very glad to hear that! I will make a video on September 15th soon.

[@matt-spaiser]

Thank you this explanation. Lyle did his part to support the music in the best way he saw fit. That's exactly what he did with Pat's core of Minuano.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Yes.

[@frederickakon3584]

Kindness and I should add devotion. As he said in We Live Here interview, he was dedicated to this group because it allowed him to create and play the music he wanted and let Pat having "media recognition". It is like the background in painting... It is true that most of Minuano is Mays. I love the C altered as a Triton before the B minor by the way... How many musicians in the world are considering the music more important than their success... It is a great lesson of life. Thanks for the video. And what about the H part after the Marimbas... It is really incredible and deserve a video on its own :)

[@PatMetheny1980]

In fact, I think he already did a video on that amazing section :)

[@frederickakon3584]

@@PatMetheny1980 Goddam you are right !!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

@@PatMetheny1980 Thanks Rodrigo :)

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

It hurts that he had to leave like that. He deserved better compared to what he gave us!

[@frederickakon3584]

@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer Dear friend I agree with you but we have to be honest : I am not sure that he was looking for more recognition. In terms of partnership we must think what about Lyle Mays without Pat Metheny too ? Maybe he didn't achieved so much without meeting him at this Wichita festival... And he won so much Grammies too so the recognition of musicians was real. Now if we speak about listeners recognition I am pretty sure that it will grows and he will become a real legend. His work has no equivalent in the past 30 years. By the way I can ask to audience here, if there an artist or an album who goes so deeply in details ? The only group/album which is interesting is the Brian Blade Fellowship album called Perceptual. But it is not at this level. So yes you are right he deserved more but he managed to live with more than 300 dates a year Guy with his own compositions !! What kind of musician now has reached to do that in jazz ? Nobody. In fact I hope that we will have another Lyle Mays in the coming years. And I hope another PMG. He lived one of the most fantastic life on earth : playing his music and winning recognition. Could we do more before his death ? Maybe. But in a partnership like this there is always one in the light and one in the shadow. I repeat what I said before : every musician in jazz has now a debt to him.

[@acimbobby]

Great track of all time, it is amazing what Lyle did with Pat to get their body of work so refined like gold.

[@kuleebaba9014]

I now get why some say that the Pat Metheny Group was really Lyle Mays' band. Rest in peace - your spirit lives forever!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Lyle's part in the creative process of this band was massive.

[@Calbertone]

Thank you. You are spreading knowledge and love

[@robertginsburg8113]

I'm a bit late to this video I just now got the feed from KZbin. I'll reiterate what others said. Thank you for giving credit where credit is due. I'm a musician who has bought every album Lyle made away from Pat as well as every PMG album since they first collaborated. It's been so frustrating for all these years to hear people talk about PMG and not understand that there would be no PMG without Lyle. Those two composers really complimented each other but Lyle is a master at accompaniment as you have so effectively shown here. Kudos to you.👏

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you! Lyle is responsible for a lot of what we hear in the PMG music. In Minuano, for example, Pat wrote the main melody (16 good bars) and Lyle wrote the rest: the Intro and the interludes. He turned a song into a piece.

[@frywolny]

Thank you so much for sharing with us this clear analysis, Guy. I hugely appreciate it. Minuano is one of my favorite tunes of all time. This intro by itself is a masterpiece. Lyle is forever.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

It is a true masterpiece. And thank you!

[@nocaramos1998]

I think I can say that I miss Lyle every single day. He sure was (still is) a big part of my soul searching when I started to listening music with my heart besides my hears. There are things we can not explain with words and I'm sure you know what I'm talking about... The other things you sure explain them so well. I loved this! Thanks!

[@timavery7984]

Went to North Texas University ( now UNT). 74-78 ...met my wife there while in school of music -Lyle had a little quartet that played at place called the “Mug and pitcher “ ( sadly -now a parking lot ) -Kerby Stuart on bass -Steve Houghton on drums -Pete brewer on sax ...so incredible ...beyond words -this tiny little place -with half the people drinking /oblivious and playing foosball -the other half -about 20 people crammed up close to the band -listening -was an amazing time -Lyle was roommates for a while with Pat Coil -another incredible keyboard player -(played on “Lab 74 “ -including a couple of Lyles charts ...then Lab 75 was for the first time ever just the charts of Lyle ( except for one Chick Corra tune ) ....incredible ..that was a few years before he went with Pat Metheny. -anyway -lots of memories about those times ...but Lyle Mays was a true musical genius. He is missed.

[@ViniciusNipote]

Guy, as always, thank you for another great video. Maybe it's a "beginners problem" but I keep failing on counting the beat, due to the offbeat being so imposing (specifically in the very beginning, before the rhythm section comes in). Anyway, it's magical, and the way you explain all the harmonies and progressions make it even more wonderful. When you demonstrate the last chords, how they resolve to an A major and then says "Lyle gently hands the music for Pat" to play it on his B minor... this is a beautiful way to explain things, and makes so much sense... Thanks to your videos, me and others (I believe) are able to see how important Lyle was to the sound of Pat Metheny Group. Now when listening to PMG songs, actually I can distinguish if "this is a Pat thing" or "that's a Lyle thing". Thank you so much Guy! Sorry for the long comment by the way.

[@chrisblower8868]

Really enjoying your videos even though I have no formal musical training. It's so easy to listen to PMG just for pleasure, without considering the incredible creativity going on, although I've always believed they were operating at stratospheric levels. Thank you.

[@ThomasSenaTV]

Bravo. Beautiful way to end it.

[@chizmo7]

Beautiful! Thank you for putting the time in to share this great musical conversation. Awesome!!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you!

[@Mark-cv9cd]

Such a beautiful piece of music.

[@AllanKoayTC]

i love how Lyle's harmonies always move in and out of their boundaries. Minuano is perhaps my all-time favourite PMG tune.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

These progressions sound like ocean waves don't they...

[@AllanKoayTC]

@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer yeah! have you seen Pat's performance of Minuano with the Metropole orchestra of the Netherlands? it's on KZbin and it's awesome.

[@kevinellis8947]

Lyle was probably one of the most under-rated pianists ever. He was absolutely brilliant. Gone waaay too soon.

[@ohwhen7775]

Also the way the organ comes in after the intro with the rest of the group is just magical, that kind of special drama is so unbelievably rare to come by in music in general. Alllllllll of those ideas man.

[@walterearl5138]

Soooooo amazing beautiful thanks for sharing

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thanks Walter! :)

[@paolopilutti7824]

What ability and sensitivity Lyle had, which made everything he did wonderful and fascinating, every moment, every phrase, melody or harmony became something magical. I have known him since 1985 and have never left him. His music with PAT METHENY was and always is in my heart. Thank you for the way you analyze his music and communicate its beauty.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Paolo absolutely. And you’re so welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed the video! 🙏

[@dawudabdullaah6977]

I found this video in 2020, right after Lyle passed away. When you said Lyle handed the intro he wrote to Pat "with loving kindness", it still puts a lump in my throat.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

I mean Pat came to Lyle with that main melody and Lyle created a world around it. Amazing.

[@zezoribeirooficial]

This introduction is LYLE MAYS man. Pure and clear. Thank you!

[@Premierview24]

Lyle understands divine language!! All chords exist in their chosen order. They just wait to be discovered. Lyle knows and possessed the keys to discover them.

[@pietrodellacasaa]

I love the way you get emotional at the end, this intro is an abstract and extremely original, precious way to show (musical) kindness and you make us understand that. Thank you🌳

[@madashell268]

Another marvellous dissection of the special talent that was Lyle Mays. Thank you again Guy.

[@ukaykeys]

I always thought the name of the band should have been MMG ("Metheny / Mays Group" or "Mays / Metheny Group") instead of PMG... Lyle would have deserved it. Anyway, thanks for another great video of their repertoire, Guy!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you! (your name if I may ask? :)

[@ukaykeys]

@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer Hi Guy, I´m Uwe (playing Mays / Metheny here on KZbin 😉)...

[@johnayres2303]

ukaykeys Uwe and Dr Guy Shkolnik. You two guys have so much in common, you are both fantastic musicians.

[@jonnuanez2843]

Minuano is easily the most colorful song I've ever heard in my life. Thank you for this.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

It is! Thanks Jon!

[@drcool56]

I enjoy these vids a lot. Like a religion that would not make me yawn. Thanks!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you! :)

[@sundevilification]

to me this song is a prayer

[@rademos]

Lyle --- what a genius. Seems the best leave too early. This composition pierces my heart and soul. It’s exquisite. I am not a musician yet I anticipate every note and the visceral effect it has on me. Amazing. What a gift he gave serious music lovers. You play it beautifully and have given us a new awareness thru his voice

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Raechel! It’s one of Lyle’s very very best. I’m glad you liked the video 🙏

[@daviduarte66]

You defined it very sensitively, Professor... "an Act of much Love and altruism". Thank you very much, your language is very🙌🏼👍🏼🎶🧠 conscientious... and loving🤍 too... a big hug from Brazil

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you Davi! This is just a sublime composition, isn’t it!

[@kennetheaston5637]

Great videos!!!!

[@LennyPrice]

Brillliant analysis! Kudos for producing such an accessible deconstruction of this great composition. Deepest thanks! 🎹

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 🙏

[@musiquesdereve188]

excellent vidéo, beautiful music, I understand more this deep harmony in this song , thank you for your work ;)

[@osvaldosanguinet7758]

Tremendo tus análisis, hace poco descubro tu canal y es inspirador para la composición! Abrazo desde Uruguay y gracias por tanto.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Gracias amigo! ❤️

[@mikeo2420]

Thanks for another great video Doc, you are continuing to educate and inform us on Lyle and Pat’s eternal legacy.

[@sirrobinhood3409]

Your analysis of this song is brilliant! Thank You!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you 😊

[@JORODU]

beautiful analysis, of perhaps one of my fave tunes ever thank you

[@grb64patagonik]

Excelente como siempre. 👏

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

muchisimas gracias :)

[@3rdandlong]

Minuano has to be my absolute favorite PMG composition. Still heartbroken that Lyle is not with us. Wishing for a miracle piano player to step up and do a show with Pat playing his music. Too good to not have the chance to experience it again for one more time.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

That’s going to be tough because Lyle also composed a lot of the PMG music.. ☺️ it’s a McCartney-Lennon thing..

[@3rdandlong]

@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer Yeah, that thought came to mind too. Was hoping for a chance Pat would want to keep the group thing going with someone else equally talented. I know Lyle was a big piece of everything recorded. "Still Life Talking" , "Letter From Home", "Offramp" and other albums seem to be iconic recordings to great to not have a live audience ever again. People loved them all. Especially these 3. Kinda figured it was over after a year of no group resurrection. Sad. Didn't want it to end.

[@WilliamSaadGuitar]

Amazing tutorial to an amazing piece I never suspected was so rich...wow...Lyle Mays is a genius...

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thanks, William, amazing music!

[@cosmolocus6545]

Descanse en paz maestro Lyle :( Buen trabajo Guy.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Gracias

[@dedodan1]

THIS SONG IS AMAZING IS MY FAVORITE THANKS

[@armandix5]

Congratulatiosn and thanks for teach us music. GRACIAS!!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

I’m so glad you liked the video! Thank you!!

[@philliptarver8197]

Gorgeous.

[@mikedeto4508]

I’m following you on Insta, but never checked before your KZbin channel. This is my first visit at one of your videos...and I must say that is brilliant! It’ so didactic and clear your explanations about this great song! Thanks for sharing!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Hey Mike! Thank you! I’m glad you found me here! I’m always doing my best to communicate things in a way that connect with what people already know - so they can understand why I’m enthusiastic about a piece of music. Or in short to make things as clear as possible :)

[@julianchristopher147]

The vocal lines in the intro also have effective dynamics, almost trying to imitate the wind called Minuano as it swells up and dies down. Thanks.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Agreed! 🙏

[@eleetse6701]

Poor Lyle, may he Rest In Peace. He was not a good looking guy but he made something very special come out of that piano. Doc, the music theory might as well be in Chinese to me, but it is sublime watching/hearing you play the heavenly passages. You explained it perfectly when you said it was an act of loving kindness when Lyle did his part and passed it over to Pat to finish. Makes me want to cry, which I nearly always do when I can sit by myself and meditate on this tune. I have the same reaction to a number of PMG tunes.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you, you know, for me to have people not into music theory understanding the video means so much. Just as the music it self is deeply understood by non-musicians. To me Lyle looked beautiful. his posture at the piano, the magical long fingers and the expression on his face. Just sublime.

[@eleetse6701]

Dr. Guy Shkolnik Composer Oh I agree Doc and am embarrassed i said he was not good looking, it was a lame attempt at man-humor. Lyle is indeed a beautiful person and the world will certainly be a less beautiful place without him in it. I don’t know how to tell whether he or Pat is responsible for a particular passage that paralyzes me, like you could always tell if it was McCartney or Lennon. Saw a video the other day of Pat and Lyle playing duet Letter from Home on a morning talk show and it was so brilliant , so beautiful. I thoughts there is no way a human being could pen that song-had to be sent down from on high. Pat played a ukulele size guitar (maybe it was a ukulele I don’t know) and Lyle on baby grand. Just splendid! I need to go find it and see/hear it now. Best wishes Guy!

[@eleetse6701]

Dr. Guy Shkolnik kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZvRiI2Nqqt-i8k is song i referenced, but it was not a duet as i recalled. Oops.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

@@eleetse6701 I've watched this performance so many times... The way they get into it, totally devoted to recreating the music at max intensity each and every time tells you why they were so successful.

[@jackmeginniss6327]

Great stuff. Thanks for posting.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you Jack, my pleasure!

[@crescentsi]

The voice in the introduction to Minuano is central to its haunting yet uplifting quality. The guitar that repeats the three note rhythm is particularly pleasing to me as it allows the voice take centre-stage and build towards the main theme, solo and coda. This is played on both guitar and piano, if I remember correctly. Metheny always knows when to "hold back" as well as when to exhibit his skills and ideas. The same can be said of Mays. I used to enjoy playing the guitar solo which is surprisingly easy to play. This differs from some of Metheny's solos, such as some of the solos from "Secret Story" that I wrestled with for months, conceding that I would never master them in their entirety. For example; "Always and Forever" or "See the World".

[@crescentsi]

The introduction certainly is a circular argument that resolves in the beginning of a new phase of the piece; Metheny's main theme. Once again this shows how vital the collaborative nature of Metheny's/May's composition was to the group. That's not to detract from the vocals, bass, percussion, trumpet, etc. All absolutely vital to their unique sound. Always important to me was May's ambient keyboard sounds that added yet another dimension to their work. With the addition of Metheny's guitar-synth playing it can be pleasurable to find yourself uncertain whether you're listening to Metheny or Mays!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Very good point! An example of that guitar-piano mix is in James. And It all starts with their intention of becoming a unified voice, applying all their musical sensitivity. James was also brilliantly mixed by the late Jan Erik Konshaug who was a master at turning two instruments into one voice. I personally saw Jan Erik Kongshaug doing his magic in an album we recorded with him in 2015.

[@edsoncarvalho3725]

Amazing

[@Tascamaniac]

Pure brilliance. Fantastic.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thanks Alex :)

[@larrygerndt]

you sir are an angel in disguise aren’t you? Yes you are 🦋

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

:)

[@hugocra]

Si Dr.! Un increíble acto de amor. Que músico tan grande es Lyle.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

hugocra Tremendo Lyle.

[@torstenmadsvin1153]

Great!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you 🙏

[@omeryan42]

a simply amazing analysis

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thanks Omer! 🙏

[@garryfwright]

Beautiful

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thanks Garry :)

[@GrumpyOldGuy777]

Your comments at 8:20 are beautiful. Thank you.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you 🙏😊

[@MrRoger2306]

Wonderful!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Hey Rogerio, thank you :)

[@MrRoger2306]

@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer, you're welcome!

[@KCJazzKeys]

I love this, (and your other) videos, however I would say the melody is in F#minor and not the relative key of A major. This makes the chord progression a minor plagal iv to i which is not abnormal, but has that wonderful back and forth flow which makes it work so well.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you so much. I do believe it is in A, it’s the center of gravity of the whole piece even if it revel itself only in the second part of the main theme, and as the final chord of the piece. It’s also the final chord of Lyle’s intro.

[@matheusafrancez]

thank you, again. :)

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thanks Matheus :)

[@blakebrothers]

Pat and Lyle are the modern day equivalents of the great classical composers of the past and hopefully the passage of time will treat them with the same reverence. Lyle's passing is a huge loss. Damn!

[@francescogravina9604]

"Lectio magistralis"! Un saluto

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you Francesco! ☺️

[@paolopilutti1018]

Lyle and his music and sensitivity will be always in my hearth.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

This Intro is SO beautiful 🥹

[@FuMoNoSmoke]

You have to transcribe a piano solo version of this incomparable masterpiece. In a Sonata form, like classical composer

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Fulvio, this music indeed sounds great played piano solo doesn't it? It's fantastic!

[@FuMoNoSmoke]

@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer I'm totally agree. Minuano is my overall favorite PMG piece. Everytime I hear it, it's goosebumps on the 7:40 progression after the section began in 6:40. For me it rappresented a modern classical masterpiece. I appreciate so much your analysis on Lyle and Pat work. Me and my brother, we love Lyle music.

[@juanjohnn]

Please explain 6:22 part to 7:45 (of the original studio song) i´ts so hard I can´t figure it out. Thanks and very nice video dude. Sub!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Juan - I made three more videos on Minuano - Check them out - I'm explaining almost everything in this piece

[@juanjohnn]

@@dr.guyshkolnik_composer Yeah I noticed later on that day. Sorry! How'd you figure out all this stuff? I started listening Pat an year ago. I figured a couple of songs harmony and melody bye ear for example Have you heard, third wind, every summer night, and minuano too except for the intro and interlude. Wow man, blew my mind. Thanks for putting all this work for us. I really appreciete it. Cheers!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

@@juanjohnn Thank you! :) And most of the sections besides the main melodies you hear on third wind and minuano were written by Lyle

[@acimbobby]

Who have you worked with Guy, can you say??

[@ohwhen7775]

The intro also sounds like a tune by Milton Nascimento - Fransisco. I'm sure Lyle would've met him at some point with Pat when he was living in Brazil, maybe something about that tune rubbed off or quite possibly a complete coincidence. Milton also covered Close to Home with lyrics and singing titled Quem é Você and it's a phenomenal cover too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5bEm6qlYtSGo7c Fransisco kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGPSgKukotmYiJo Quem é Você Thanks again for your analysis, this intro is a trip along with the marimba interlude, god damn I need to get my feet wet in classical music more, hah.

[@bodhisattvaoflazyness]

I really can't see a particular similarity between the intro to Minuano and Fransisco.

[@jaymedearagao4309]

👏👏👏👏👏😍

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Thank you!!

[@MsRiccig]

pat and lyle loved 6 time

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Yep :)

[@philo5985]

"To me, it looks like a real act of loving-kindness" Thank you so much ! From France 🙏🏻👍 Subscribe everybody !!

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

😀 I’m glad you liked it! ☺️

[@jorymil]

It's almost like Bach wrote the intro.

[@luke125]

If you’re “not big on music theory” you’ll never, and I mean never, understand what Lyle Mays or Metheny is doing.

[@dr.guyshkolnik_composer]

Pat and Lyle wrote their music to express emotions (a friend of Lyle told me that what Lyle told him). Lyle was proud of being able to express any given emotion musically. That’s why so many non musicians connected with the music. Of course, as musicians we’re interested in the music tools the used to achieve that, same as Lyle’s studies the classical composers.