80-year-old composer with dementia inspires billionaire to donate £1m

A former classical pianist with dementia who has composed a piece of music from just four notes, has inspired the billionaire Sir Tom Hunter to donate £1m to be split between the Alzheimer's Society and Music for Dementia.

The former concert pianist and music teacher from Buxted was diagnosed with dementia last year but still manages to play music from memory and compose new pieces.

Last month 80-year-old Paul Harvey was challenged by his son Nick to come up with a melody using just four notes. The composition began with the notes F, A, D and B.

Nick Harvey said: “He was pretty low. When dad plays piano, he transforms. It is wonderful to watch.

“I remembered an old party trick he used to do when I was a kid. The first time I saw it he was teaching a jazz masterclass in a summer school with Cleo Lane. He composed this incredible piece of music on the spot.

“Everyone rose to their feet, rapturous applause and my heart swelled with pride. For everyone watching, it was magic.”

'Music has the power to prompt memories and improve wellbeing'

Sir Tom Hunter, who lost both his mother and father to Alzheimer's, said he decided to donate the huge sum of money when he saw the video of Paul Harvey performing the piece. Sir Tom told Mr Harvey via a video link on BBC Breakfast "in a time when people are searching for good news, you lit up the screen with first of all, the relationship between the father and son and then the relationship with music".

After the clip went viral the BBC Philharmonic orchestra recorded it with Mr Harvey as a single with the money from it going to both Alzheimer’s Society and Music For Dementia. 'Four Notes' went to the top of the iTunes and Amazon charts last week.

Nick Harvey revealed that when he told his dad he had reached the number one spot he “laughed and thought I was joking”.

Alex Hyde-Smith, director of fundraising at Alzheimer’s Society said: “It has never been more important to support people with dementia, who have been hit hardest by coronavirus and are feeling incredibly isolated.

"As Paul’s story and our Singing For The Brain groups show, music has the power to prompt memories and improve wellbeing for people living with the condition.

“We are thrilled to be involved with Paul and Nick’s venture, and so grateful to Paul for generously using his musical gifts to raise awareness about dementia and support us with his single.

"We are delighted that he will also be contributing to our virtual Christmas Carol concert on December 17."

'We're incredibly grateful for amazingly generous donation'

Kate Lee, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society added: "We are also incredibly grateful for the amazingly generous donation from Sir Tom Hunter inspired by Paul Harvey’s wonderful musical single ‘Four Notes’, now storming the charts and inspiring so many to support us."

In his early career Paul was a classical pianist whose playing was broadcast on the BBC’s Home Service; he is also the composer of Rhumba Toccata, a popular Grade 5 piano exam piece. Alongside his teaching, Paul was musical director of many shows, including the first amateur production of Sweeney Todd (by Sondheim) at the Ashcroft theatre in Croydon.

Grace Meadows, programme director at Music for Dementia, said: “We are so honoured to be a part of this exceptional endeavour and delighted that Paul and Nick have chosen us in this way.

“It is extraordinary how Paul’s prodigious talent is still so evident. This is a remarkable example of the power of music for people living with dementia and why we believe music should be part of dementia care.

“We are so pleased that Nick’s filming of Paul has led to this performance and single. We hope people far and wide will be as enthusiastic about downloading it as they have been about hearing and sharing the original video.”