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I remember seeing a photograph from the 1970s of Bob Dylan in the same place. Dylan also loved chess," explains Jason Kouchak, describing his motivation for playing a game of chess at Queensgate.
From Martin Scorsese's film "No Direction Home" about Bob Dylan
Speed, strength and precision are required in music, dance and ballet, but also in roller blading. Jason Kouchak, a composer, musician and chess fan, has recorded a new song and produced a video for it called "Knight's Journey 'Inspiration'". His piece captures the aesthetics of chess and combines it with the music and fast skating of his friend Stephen Johnstone.
A Knight's Journey : Inspiration
Coincidentally, Jason Kouchak's friend Andrew Lloyd Webber celebrated the 40th anniversary of his roller-skating musical "Starlight Express" on 6 June this year. The day has another significance for Jason Kouchak as it is his birthday.
Jason Kouchak (left) and Andrew Lloyd Webber
"Space, time and energy, and the harmonious use of these three elements during visualisation is the key to a special journey," says Jason Kouchak. "The journey of the knight is both mentally and physically a journey like a laser beam at the speed of light."
"Our trip in London actually describes an 'L' in Albertopolis (that's what Londoners call the corner in South Kensington between Cromwell Road and Kensington Gore. It is also known as the 'Museum Mile' because of its many cultural and educational institutions), from Queensgate and the Royal College of Music (Jason's alma mater) past Kensington Palace to the giant chess set in Holland Park (see below)."
Stephen Johnstone emphasised the connection to chess. "In chess, you also have to think very quickly before you move."
Jason Kouchak, Ilaria Di Maio, Stephen Johnstone
The ideal end point of a long knight's journey is the mate. Jason Kouchak thought about the quickest possible way to mate the enemy king with your knight and composed a small helpmate.
The quickest way, in which Black can mate White with a knight:
| 1. e4 Nc6 2. Ne2 Nb4 3. c3 Nd3# |
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Soon Budapest will be the centre of the chess world when it hosts the Chess Olympiad in September. However, a mate in three moves like the one above is unlikely to be seen at this tournament. But you might see such games at Judit Polgar's Global Chess Festival, which aims to attract children to chess and make them see and feel the fascination of the game.
Judit Polgar and Jason Kouchak
Jason Kouchak has often supported the festival with music, dance and song, and has written another composition about the inspiration chess provides.
A knight is lost in space, but the voices of angels in his head guide him.
As Bob Dylan once said: "The purpose of art is to inspire people".
Bob Dylan playing chess | Photo: Bob Dylan Library
Or is "the answer blowing in the wind?"...
With thanks to Jason Kouchak and Julian Paix for their inspiration.
