Classical Education

Louis Carrogis dit Carmontelle - Portrait de Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Salzbourg, 1756-Vienne, 1791)
CLASSICAL MASTERS:  We were determined to finish up week 4 of our Intro to Classical Music class today, and that meant listening to lectures about and music by Mozart and Haydn this morning and afternoon. There are definitely worse things!

I have to think one could teach an entire university course on Mozart. Almost a shame to condense it down to a couple of hours, but when you're trying to cover thousands of years worth of music, something's got give.

We learned that Mozart was a prodigy, touring by the time he was 5 (depicted above, with his father on violin and his sister singing). He wrote his first symphony at age 8. Works we listened to included "Little G Minor Symphony," which he wrote as a child, "Piano Concerto No. 21," and the wildly complex "Jupiter Symphony," Mozart's 41st. Here's a graphical visualization of the latter, by Stephen Malinowski (YouTube user Smalin)

http://youtu.be/SiX3z_fOR5k

One of the lectures we watched showed clips from the marvelous film "Amadeus." Unfortunately, it's not streaming on Netflix or Amazon Prime, though it looks like we could rent it from Amazon for $2.99. Might just have to do that.  

We knew virtually nothing about Frederic Joseph Haydn before today, beyond a vague familiarity with some of his music. Turns out the guy is the father of the string quartet. That's a pretty big deal, wouldn't you say?!

                      "Haydn Portrait" by Ludwig Guttenbrunn - Photo Nevilley at en.wikipedia.

We certainly recognized the second movement from Haydn's "Emporer" (Op. 76 No. 3).

Written in 1797, Haydn reportedly played the tune every night before retiring in the months leading up to his death. Today, the music is the national anthem for both Austria and Germany (no doubt it's most familiar to us from hearing it played during Olympic medal ceremonies!).

You can hear a lovely version of it by the Verdis Quartet here. It's the one our professor shared with the class.

http://youtu.be/mBmCcSz6HWw

THEY OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES:  This afternoon, CJ and Annabelle started a movie making class they're pretty jazzed about. They'll meet for a couple hours weekly with 8 of their peers and an adult advisor. Together, they'll come up with the concept, a script, work on dialogue, acting, special effects, filming, editing and more. Sounds like a blast. 

This evening we screened the finished project last semester's class made. It was very creative, with lots of special effects. 

FOR BUBBY: We put together a special delivery today.  There's a young boy here in Washington that has been dealt a terrible hand in life.  Bubby Everson contracted a virus (cytomegalovirus) at birth. Usually it's harmless, but in Bubby's case, it left him deaf, autistic, with scoliosis, autism and cerebral palsy. His life span is expected to be severely truncated due to his ailments. 

Given that, Bubby's parents are trying to make his 9th birthday, Feb. 7, one to remember. 

Apparently Bubby loves getting mail, and REALLY loves stickers, so his parents are asking people to send their son some mail with stickers in it. They've set up a PO Box in their hometown of Graham, WA, and the story has gone viral.

You can Google Bubby's name and find any number of stories about him, or check out this link: http://q13fox.com/2015/02/03/family-plans-sons-9th-birthday-like-it-will-be-his-last-hopes-simple-act-by-others-will-help-fulfill-his-only-wish/

I had the kids dig through our craft drawer today and they came up with a nice little selection of stickers. 

If you want to send Bubby something, here's the address.

Bubby Everson
P.O. BOX 1142
Graham, WA 98338

Our stickers won't make it to him by his birthday, but somehow, we think Bubby won't mind having his birthday festivities drag out a few days - or weeks!