On April 8, 1993, Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go into space. Ellen Ochoa was born May 10, 1958 in Los Angeles, California. She calls La Mesa, California her hometown. She is the third of five children, three brothers and one sister. When she was in her teens her parents got a divorce.
The true mark of a NYCB devotee is how much they look forward to the all-Stravinsky programs. The leotard ballets and spiky scores can still bring the jitters in people who adore Jewels, Serenade or Theme and Variations, but if just the thought of that diagonal of soldier-girls in Symphony in Three Movements gives you the tingles, then I'd say you're all in. So it's fitting that NYCB ended its winter season with an excellent all-Stravinsky/Balanchine bill of the rarely performed Divertimento From Baiser de la Fée and long with repertory staples Agon, Duo Concertant, and Symphony in Three Movements. For one, it's a test of the company's resilience. It's also a test of the audiences' loyalty.
The Musical Glossary & Works Cited Introduction: All About the Revolution “Take your position! Aim! Stay Low! FIRE!”
“How We Listen” begins by providing us with a detailed description of Aaron Copland’s background and accomplishments, then moves on to briefly describe his views and ideas that are expressed in the rest of the passage. In the introduction, we are presented with Copland’s theory that divides the activity of listening to music (specifically the classical genre) into three categories; sensuous plane, the expressive plane, and the sheerly musical plane. The sensuous plane allows the listener to simply relax, take in, and appreciate the beauty of the music.
In the book, Symphony for the City of the Dead, by M.T. Anderson, the author accentuates the composer, Dmitri Shostakovich, to describe the composer’s devotion for his city and country. The novel was set during 1905-1975 in northern Europe and western Russia. When Shostakovich lived in Leningrad, Russia, during World War 2, he wrote symphonies. He expressed his feelings of horror and hope for Russia's victory against the Nazi power in his symphonies. Although, his seventh symphony was the most significant to all globally in this time of war.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has become a household name throughout the entire world. Not only do people flock to see his shows, but the pure fact that people outside of the theatre world know the composer of certain musicals is an accomplishment in itself. He has changed the musical theatre world. Some call him a “Broadway master” because his musical Phantom of the Opera surpassed his own record for the musical Cats to now hold the record for the longest running musical on Broadway as well as London’s West End ( Snelson 1).
This shows that he has observed the work and performance of a conductor, and views it as that they are made to be egotistical and in a way narcissistic. He continues to say that being the “titan of the podium” (23-24) is “very nearly the worst obstacle to genuine music-making” (24-25). With those few lines, Stravinsky clearly states that conductors are a huge obstacle to real music and that they are more of an inconvenience than a
“Sound and Structure” is a broad poem written by Barbara Guest where she attempts to portray the idea that the leaders of our world are those who are capable of leading the masses and laying out the framework for our future. In order to achieve this, Guest utilizes epithets that better describe the characteristics of those who are being led by the sounds of their masters, she then employs symbols to aid in simply explaining her complex themes, and then Guest provides a metaphor in order to better describe the complex relationship between a composer and their audience. Guest’s utilization of epithets greatly helps in presenting her central theme of control, as they better describe those who are being led by their masters. Her use of epithets
His pieces are branded by “the intensity and compactness of their expression and wide variety of mood” ranging from reflective and emotional to upbeat and comical. “He had the ability to make the most complex movement appear effortless, and totally reflective of the musical score, as if it were created spontaneously for that exact moment in time” (New York City Ballet). One of Jerome Robbins biggest impacts on the world of musical theater was that he redefined theater dance “as an integrated, dramatic element of musicals, setting out to demonstrate that artists like himself need not divide their artistic works from their commercial works, but could create at their highest level for the Broadway stage” (Smith). Robbins had a curious mind and wanted to “explore new influences and ideas”
Social commentary is the use of a medium by the composer to address a social concern with the aim of promoting change. Social commentary critically examines a variety of issues present in the composer’s world, and also demonstrates the composer’s perspective on these issues. This can be effectively seen in the short films Copy Shop (2001), directed by Virgil Widrich, and L’Homme sans Tête (2003), directed by Juan Solanas. Widrich and Solanas each provide commentaries which criticise society through exploration of social issues. Widrich comments on the homogeneity of an increasingly conformist society.
Discuss the innovations in the music of Stravinsky’s ‘Russian Period’ with specific reference to The Rite of Spring and at least one other work. Igor Stravinsky, born in Russia 1882, is widely know as one of the most influential composer of the 20th century. Most notably, his composition The Rite of Spring is considered to be where his innovations in music come into perspective. I will discuss these innovations in detail using The Rite of Spring(The Rite) as a main reference and comparing it to some of his other works. Stravinsky’s compositions can be divided into three periods during his life; Russian Period, Neo-classicism and Post-war/Serialism.
Of the feat of “Transforming this chaos of hands guiding bows, fingers plunging valves, resolving this clutter of the physical,” that is, of the sheer and stunning ordered chaos of a symphony, the speaker says, “I can’t think about it, I can’t not think about it but when I try not to think about it I go absolutely crazy” (91). The symphony is somewhat like the tango dancer, whom Gaddis also mediates on. While both musician and dancer practice arts of their own, they participate simultaneously in an art that comes from without. The symphony participates in the musical vision of the conductor and the composition of the composer and the dancer participates in both this composition and its interpretation by the players.
Before this I had never attended a classical concert, so this was a new experience for me. This concert was worthwhile because not only was it affordable, it was also great for the price. Each song made me feel different, I could sense the emotion coming from these songs and the way the musicians played together added a feeling of satisfactory altogether. The venue had a large impact on the performance. The Nightingale Concert Hall provided great acoustics for the performances and fit well with the overall style of the concert.
This is exactly who he really is. Benjamin Zander’s presentation is inspiring. This video made me recognize the full worth of classical music. It is not just a music that makes someone sleepy. It is a music that can move an individual, and
Known as one of the most popular of the Ballet Russes, the production Petrushka, choreographed by Michel Fokine with music composed by Igor Stravinsky, presents an unconventional approach to ballet in the early 1900’s. Fokine combined his ballet experience and knowledge of the dramatic arts to design a highly stimulating production that’s influence has allowed many dance academies to continually perform. The four scene ballet tells the story of love and jealousy between three puppets at a fair in St. Petersburg, Russia. Petrushka professes his love to the Ballerina, but she rejects him for the Moor instead, initiating jealousy. Provoking the Moor to a battle, Petrushka is finally killed by the Moor’s sword.
