Composer Study: Antonín Dvořák

Antonín Leopold Dvořák, a Czech composer, was born on September 8, 1841 and died on May 1, 1904. He was one of the first Czech composers to achieve worldwide recognition. 

Source

According to Wikipedia, "Dvořák frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia, following the Romantic-era nationalist example of his predecessor Bedřich Smetana. Dvořák's style has been described as 'the fullest recreation of a national idiom with that of the symphonic tradition, absorbing folk influences and finding effective ways of using them.'"

From the age of six years old, Dvořák was a talented violin student. In 1872, the first public performances of his works were occuring in Prague. Wikipedia also stated that "in 1874, he made a submission to the Austrian State Prize for Composition, including scores of two further symphonies and other works. Although Dvořák was not aware of it, Johannes Brahms was the leading member of the jury and was highly impressed. The prize was awarded to Dvořák in 1874 and again in 1876 and in 1877, when Brahms and the prominent critic Eduard Hanslick, also a member of the jury, made themselves known to him. Brahms recommended Dvořák to his publisher, Simrock, who soon afterward commissioned what became the Slavonic Dances, Op. 46."

Wikipedia continues, "In his career, Dvořák made nine invited visits to England, often conducting performances of his own works. His Seventh Symphony was written for London. Visiting Russia in March 1890, he conducted concerts of his own music in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. In 1891, Dvořák was appointed as a professor at the Prague Conservatory. In 1890–91, he wrote his Dumky Trio, one of his most successful chamber music pieces. In 1892, Dvořák moved to the United States and became the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America in New York City. The President of the National Conservatory of Music in America, Jeannette Thurber, offered Dvořák an annual salary of $15,000 – an incredibly lavish sum for the era (equivalent to $432,056 in 2020), 25 times what he was paid at the Prague Conservatory. While in the United States, Dvořák wrote his two most successful orchestral works: the Symphony From the New World, which spread his reputation worldwide, and his Cello Concerto, one of the most highly regarded of all cello concerti.

"In the summer of 1893, Dvořák moved from New York City to Spillville, Iowa, following the advice of his secretary, J.J. Kovarík. Dvořák had originally planned to come back to Bohemia, but Spillville was made up of mostly Czech immigrants, and thus he felt less homesick....This is where he wrote his most famous piece of chamber music, his String Quartet in F major, Op. 96, which was later nicknamed the American Quartet. 

"Shortly after his time in Iowa, Dvorák extended his contract at the National Conservatory for another two years. However, the economic crisis of April 1893 resulted in Thurber's husband's loss of income, and directly influenced the National Conservatory's funding. Shortfalls in payment of his salary, along with increasing recognition in Europe and an onset of homesickness, led him to leave the United States and return to Bohemia in 1895. 

"All of Dvořák's nine operas, except his first, have librettos in Czech and were intended to convey the Czech national spirit, as were some of his choral works. By far the most successful of the operas is Rusalka. 

Dvořák has been described as "arguably the most versatile... composer of his time". In fact, as a celebration of his life and works, there's an annual Dvořák Prague International Music Festival. 

Gypsy Melodies, Op. 55

Olivia's comments:

- It kind of seems like it would be a lullaby. It kind of has that sad tune to it. It's not terribly cheerful.

- It's nice - there's more emphasis on the violin than the piano as the piece goes on. 

- That was short. 

- It definitely seemed more like a lullaby.

From the Bohemian Forest, Op. 68, B. 182: No. 5, Silent Woods

Olivia's comments:

- Did he not have any happy songs? 

- Silent Woods - shows that it won't be terribly energetic. It feels like you are in a creepy forest. Just listening to it, you can feel it. 

- It may be a silent forest, but this feels more like a dead forest or a forest in wintertime. Normally, forests have a lot of sound with the birds. 

- It sounds like he's more fond of the violin in his music.

Violin Sonatina in G Major, Op. 100, B. 183: III. Scherzo (Molto Vivace)

Olivia's comments:

- I can hear the sonatina - the parts repeat.

- It changes...and then it goes back. There are three different parts of it. 

- The violin is better in this piece. Songs in major keys tend to be happier and lighter.

- The tempo has changed (from the first two pieces) to a much faster one. 

- Compared to the other two pieces, this one was much better for me. 

Song to the Moon: Rusalka, Op. 114, Act 1 (On the harp)

Olivia's comments:

- It's in the middle - it's not super sad, but it's not super happy. 

- This sounds like a song you'd maybe play to help kids fall asleep. 

- It's nice to hear it on the harp. I think the main instrument he liked to compose for was the violin. 

- It was more of an abrupt ending than I thought. I pictured more of a slower ending. 

20 Questions - Swap on Swap-Bot

During August I signed up for a few swaps on Swap-Bot. In the past, I did swaps through the mail. With the postage costs high and finances tight, I'm enjoy doing electronic swaps now, particularly ones that I can do on my blog.

For this swap, the challenge is to answer 20 questions and email them to three partners. Below are my answers to the questions.

What's rocking your world (making you very happy) today?

I'm going to the State Fair with my daughters and watching them compete in two categories each this year. Sophia is doing an illustrated presentation about bunions and their surgical removal (sharing her experience of going through two surgeries to remove bunions and then being able to watch a bunionectomy in the operating room at our local hospital) and competing in the Crafts project area with her Russian lace necklace made from 1,200 beads.

Sophia with the necklace she made.

Olivia also is doing an illustrated presentation. Her topic is on caves and cave exploration (sharing what she learned about different types around the world; and what she saw and learned about visiting ten caves this past year).

Olivia with the photo she took.

She is competing in the Photography project area as well with a photo that she took of a sculpture at Franconia Sculpture Park that illustrates the Leading Lines concept in photography.

What are you most worried about this month?

Figuring out where the money is coming from to pay for a major home repair that happened back in June and is still being worked on.

The new walls and steps to the basement.

All of this area had to excavated and rebuilt 

because of water and mud damage.

There also are aspects of the rebuilding process from the fire that are not covered by insurance.

The garage in progress.

We found out that building the garage is costing more than the hobby shed was insured for...so there are parts that we have to pay out-of-pocket.

What characteristic do you value the most in your friends?

That's a tough one because I value two characteristics equally: loyalty and honesty. To me, they go hand-in-hand. It's the friends who stay with you through a crisis, who are there for you at your lowest point that are truly valuable. Friends who are honest are ones you can trust.

What characteristic do you find most irritating in other people?

Self-absorption drives me crazy. People who are always posing for "selfies" and posting them on Facebook, to me, shows someone who is very insecure and needs affirmation from others. They aren't able to be comfortable with who they are or what they have to offer this world.

What would you like to hear from your boss or your teacher?

I don't have a boss in the traditional sense since I'm not employed. My job is homeschooling and raising my daughters; and volunteering in the community. So, my "bosses" are essentially people who interact with my daughters in some way - their music and art instructors; teachers at the homeschool co-op; and directors at non-profits where they volunteer.

Sophia talking with someone at the farmers market about a project 

she's doing for Sole Hope that she's inviting the community

to be a part of this Summer and Fall.

She has collected blue jeans and is cutting them into pieces using a pattern. 

The pieces will be used by cobblers in Uganda to make 

shoes for children so they don't get jiggers 

(little insects that burrow into one's feet and can cause crippling pain and even death).

Olivia is coloring pictures to donate to Color-a-Smile

which sends them to seniors who are homebound or in nursing homes as well as

veterans and those who are actively serving our country.

Whenever I hear positive comments about the girls' character and/or the impact that they are making in the world, that makes me very happy.

A woven clay breadbasket that I'm making. 

My only teacher that I have currently is my pottery instructor at a local arts center. I would like to get to a point where I do something and he would comment that the project is creative, turned out nicely, or he liked some element of it. Coming from an accomplished potter/artist, that would mean a lot.

What's the single most important factor to you, when looking for a job?

As my dad asked me whenever I took on a new job, "Does it make you happy?" I think that is one of the guiding questions throughout my life; and I can hear him still ask me that question now whenever I take on something new.

There are many elements that would contribute to a job making me feel happy - type of work, the level of challenge, pay rate, benefits, how I can dress, and how far it would be from home. Ultimately, though, the most important factor is: am I making a positive difference in the world?

What’s one thing you’re not good at, no matter how hard you try?

Drawing is something that I can't seem to do. It would be nice to be able to draw realistic-looking nature scenes, birds, flowers, and people. However, that's not a skill with which I've been gifted.

If you could live anywhere and have everything and everyone you love with you, where would you want to live?

I would live someplace where the temperature ranges from 30-75 degrees; is not humid; there are no mosquitoes or annoying insects; and where there are lakes and rivers; hills and mountains; forests and prairies.

I would like to see colorful flowers where I live.

I would want to be able to see both east and west - to see the sunrise and sunset; and where it is dark enough to see the stars at night.

I would want to see views of the clouds and sky.

I would want to live somewhere where it is quiet, peaceful, and people are respectful and caring towards one another, the environment, and animals.

Geese that crossed the road to a nearby pond. 

We waited a while for them all to cross the road.

If you were sitting on a park bench, who would you want to come sit next to you? Would you talk to each other?

If they were still living, my parents and grandparents. I would talk with them as long as I could; listen to what they had to say; and tell them - repeatedly - how much I love them.

An old photo from the 1980s of my grandma, me, mom, and dad.

Otherwise, having anyone from my family sit with me would be nice. Spending time with people who I love is very important to me.

Which is your favorite time of day: sunrise, early morning, daylight, twilight, or night? 

That's a hard question. I like early morning because I'm awake and can get things done while everyone else is asleep. It's so quiet and I can hear the birds waking up and singing as they start their day.

Birds in one of our trees.

I don't have a clear view of the sun rising now that the evergreens have grown in so much over the past 23 years that we've lived here. Otherwise, that used to be my favorite time because I could see the sun rise and the sky and clouds change colors...often times as I walked the dogs.

If you could choose an age to be forever, what age would you choose and why?

Again...another tough question. I like the 5-6 year old age range because I was old enough to do some things on my own, didn't have a care in the world, wasn't stressed out or anxious about anything, loved to learn, enjoyed playing outdoors, could play for hours indoors with my sister (brother was too young), and could color in coloring books for the longest time. Everything was new, exciting, and safe. Life was a sense of wonder and exploration.

My sister and I on the swingset in our backyard 

when we were growing up. 

She was a bunny and I was a dog for Halloween.

My parents and grandparents were alive; and my sister, brother, and I all lived at home with my parents who cared for and loved us.

The flip side of that is that I didn't have Sophia and Olivia yet - our family was not yet complete. So, I would say another age when I would like to live forever would be around 40 years old. The girls are young, I'm still active and not dealing with lower-back pain, and we all are out hiking, playing, and exploring together. The world is ahead of us with opportunities!

If you could be in any movie, which would you choose and what character would you play?

One of my favorite movies is Defending Your Life with Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep. If I was a gifted and talented actress, I would enjoy playing Meryl Streep's part. However, what would be more rewarding would be an extra or a supporting character who would get to meet and work with Meryl. Learning from her would be inspiring!

If you could meet any fictional character, who would you want to meet?

I haven't read a fiction book in a long time. I tend to read non-fiction books so this is a challenging question. First thing that came to mind: Christopher Robin.

It would be great to be able to have talking animals - like Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, and Eeyore - and be a part of their world.

What are some of your favorite foods?

For breakfast, I like cinnamon raisin rolls made from my grandma's recipe (I'm the only one who knows how to make them) and waffles.

For lunch, a good BLT, tuna fish sandwich, or egg salad sandwich would be good.

For dinner, I like tacos/nachos and anything that's made on the pellet grill, especially if it is barbecued. The smoky flavor and caramelized barbecue sauce are wonderful!

Homemade salsa to go with tacos.

For dessert, homemade ice cream that Sophia makes. She has made a variety of different flavors this summer - all of which have been delicious.

Homemade mint chocolate chip, strawberry, and vanilla ice creams

that Sophia made.

Are any of these healthy foods? Not by a long shot. However, they are all special treats for me that I have once in a while.

Which is your favorite season, and what do you like best about it?

Fall is my favorite season after the first frost because there are no insects (like mosquitoes, gnats, or hornets) and the leaves are changing colors to brilliant yellows, golds, oranges, and reds. The temperature is in the range that feels comfortable; and the mornings and evenings feel slightly chilly. Sweaters and jackets are worn daily...which I like.

The dogs can go on walks again because they aren't bothered by the horseflies or high temperatures and humidity. The roads are a comfortable temperature on their paws.

The horses love the cooler temperatures and will gallop more in the pasture.

Colorful leaves in October 2012.

We have fires in the woodstove again and things feel cozier and more comforting in the Fall.

Which season is your least favorite, and why?

Winter is becoming my least favorite season because of dealing with snow, ice, and extremely cold temperatures. Last winter, we had our water line freeze that went to the house and our well pump burned out as a result of that.

The truck in the backyard doing work on the well.

So, we started the beginning of the year with no water and then a multi-thousand dollar bill to fix the line and well pump. It wasn't a good way to start the year.

What item (that you don't already have), would you most like to own?

The fire that happened at our farm on May 5th took many items that had special meaning to us - books that I read to the girls when they were little, Christmas plates that belonged to Paige's parents, cards and gifts signed by and given to the girls by my parents, and bikes that we used to ride together.

Going through books that were destroyed by the fire.

There were children's books that we were holding onto to 

give to the girls when they have children of their own.

With the exception of the bikes, these are all items that can't be replaced. If there was some way to have them again, I would like that.

What seemed like a great idea at the time, but turned out not so great?

We were just talking about this the other night at dinner. At our home on Morgan Avenue South in Minneapolis, which was a 1 1/2 story home, there was an odd, useless rectangular space at the top of the steps as you went to the second level.

I went to a home and garden show and saw an indoor garden with a little waterfall which I thought would be nice to do in that spot. The landscape company came to our home and built an indoor garden with a waterfall. The catch was that rather than real plants in the garden, they used fake ones since there wasn't enough light for plants to survive.

Needless to say, although it looked fake to us, it was realistic enough for our cat to think it was a playground for her. She would use her paws to mess up the bark chips and toss them in the water, monkey around with the plants, and drink the water.

It became an eyesore after a while - a place where plants never changed or were fragrant and life seemed "dead" rather than alive and growing. We have never had an indoor water garden like that again. Once was enough.

What’s something you almost always have on-hand?

The obvious thing here would be baking supplies, toothpaste, and things along that line. Something a bit out of the ordinary would be Watkins Menthol-Camphor Ointment and Petro-Carbo Salve.

These two items are things I grew up with and that are a staple in our home. The ointment is something that we use as a lip balm and under our noses to help with breathing.

The salve is something that we use on cuts, sores, or anything that needs to heal quickly. My dad used to use it on the farm when he was growing up - both on people and animals. He said that a horse one time had a cut and they used the salve. Very quickly that sore healed thanks to the salve.

What will you do after answering these questions?

It's 7:08 a.m. and it's time to start getting ready for the day.

The girls and I need to patch a hole in the fence that our miniature horse is getting out of and into another pasture (that is ours) where there is more grass. He gains weight on air, so he needs to be one of the two pastures that he already has access to.


The third pasture is one we don't use anymore now that we don't have sheep. It has very tall grass - taller than him - so it's also not safe for him to be back there. With coyotes around, it's better to be in an area that he can see all around.

After that it is breakfast time, I'll feed the animals (dogs and cats), and pack to go to the State Fair. It's going to be a long - but fun - day.

My Favorite Pictures of the Month - March

As I looked back on the pictures I took during March, many of the ones that stood out for me were ones that represented thoughtfulness and/or service.

We had multiple snowfalls during March and many times Olivia shoveled the deck, patio, and a pathway to the car. This helped the dogs so they didn't get stuck in the snow and us so that we didn't get snow in our shoes.

Sophia shared her baking skills and made several desserts for Easter. These are muffins that are frosted to look like Easter bunnies. The inside is filled with a chocolate piece of candy and sprinkles.

The girls and I packed food at Feed My Starving Children. We did this with the Lions and Leos from our district.

We also had a fun time when we made an Asian-theme meal with my sister (the girls' aunt).

We were happy to see wildlife return now that it is Spring (though it doesn't feel like it is Spring with all the snow on the ground and the cold temperatures). The Sandhill Cranes have captured our attention as they return and look for food on the snow-covered ground.

On St. Patrick's Day, we entered a competition as a family at the library. There were about 10 teams total competing to finish a 550-piece puzzle in the quickest time. We finished the puzzle in less than 1 hour.

Early in March, I had foot surgery (the second one in four months). This one was an easy and quick one - a tendon release of the second toe. I was awake during the surgery which was interesting.

The podiatrist drew a happy face on my second toe when he was done with surgery.

We kicked off the month with coordinating a One Stop Donation Drop and Blood Drive. Sophia coordinated the blood drive and recruited 15 donors - which will save 45 lives.

Olivia spent a good percentage of the afternoon knitting hats for newborns on a round loom.

I started out the month by making a new pattern for a window star. It actually combines two different window stars to create a new pattern. 

So, creative arts, volunteering, being of service, a successful surgery, winning a puzzle contest, wildlife, enjoying a meal with a family member, and the culinary arts - all were highlights during March. These photos are some of my favorite pictures which reminds me of these highlights.

Friday Foto Friends - April 7, 2017

Breathing In Grace

Today I'm joining Deb for Friday Foto Friends. Come join us and share your photos!

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This is the third year that our 4-H club has been operating. I began it in 2014-15 as a way to provide Sophia and Olivia with a day-time 4-H experience with other homeschool families.

It has grown and evolved to meet the needs of the families who are in the club.

Here's what a typical first Thursday of the month looks like:

Team or Committee Meeting from 10 a.m. - 12 noon

From the first week of January through the first week of April, the Wildlife Project Bowl team has been meeting. They competed at the regional Project Bowl in Hastings and were in first place.

They are moving onto the state Project Bowl in Sauk Rapids to compete against the top teams in each of the four Minnesota regions.

At each of the meetings, the team did "mock competitions" which helped them practice their questions and prepare for the regional and state Project Bowls.

At other times of the year, (September-December; May-June) there will be committee meetings and project club meetings (e.g., Art of Math, Health & Wellness, Food Science/Cooking) that are held before club meetings.

Club Meeting

The club meeting starts with time to play outdoors - either games or on the playground. It was a nice - yet VERY windy day yesterday. The kids and some of the parents enjoyed playing with the parachute. Sophia (in the purple sweatshirt on the right) led the games.

Other youth - like Olivia - played on the playground and swing set.

There's a business meeting led by the youth. There's a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. This gives youth practical experience in leading a meeting.

We have three levels of programming at each meeting: 4-Hers (8+ years old), Cloverbuds (5-7 year olds), and Saplings (Birth-4 years old). The activities are age-appropriate and led by different parents and/guest speakers.

At yesterday's meeting, the 4-Hers listened to Barb from Northwoods Humane Society do a presentation about what NHS does, pet care, and animals.

The youth learned a lot of interesting facts about animals and their care. We were all surprised to see the slide about why it is important to spay and neuter animals. Each image shows how many cats or dogs could be born if all of the descendants were not fixed. It was a staggering amount.

After the presentation, the 4-Hers played a game of "Northwoods Jeopardy" which challenged their knowledge and encouraged teamwork.

At each meeting, youth can give demonstrations about a subject that interests them. Yesterday's meeting featured four demonstrations or informational presentations about poultry, computer animation, origami, and sheep/sheep wool.

Meanwhile, the Cloverbuds were learning about their taste buds by sampling four different items: bitter chocolate, salt, a pickle, and a sugar cube.

Then they drew their favorite meal in their binders.

They learned how to make a healthy sundae with yogurt, banana slices, and a graham cracker.

The Saplings listened to a story and had a picnic (a tie-in to the story). They played on the playground initially as a group and then the Cloverbuds joined them.

At the end of the meeting, everyone gathered inside to create a 4-H. The little ones (7 and under) make up the "4" and the older youth make up the "H." Sophia, as the club president, is the dash.

Committee Meeting

After the youth have a snack, those who are on a committee stay for a meeting (if their committee is meeting that month).

This month the Club Banner Committee was meeting. Not all the youth were able to stay, so they took their materials home to do their fabric paintings.

The ones who could stay painted pictures that represent different 4-H projects. They used fabric paint on felt which was a new experience for some of them.

We are hoping that by the June meeting the banner will be completed. It will be entered in the county fair as a club project. Last year, our club banner won a top prize and was shown at the Minnesota State Fair in the 4-H building. That was exciting for club members and parents to see.

Cats, Character, and Chinese Inventions - Blogging from A to Z Challenge

This year for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I'm focusing on going through my homeschooling files that I've created from the time that Sophia and Olivia were in preschool.

Some of the files are still relevant while others I will be decluttering and recycling in the process. Each day during April, I will pick one of the files to focus on - either doing a hands-on activity or sharing some information from one of the files.


For the third day (Letter C), I am focusing on Cats, Character, and Chinese Inventions.

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Cats

- Came across a pattern for a "country cottage" for a cat. The designer created an nice home for an outdoor cat from plywood. It was covered with sheet moss, tree bark, and dried flowers.

A rare picture of Meenie, Eenie, and Lucy sitting together.

    Although our cats all live indoors, I've thought about how it would be nice for them to spend some time outdoors when the weather is nice, but in an enclosed area so they are safe from eagles and hawks (which are commonly seen here). The little wooden cottage could be in the enclosure.

Example of a cat enclose/patio.

The link has photos of this outdoor cat enclosure that has

lighted walkways at night,

departure points from various rooms in the house, and

winds itself around the backyard.

(Source)

- Attached to the information about the cat house and how to build it, I had put a garden plan for a cat. The plan is just 2 1/2' x 8'. It has several plants that are safe for cats and/or they can eat:

=> Ajuga - used for aesthetic purposes by adding color to the garden.

=> Catmint - gives a cat a place to roll and get some exercise.

=> Catnip - provides a cat with something to eat and enjoy.

Olivia picking catnip in 2011.

=> Hosta - gives shade for napping.

One of our hostas.

=> Impatiens - adds color to the garden.

=> Liriope (or mondo grass) is for nibbling.

Liriope.

(Source)

=> Moss - is a soft cushion and pillow .

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Character

Do you want to Pay It Forward, but can't think of what to do? Here are ten ideas to get your started:

- Send someone a small gift anonymously.

- If you know someone who is having a hard time financially, put $5, $10, or $20 in an envelope, disguise your writing or type the envelope, and send it to them. They will talk about it for weeks, remember it forever, and wonder who it was who sent it.

- Handwrite more letters or cards.

- Take someone to a lake for the day.

Bass Lake in Plymouth, Minnesota.

I grew up here from age 8 to high school.

Our view was to the west so we saw incredible sunsets

that changed the color of the sky and water.

Such good memories of life there.

- Adopt a senior citizen as a "grandparent."

- Pick up trash in your neighborhood.

- Donate blood and encourage others to do so as well.

Blood Drive we coordinated in November 2016.

Also collected toys for Toys for Tots

(that's why the two Marines are in the picture).

- Plant trees to help offset the destruction of forests.

We planted this willow tree when it was about six feet tall.

It is towering above us now.

This photo was taken in 2012 - so it is even taller now.

- Clean someone's home.

- Write a thank-you note to a person from your past who has made a difference in your life.

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Chinese Inventions

In the file about China, I printed information about Chinese inventions.  Some highlights of two inventions:

- Silk. The Chinese knew how to produce silk by around 1300 B.C. However, it wasn't until the second century B.C. that silk was exported to Europe.

The Chinese traded silk with the Roman Empire; and received items such as glass and wool in return. The Roman women wore Chinese silks, so that's why there was a demand for them.

Sophia, Olivia, and Casey on

January 1, 2008.

The girls are wearing their silk dresses from China.

Through the silk trade, the world's two greatest empires in the first century A.D. (Han China and Rome) were linked. The overland trade route between the Mediterranean and China was called the "Silk Road" because China exported so much of the fabric to the West.

- Paper. Paper was first invented in China in about 105 A.D.  Its use spread to Chinese Turkestan in central Asia, the Arab world, Syria, Egypt, Spain, southern France, and then to the rest of Europe.

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In the process of going through the files that began with "C-Chi," I recycled 1 bag of papers I no longer wanted or needed. (I will be doing the remainder of the C files during the next week since there are so many.)

C-Chi files before (above) and after (below). 

So far for the challenge - including today - I've recycled 4 bags of photocopies; and newspaper and magazine clippings.

Another bag headed out to be recycled!