Month: December 2023

 

Between college apps, extracurriculars, and just school in general, this semester has been a whirlwind of activity. At least for me, it felt like things were in constant motion and everything seemed to be changing. However, one thing that I could always count on was being assigned to write a blog post every couple weeks. 

 

At the beginning of this semester, the assignment felt like just that. An assignment. Another item on my to-do list, another chore that I needed to complete. As the semester progressed however, it became less of a burden and more of a way through which I could learn more about myself and others. I came to the realization that I could use the blog as a way to learn more about the things that interested me and even started to enjoy writing the posts. 

 

I think I enjoyed writing the blog about the history of the Romanian language the most. Linguistics is a topic that interests me, but I don’t know too much about it so I enjoyed learning more information. The topic was also of personal interest and relevance to me because I speak Romanian at home. Before having the idea to write about the language, I had a very general understanding of the context through which it was developed and in some ways, took it for granted. It was just the language that I spoke at home and the language that allowed me to communicate with my friends and family. Now after doing some research on it, I know so much more about its origins and why certain words are the way that they are. I had a great time learning and writing about it, and ultimately, I think I came away with a very interesting and informative post. 

 

I was very glad to find out that others seemed to enjoy it just as much as I had enjoyed writing it. I had some interesting conversations with them through comments as well as in person. 

 

Not only did I learn about other topics, but writing a blog also became a means through which to improve my writing skills. I’ve never thought of myself as a writer. I find it difficult to verbalize my thoughts in a timely manner. However, like with any other skill, the best way to improve is to practice and writing a post every couple weeks was a great way to do just that. 

 

As a result of writing blogs, I believe that my writing stamina has improved (I’m able to write for a longer period of time) and have gotten a chance to explore different styles of writing as well. I’ve also gotten more opportunities to write in an informal tone. Every other English class I’ve taken has required a specific sort of academic writing, so being able to write these blogs has been a nice change of pace. 

 

Besides being a way to practice my own writing, I have learned so much from reading my classmates’ blog- both about how to write as well as through the content in their blog posts. Reading other blogs and responding to them was probably my favorite part of the blog cycle. I think it was a great way to learn more about other people, especially since the freedom of assignment allowed us to write about any topic of our choosing so you could tell that they were excited by whatever they were posting. I love learning more about topics that interest my friends and getting glimpses inside their brains. What interests them? What motivates them? What do they value? There’s a lot that can be garnered from reading others’ posts. 

 

As for what I learned about writing specifically, through reading blog posts, I was able to be exposed to different kinds of writing styles and structures- which was helpful when I needed inspiration for my own writing. 

 

So what have I learned from this whole experience?

1. Writing 600-700 words is not as horrible as I initially thought.
2. I can connect with others through my writing, not just through reading other’s ideas.
3. I am capable of more than I imagined

 

That’s all for now, I look forward to future blog posts and the new year!

Antonin Dvorak: his life and work

Dvorak (usually pronounced dvor-jahck in English) was a prominent Czech composer in the late 19th century. This puts his music in the Romantic era of music, meaning it was generally characterized by passionate melodies and flexibility in rhythms, harmonies, and dynamic contrasts. He was heavily influenced by the folk music of his native Bohemia, a region in the northern part of the Czech Republic. While many of his pieces do contain motifs and rhythms native to that area, he also took inspiration from other cultures, for example, American music after a trip to the United States. 

 

He’s also one of my favorite composers. I love the way his pieces sound and they often stay present within my mind for a long time after I play them or hear them be played. I think another reason why I like his music so much is because I love hearing pieces inspired by different cultures. It’s a way for me to learn about the world and it’s so interesting to hear the different types of melodies, harmonic structures, and rhythms that exist in different parts of the world. 

 

Now, without further ado, here are some of his most notable works:

 

Symphony 9 – New World

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iortco3KiPg (CSO)

 

Not only is this symphony one of Dvorak’s most well known works – it’s one of the most popular symphonies of all time. Even today, over 100 years after it was written, it is part of the standard repertoire for any reputable orchestra around the world. 

 

It was written in 1893 while Dvorak was visiting New York, towards the end of his trip to the United States. The piece is notable for Dvorak’s use of elements from American music such as themes reminiscent of African American spirituals and Native American music- which he believed were the key to the future music of America. The symphony as a whole evokes feelings of wide open spaces and longing, likely as a result of his experiences while traveling through the country. 

 

Cello Concerto in B minor

 

This concerto was written in 1891, often considered to be among the greatest cello concertos. 

 

It’s been my dream to be able to play it ever since I first heard it played in eighth grade. I’m beyond excited to be learning now, but I have to say, I definitely didn’t realize what I was getting myself into. It definitely deserves its reputation and is proving to be extremely difficult, but I think I’ll be able to make it through eventually. 

 

In my opinion, the reason it’s so difficult is because not only are there passages that require a lot of technical difficulty (and make my fingers want to cry), but it also takes a lot out of the performer. There’s just such a range in articulation, dynamics, expression necessary to constantly consider in order to play it well. In some passages, the cello sings and it seems like all the world is good. In other passages, the music is frantic and almost angry. Even though it requires a lot of stamina, it’s also beautiful. It’s during pieces like this that you truly see how the cello is the closest instrument to emulate the human voice.

 

American Quartet

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b_rwtDlUXA (Emerson String Quartet)

 

Arguably the most famous of his chamber music works, the “American” Quartet is written for a string quartet (two violins, viola, and cello) and is so called because it was composed while he was staying in Iowa on his tour of America. There was a high population of Bohemian immigrants in the area he was staying near, so Dvorak felt at home in the community despite being thousands of miles away from his homeland. 

 

Critics are divided as to whether Dvorak meant to incorporate elements of American music or Bohemian music into this work. He employs a pentatonic (five-note) scale throughout, something that is common in both certain kinds of American music and in Eastern European music, and really throughout the whole world. 

 

While I don’t know what he intended, I enjoy listening to the piece and seeing if I can assign a meaning to different motifs. For example, the rhythm of the cello in the fourth movement has always reminded me of a train moving across the countryside. There’s a trill in the third movement that is said to be inspired by a red bird he saw while on his trip. It’s almost like the piece serves as a sort of diary, a record of his new experiences in America. 

 

Dumky Trio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDPkMvUAgqo (Beaux Arts Trio)

It’s written for a piano trio (piano, violin, and cello) and is unique in that its structure does not follow the typical pattern for a chamber piece from the Romantic era. Usually, you’d expect there to be three to four movements. This piece however has six movements that almost seem connected – they flow into each other. Its title, “Dumky” comes from the Ukrainian word “Duma,” a musical genre from that country that refers to a ballad. Free from the traditional form, Dvorak is able to explore a wide range of emotions through the different movements. Some moments are lighthearted and cheerful, others are darker and filled with a sense of longing. 

 

I’ve had this one on repeat lately! Unlike American Quartet and some of the others, I haven’t played it yet but would love to do so at some point, maybe sometime after college apps are over. I think Dvorak does a wonderful job of capturing the character of the region in this piece especially, and I look forward to maybe playing it!