Popularly known as the 'New World Symphony', this work was composed by Antonín Dvořák in 1893 during his visit to the United States from 1892 to 1895. It is by far his most popular symphony, and one of the most popular in the modern repertoire.
It is generally considered that, like other Dvořák pieces, this work has more in common with folk music of his native Bohemia than with that of the United States. Leonard Bernstein averred that the work was truly multinational in its foundations.
It never fails to remind me of the beautiful music and lovely folk tunes of my native Slovakia.
A. Dvořák - Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World - Z nového světa" " - Sinfonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Lorin Maazel, conductor
I. Adagio -- Allegro molto II. Largo III. Scherzo. Molto vivace -- Poco sostenuto IV. Allegro con fuoco
War is Boring. David Axe's text on the effects of war is brought to life by Matt Bors' art.
It is a book, and concept, I am having trouble wrapping my head around. As a child I encountered war as Hitler's Nazi's invaded my homeland of Slovakia. The fact that my father, who disappeared into a concentration camp and was never seen alive again. was a very personal tragedy for me and my family. Only one of the millions of lives interrupted by World War II. So I guess that from an early age I have been adamantly anti-war.
I have watched, at first at close range, most recently at a distance since I no longer live there, as the USA has become a very militaristic nation. "Wars" have become a modus operandi for both US politicians and naturally the Pentagon. War has become a business. A way of life with the vast majority of the people who now seem to accept a distant war as an integral part of daily life. Well, at least it provides nightly fare for their TV viewing — as long as the death and distruction is thousands of miles distance from their comfortable living rooms.
War might seem have its boring aspects for an American writer and journalist, but would be viewed much more differently for a family in a war zone who have just lost family members because of an American, or 'coalition', war in THEIR country.
Boredom and death are very different things.
I'm not criticizing David Axe's narrative, but rather the political, military and religious views which continue to produce man's inhumanity to his fellow man.
Yes, of course I have been watching the World Cup matches from South Africa. My normal blogging will be a bit sparce until the final World Cup match on July 11. Here in Thailand, the first two games occur at a perfect time for evening viewing, at 18:30 and 21:00 [6:30 and 9:00 pm]. The third game of each day is broadcast at 1:30 in the morning, usually a bit late for my taste, but in special cases such as last night's game of Brazil vs North Korea, I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Last night's first match, between Slovakia and New Zealand, was especially noteworthy for me since it was my native country's first ever world cup match. And Slovakia held their 1-0 lead for most of the second half of the game.
New Zealand vs Slovakia 1-1
"A last-gasp Winston Reid header snatched New Zealand an improbable draw against a dominant Slovakia side in their Group F opener in Rustenburg" [the annoying background sound in the video is the 'vuvuzela' ]
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Note: since the original YouTube video which I posted seems to have been taken down, try FIFA's video:
This is probably a proper place for me to voice my displeasure at the constant annoying sound of the 'vuvuzela' horns. Said to be an integral part of South African fan culture, but that exceedingl loud, constant buzzing sound.is basically just a real pain in the ass. Not in any way connected to the actions of the players or what is happening in the game, but rather is mindlessly tooted and the resultant sound is so loud that nothing else can be heard.
"Just five days into the World Cup, and the No. 1 topic of conversation around the world isn’t about results or tactics, but rather the vuvuzela — the $2.50 plastic horn that, blown nonstop by the thousands, has provided a bleating soundtrack to every match at South Africa 2010.
As Jere Longman reports from Johannesburg, tournament organizers have rejected calls to ban the vuvuzela from some international broadcasters who have complained that the incessant drone is annoying viewers and despite complaints from several players that they can’t hear what’s going on at field level because of the unrelenting din. ...."
Tribute to my Homeland, Slovakia — Pocta mojej vlasti, Slovensko.
No matter that I left there at the age of 9 [many, many years ago], there is still a part of me that considers it 'home'. Cultural and genetic ties I guess.
At 2:13 of the video is a picture of Milan Rastislav Štefánik, a general during Czecho-Slovakia's independence from the Austro Hungarian Emipire. He was also a recognized astronomer of his time, and the international airport in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is named after him. And if my somewhat limited geneological research is correct, a distant relative.
Music in the video is:
1. Slovak anthem - Slovenska hymna
2. folk song - "cervena ruzicka"
3. lullaby - "lulu ze mi, lulu"
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Vysoké Tatry - High Tatras - Wilderness frozen in time [in Slovak, with English captions]
