Classes

The narrative of Russian music unfolds through the history from the reign of Empress Katherine the Great and her relationship with the leading Italian composers of that time and from the creation of the first music school in Russia – Saint Petersburg Court Chapel, to the 20th century cataclysms that affected not only Russia, but the entire world – October revolution of 1917 led by Vladimir Lenin and subsequent usurpation of total state control by Josef Stalin.

Weeks 1 and 2: The 19th Century and the Blossoming of Nationalism in Music
Mikhail Glinka created the first Russian national opera and the Mighty Five, a group of composers led by Mily Balakirev developed unique personal music language resulting in such popular pieces as “Scheherazade” by Rimsky-Korsakov and Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky.

Week 3: Peter Tchaikovsky, His Orchestral Masterpieces and the Politics of Change
Tchaikovsky’s approach to composition absorbed the best achievements of the German and French symphonies, but clashed with the much more nationalistic tendency led by Mily Balakirev. At the same time brothers Nicholas and Anton Rubinstein created the first Russian conservatories in Saint-Petersburg and Moscow.

Weeks 4 and 5: Rachmaninoff and Scriabin
Young Sergei Rachmaninoff was seen as the heir of the great Russian Romantic tradition after the death of Tchaikovsky. Alexander Scriabin created mystical and innovative piano and orchestral works on the verge of atonality.

Week 6: Change and Reflection
The political clouds gathered and finally the Russian monarchy and the ancient traditional order was overturned in October of 1917 creating chaos and sharply dividing the Russian society. Rachmaninoff left Russia and became one of the greatest pianists of all time, but his last compositions expressed sharp pain and nostalgic longing for the world that was forever lost.

Weeks 7 and 8: Regime Change: From Creative Freedom to Total State Control of the Arts
After relative creative freedom allowed by Lenin’s Bolshevist Proletarian government, Stalin assumed total state control over the arts. Dmitri Shostakovich wrote the highly original Symphony #1 and sympathized with the social changes in the beginning of 1920s. Sergei Prokofiev traveled abroad establishing himself as a great piano virtuoso and prominent composer. Lured by the Soviet propaganda, he made the fateful decision to return to Russia in 1934, right before the Stalinist’s purges began.

When discussing the works and genius of Michelangelo, the general conclusion is that all has been said and done with this titan of art history. Truthfully, is this really the case? Michelangelo lived a very long time, 88 years, and witnessed the great historical events and changes of his time, while creating some of the most memorable and brilliant works in the history of art. This lecture series will seek to investigate Michelangelo in new ways, demonstrating that he was truly a man of his time, creating an ideal vision of the world while simultaneously reflecting the uncertain and unstable environment around him. By unpacking and investigating works such as the David, the Medici Tombs and his monumental works for St. Peter’s we will see Michelangelo in a new light — examining experience, memory, fame and immortality.

Week 1: Youthful Michelangelo and the Ideal of the High Renaissance – how to become a genius when the world is falling apart.

Week 2: Julius II & the Pursuit of Immortality: The Tragedy of the Tomb and the Triumph of the Sistine Chapel.

Week 3: “My soul can find no staircase to heaven unless it be through earth’s loveliness” Michelangelo & His Contemporaries: Raphael, Titian & The Mannerists.

Week 4: Clement VII, Michelangelo and the Tragedy of Fame: San Lorenzo’s Most Unusual Library and the Eroticism of Death in The Medici Chapel.

Week 5: “When One is Pope, One does not Live Long”. The Resurrection, no strike that, The Last Judgment of the Sistine Chapel; the works for St. Peter’s.

Week 6: “Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.” The Late Works of Michelangelo and the changing world around him.

The Meaning of Ancient Greek Gods, for the Ancients and for Us

Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, and countless poets and artists have found inspiration in the ancient Greek gods for their own ideas. This class will examine a select few of these ancient gods, female and male, for the meaning they held for the ancient Greeks, who worshipped these deities in important rituals. We will then explore why they still resonate for us today, creatively, mythically, psychologically or other ways. The class will highlight these deities: Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Persephone, Dionysos, Hermes.

From “Forever Young” to “Autumn Leaves”

Dylan’s middle and later albums have a lot of gems, most of which are not well-known. He’s an imaginative and versatile songwriter, performer, arranger, producer, and band leader. His best selections have elements of blues, rock, storytelling, and occasional crooning, plus some gospel, folk, hymn tunes, and love songs. Our emphasis will be on the music and how it conveys the meaning of his words. Enjoy a combination of lecture, discussion, and guitar performance in this four-session exploration of Dylan’s lesser known music.

Session 1: Love songs to his wife and children; parting company with The Band after a fruitful collaboration; his first tunes that combine overt religion with blues-rock.

Session 2: Dylan’s infamous Christian phase produced some exceptional tracks; some are loud and powerful and others are quiet and contemplative.

Session 3: Roots music and traditional songs are the centerpiece; plus his most famous later single song.

Session 4: Bob goes deep into Frank Sinatra’s catalog; a bizarre Christmas album; the most imaginative rocking blues you have never heard!

Process-over-Product writing grew from a collaboration of expressive arts and anthropology. In these five workshops, you’ll experience a variety of prompts that ask you to observe in thick description, devise questions you’ll work to answer, revisit your writing to better understand what you’ve been telling yourself all along. The POP springboards will produce writing that will explore and build confidence in your ideas and thoughts, serve as ammunition to act, and generate pages which can provide material for more polished work–although more polished work is not required to reap the benefits of POP writing. There will be homework and opportunities to share.

American Protest Literature

One definition of “protest” is “a document that formally objects to something.” From the Declaration of Independence to contemporary issues, protest has always been a central theme of American literature. Thomas Jefferson once wrote to Abigail Adams, “I like a little rebellion now and then.” In 1915, Jack London wrote, “Comes now the time to make a world.” He further wrote that this world was made by protest authors who “not merely reported human ills, they have proposed the remedy and they will persist until all the world be made beautiful in their image.” Ralph Ellison, author of Invisible Man (1952), wrote “in this great, inventive land man’s idlest dreams are but the blueprints and mockups of emerging realities.”

Join us for this 5-week survey of some of the greatest pieces of American protest literature by such authors as Thomas Paine, Henry David Thoreau, Tecumseh, Black Elk, Frederick Douglass, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Upton Sinclair, Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. DuBois, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and others.

In reading these authors, we will touch upon many issues in American society: our fight for independence from England, Native American rights, abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, socialism and industry, anti-lynching, poverty, civil rights, Black liberation, feminism and rights of women, Gay liberation, and anti-war.

American Protest Literature

One definition of “protest” is “a document that formally objects to something.” From the Declaration of Independence to contemporary issues, protest has always been a central theme of American literature. Thomas Jefferson once wrote to Abigail Adams, “I like a little rebellion now and then.” In 1915, Jack London wrote, “Comes now the time to make a world.” He further wrote that this world was made by protest authors who “not merely reported human ills, they have proposed the remedy and they will persist until all the world be made beautiful in their image.” Ralph Ellison, author of Invisible Man (1952), wrote “in this great, inventive land man’s idlest dreams are but the blueprints and mockups of emerging realities.”

Join us for this 5-week survey of some of the greatest pieces of American protest literature by such authors as Thomas Paine, Henry David Thoreau, Tecumseh, Black Elk, Frederick Douglass, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Upton Sinclair, Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. DuBois, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, and others.

In reading these authors, we will touch upon many issues in American society: our fight for independence from England, Native American rights, abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, socialism and industry, anti-lynching, poverty, civil rights, Black liberation, feminism and rights of women, Gay liberation, and anti-war.

Painters of all levels are invited to come together for instruction, inspiration, and encouragement. Review the basic elements of painting and receive plenty of individual attention in a small and supportive class environment. Work on projects of your choice or those suggested by the instructor. Discuss methods for color mixing, techniques for paint application, and ideas for still life, landscape, and portrait. Bring any art supplies you have. Additional supply needs will be discussed at the first class.

There’s more to Leonardo Da Vinci than meets the eye. His iconic art work is familiar, but his engineering skills and his role as a court entertainer in Italy and France may surprise you. Learn more about his ground breaking research into human anatomy and his mathematical genius. We’ll view some of his extraordinary anatomical drawings and discover more about this remarkable man.

Hints, Tips, Apps, Maps, Settings, Skype, and Much More

Are you ready to learn more about using and enjoying your iPad? In this three-hour single session course you will learn much more about finding and working with the best apps, in addition to hints and tips to manage your Mail, Photos, and Settings, among the top topics. Start using voice-activated Siri and Google Search with confidence and success. Plan your vacation routing with help from the free turn-by-turn Maps app, and become more comfortable with Skype and FaceTime. You will have the opportunity to get your iPad questions answered.

If you are new to the iPad we recommend you enroll in both our Basics and Beyond the Basics courses. Experienced users will find both courses to be informative and fun.