Ode to Joy: A Joyous Celebration on May 7th

It's difficult to imagine that the first performance of a glorious masterpiece like Beethoven's 9th Symphony should have disappointed its composer, and caused such little excitement among European music lovers. Beethoven's disenchantment was perhaps understandable, for he was frustrated by his deafness. In a poignant letter to his two brothers, written some years earlier, he explained the reasons for the bitterness which had turned him into a social recluse. He'd lost 'a sense which in me should be more perfectly developed than in other people, a sense in which at one time I possessed in the greatest perfection.' In a postscript he added that his one wish was that Providence would grant him 'but one day of pure joy.' He'd always longed for happiness, and as a young man had been much moved by Friedrich Schiller's Ode to Joy, a poem which he determined eventually to set to music. So it was that he decided to include the poem as a choral climax to his final symphonic work.
The work had its premier in Vienna theatre on the 7th May 1824. The hall was packed, and a nervous Beethoven sat in the wings of the stage unable to hear a note that was being played, but desperately anxious to get the orchestra, soloists and chorus to follow the beat he set. When the performance ended he had his back to the audience, and was totally unaware of their ecstatic applause. Caroline Unger, the contralto soloist, walked across to the maestro, tugged his sleeve and turned him round so that he could appreciate, and acknowledge, their rapturous reception. The applause was soon halted by the police, who felt that such adulation should be reserved for the Viennese royal family, and not bestowed on a mere musician Those brief moments of pleasure quickly turned to rage when the composer discovered that he'd only earned a miserable 420 florins from the performance. He couldn't enjoy the celebratory dinner which followed, partly because he was unable to hear a word that was being said, and went home in a frustrated frenzy, falling asleep on his bed fully clothed. His misery deepened even further two weeks later when the symphony received a second performance and played to a half empty audience and made a loss.
Since then, the work has gained in popularity and influence. It's inspired a long list of eminent composers, including Wagner, Brahms, Bruckner and Mahler. Since the end of the Second World War it's also touched the soul of the Japanese people, who now play it during their New Year Celebrations. It's also said to have determined the size of Compact Discs, which were originally going to be 10cm in diameter, but were finally set at 12cms to allow for a complete recording of the 9th, which lasts for roughly seventy minutes. And in 1970 the European mandarins decided to adopt the symphony's final movement as the EU's national anthem. This was not done with the intention of replacing the national anthems of the member states, but to celebrate the values they all shared and the unity that they hoped to find despite their diversity. This was highly appropriate, since a literal translation of Schiller's ode is: 'Europe is united now, and united may it stay. One in diversity, may it contribute to world peace.' Unfortunately the sixteen member states couldn't agree to accept any form of shared symbolism, so the proposal was rejected. This poses the question: If the member states can't agree of a shared piece of music, what are the chances that they will ever agree on a mutually acceptable fiscal plan or foreign policy?

Ludwig Van Beethoven - One of the Greatest Musicians of All Time

Beethoven, one of the greatest musicians of all time was baptized on December 17, 1770 at Bonn. His ancestors were originally from Belgium. His father was a musician and Beethoven was one of his seven children, but three only survived - among them, Beethoven.
Beethoven was introduced into the music at an early age, with his father teaching him day and night. His father saw his talent very soon, that his son was a child prodigy. He made his first public appearance at the age of seven and a half, the date being March 26th 1778. He started learning music under the able guidance of Christian Gottlob Neefe. Neefe recognized that he was teaching a genius and introduced him also to philosophy and taught him composition.
His first work '9 variations, in C Minor' for Piano was published in 1782. He was 14 when he was given a job as 'Organist of the court of Maximilian Franz', the Elector of Cologne. He made new friends in this post and some of them included the Ries family and the von Breuning family.
His new job found him in more responsibility for the needs of his family and he was sent to Vienna by his employer, Maximilian Franz to meet Mozart. Though he could study in Vienna only in 1792, the able guidance of teachers like Joseph Haydn made him hone his skills.
The first symphony which he composed in 1800 was considered strange for that period of time, but it became known that this young person was interested in laying new boundaries of music.
In 1801, he came to know about one of the greatest tragedies that was about to strike in his life - he was becoming deaf. This grief allowed him to compose some of his greatest works - the symphony 'Eroica' which was played for the first time in 1805 and many more. In 1801, he completed his ballet, 'The Creatures of Prometheus.' His first and last opera was 'Fidelio' which he wrote in 1805. The rewriting of this classic was done in 1814 and it was played before the public.
He wanted to leave Vienna in 1809, but his friends, namely the Countess Anna Marie and Archbishop Rudolph and some others paid him a great amount of money on the condition that he was not to leave Vienna. This act made him the honor of being the first independent composer, as during that period, even distinguished musicians like Mozart was part of the contract under the ownership of wealthy aristocratic families. But Beethoven was free to write what he wanted under no restriction of time as his wishes.
In the early stage of his career, he started composing music according to the likes of the people who were immersed in the style of Mozart and Haydn. His creative genius made him abandon his styles and he developed his own style which involved romanticism. In April 1810, he wrote the romantic composition, 'Bagatelle in A minor' which became renowned as 'Für Elise'. His letter 'The Immortal Beloved' which he wrote remains a mystery as the identity of the woman remains unsolved.
Some of Beethoven's best creative works were composed during this time and their names were 'Pastoral', 'Corolian Overture' and 'Letter for Elise'. In the month of July 1812, he met the famous poet, Goethe and used many of his poems for music. When one of his friend and patron, Prince Lobkowitz died, his descendant stopped the funds for Beethoven which made Beethoven struggle on his financial independence.
Johann Nepomuk Maelzel, the Czech who invented metronome, created various devices for helping Beethoven with his hearing. In 1813, he and Beethoven together performed in several concerts.
When the Congress of Vienna met to decide the future of Europe after Napoleon, Beethoven was called many times to play his regular symphonies which brought him fame and recognition. The ninth symphony was completed in 1823 and when it was played on May 7, 1824 it became a success even though the composer faced financial problems.
He caught cold during a stormy night in 1827 and this aggravated his other health problems. This great music composer passed away on March 26, 1827.
Some of his famous works include the First, Second, Third to Nine symphonies, the battle symphony (Wellington Victory), 32 piona sonatas out of which - Pathétique, Moonlight, Waldstein are most famous. His 'Missa Solemnis' was a highly religious composition in nature.
In 1972, as a mark of respect, his 'Ode to Joy' from Symphony no.9 has been adopted as the European National Anthem. Although, he has composed nine symphonies, orchestras all over the world are playing his music.

Buy MIDI Files to Create MIDI Drum Beats

MIDI is a popular term in today's world. Ruling over the entertainment industry all over the world, these files act as a backbone for a number of modern music. This digital file format comprises of a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) message to allow communication and synchronization of electronic devices (computer, drum machine synthesizer) with MIDI-equipped electronic equipment (sound card, samplers). The set of instructions transmitted from one instrument to another guides the user in playing notes, controlling volume, setting tempo etc, which is required for composing music.
MIDI files are widely used in recording studios wherein the MIDI messages are edited and rearranged as per the choice of the music composers. The different channels in a file contain specific set of instruction along with the time-duration and frequency of a particular musical note. Therefore, composers can easily select the desired channels and can edit them in the least possible time. A MIDI file allows users to enjoy full control on the digital messages and has become a popular choice for professional musicians and music lovers of the 21st century.
Now, if you want to get started with recording these files, then the first thing you need to ask yourself is whether you have a hardware device or software to record MIDI files, a MIDI-enabled input device and a sound generator. If you posses all these essential things at your media room, then you can expect to create MIDI music by your own. In order to record MIDI data, you need to connect MIDI capable electronic keyboard with the sequencer via MIDI cables. By using sequencer that records music in the form of digital audio format or MIDI data you can assure to record files in an efficient manner.
Although you have all the MIDI-enabled instruments to create music, but the recorded drum beats might not provide you satisfactory result if you overlook to choose right kind of MIDI files as per your taste and temperament. If you want to have best collection of MIDI files, you can consider searching for some companies which have wide varieties of drum patterns. Moreover, you can look for those distributors, who are able to provide you drum loops at affordable prices, such that you can purchase more number of MIDI drum loops within your limited budget.
The introduction of MIDI has brought a remarkable change in the development of music. Add some of the files in your media library to create extra-ordinary MIDI beats!

Lady Gaga: Taking Determination and Talent to the Limit

The Student: From a young age it seems no one could be as determined as Lady GaGa to learn everything about music, songwriting, and fashion in her craft. She learned this at some of the top Performing Arts schools in New York.
She was born in 1986 in New York city. She had been taking piano lessons from the age of 4. At age 11 she was set to join the Julliard school in Manhattan, but instead attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private Roman Catholic school. She went on to write her first piano ballad at 13 and began performing at open mic nights at age 14. At 17 she gained early admission to New York University's Tisch school of the Arts. While there she studied music and improved her songwriting skills.
James Phillips a music director and one of her early mentors noticed her in the fifth grade as a talented singer. As the years progressed he continued to be her mentor and teach her in musical performances and jazz at Regis High School in New York
When she was 17 another teacher Pam Philips had a vocal technique class that she gave at NYU titled the CAP 21 program and said that her student was hitting high notes as a soprano with an impressive vocal range. She also said that she was very unique in how she dressed and stood out in her dance classes.
During Pam's classes one could see Lady GaGa's insatiable appetite for music knowledge. This was apparent when she asked Pam how to use her voice for pop music by learning how to take 50s and 60s vocals and apply them to contemporary music.
Two celebrities that had recent comments about Lady GaGa are Alice Cooper who felt she is right to pursue her songs and image to the limits and has taken them to a whole new dimension. Barry Manilow said that she is a very talented singer and artist.
The story of the name: Music producer Rob Fusari, who helped her write some of her earlier songs, also helped create the moniker GaGa, after the Queen song, "Radio Ga Ga." Rob commented that on the days when she came to the studio, instead of saying hello, he would start singing "Radio Ga Ga" as that was her entrance song. Rob said "Lady Ga Ga" was actually a glitch. He said that when he typed "Radio Ga Ga" in a text message that he sent to her, it did an auto correct and somehow 'Radio' got changed to 'Lady." She texted me back and said, "That's It." After that day, she was Lady GaGa.
Fashion and the Look: Fashion has been identified as a major factor in her act. She considers Donatella Versace as her source of inspiration for creating fashion. GaGa personally handles her own creation team which helps design many of her clothes, hairdos, and stage props. Her love of fashion came from her mother who GaGa said was always very well kept and beautiful.
Achievements: Among her many accomplishments, along with several Grammy Awards, she has two Guinness World Records with the estimated sale of fifteen million albums and fifty-one million singles worldwide. Billboard named her as the top selling artist of 2010.
Some of her songs that I like are "Paparazzi," "Just Dance," "Poker Face," "Edge of Glory" and "You and I."
This truly talented woman and her love of music comes through very clearly in much of her work. She does care about her fans and has always been willing to lend her name and support especially to young children that have talent.
On top of it all with her determination and talent she has the ability to be around for a long time to come.

What Is the Best Harmonica for Beginners?

The reason behind the popularity of harmonica is that it is small, portable, cheap and can provide music instantly. There are mainly three kinds of harmonica - diatonic harmonica, chromatic harmonica and tremolo harmonica. Of all the three kinds, the most popular is the diatonic harmonica. The 10-hole diatonic harmonica is the simplest of all the harmonicas. This small and robust harmonica is also considered by many to be the best harmonica for beginners. In fact, it is deemed suitable for all music styles such as blues, country, rock, hymns, gospel, folk, spirituals and even classical music. It provides a soulful and bluesy tone that has the power of captivating million ears.
Why diatonic is considered the best harmonica for beginners
The diatonic harmonica is ideal for beginners as it is easier to learn than the other two kinds. Most music teachers prefer teaching harmonica to students on the basic 10-hole diatonic, to ensure their success.
As the diatonic harmonica centers on playing in one key, though it has the ability of playing in multiple keys makes it easy to play and ideal for beginners. In music, there are around 12 basic keys. Beginners are advised to begin playing with a harmonica in the key of C; as it plays all the white notes on the piano.
Learning how to play 'cross harp' is important for those who are trying to play harmonica in a blues style. In other words, it means that a Bb or F harmonica is used when the band is playing in C. In order to attain the bluesy sound, the scale's blue notes needs to be obtained by means of playing 'cross harp'. Therefore, A and D are the most useful harps for beginners as they enable beginners to 'cross harp' in the preferred keys of the guitarists.
Understanding the different types and choosing the best harmonica
In the market, various kinds of harmonicas such as Special 20, Marine Brand, Blues Harp and Golden Melody are offered by renowned companies like Hohner, Lee Oskar and Susuki. The basic difference between the various kinds of harmonicas is that Golden Melody and Special 20 have plastic combs and Blues Harp and Marine Brand come with wooden combs. The comb is an essential part of harmonica as it separates the holes. The plastic combs make cleaning easier and prevent the warping and wearing out due to moisture.
The tremolo harmonica is ideal for beginners who want to learn folk music. In comparison to the diatonic harmonica, tremolo harmonica is larger, longer and thicker and has two reed banks tuned a bit differently to provide a pulsating and fuller tone. Its sound is similar to that of accordion and offers a better range for melodic materials such as reels and jigs.
Special 20 by Hohner is also perfect for beginner as it enables you to learn note bending easily, especially when you want to play country, rock and blues harmonica.
Tips on choosing the best harmonica for beginners
While choosing a harmonica, beginners should take care that they do not opt for 'slide harp'. It is basically a hybrid of diatonic harmonica. In order to raise the notes by means of a semitone, it features a slide and its tuning of the four holes at the bottom can be quite confusing for the beginners.
Beginners can also opt for some cheap harmonica to verify their interest in the instrument. Those who develop the interest can then opt for the expensive version. In case, you do not like your harmonica type, switch to other options after gaining some amount of proficiency in it. But the right harmonica can be your lifelong friend and no matter which kind you choose, make sure you enjoy playing it.

Fender Guitars - How The Legendary Guitar Company Maintains Quality and Extends Its Range

With Fender guitars as popular and iconic as ever, it is thanks to the hard work and organisation of the company and a genuine dedication to music and musicians that they manage to maintain a consistently high quality of instrument whilst at the same time catering for a mass market.
From the start Fender has relied on the feedback of musicians themselves about their instruments. In the 1950s this style of 'customer service' led to the development of the iconic Stratocaster with its revolutionary third single-coil pickup, the classic contoured body, the cutaway design and Fender vibrato bridge all coming from musician feedback and enabling guitarists to create their own unique sounds.
Due to ill health Leo Fender sold the company to CBS in 1965. The company continued to grow financially but at the expense of their renowned affinity with music and musicians. In 1981 CBS put Fender under new management in a bid to re-invent the company. With William Schultz as company president and William Mendello as his right hand man their plan was to improve quality and invest more in research and development whilst increasing Fender's profile in the music industry. Schultz led a group of employees and investors in buying Fender from CBS in 1985. This was the best possible outcome for the brand as it put Fender back in the care of a dedicated band of people who wanted to commit to creating the best guitars and accessories.
FMIC (Fender Musical Instruments Corporation) had to start building the company up again, finding buildings and machinery and purchasing the name, intellectual property and parts. The first big move was the setting up of Fender's flagship factory in Corona, California. In 1987 they opened a second manufacturing plant in Ensenada, Mexico and the famous Fender Custom Shop in the US. In 1991 the corporate departments of the Fender company moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and have been there ever since. It is from here that the various divisions and factories around the globe are controlled.
Mendello became CEO in 2005 following Schultz's retirement. The last seven years have seen the company continue to grow, never losing sight of its commitment to maintaining consistently high standards in all their instruments.
Over the last 5 years Fender have rejuvenated and extended the core guitar shapes, adding extensively to the range to ensure that there is an instrument to suit everyone. The Fender electric guitar ranges include Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Jazzmaster and Mustang, with Jazz Bass, Precision Bass and Mustang forming the bass guitar ranges. Not to mention their acoustic guitar offerings and huge range of amplifiers and accessories. Their most recent product launch has been the Fender Pawn Shop Series - "guitars that never were, but should have been" - another range of quality guitars, this time combining features from the '50s, '60s and '70s to create a modern sound with a vintage look.
Their popular Custom Shop offers the opportunity for Fender to design and make an individual guitar for the musician. Either by starting from scratch or by altering an existing guitar a personal service is available. Famous guitarists from Clapton to Gilmour have had guitars made at the Fender Custom Shop, but this prestigious area of the company is open to all music lovers.
Fender may have a custom shop, but with the huge array of guitars on offer in the other ranges and the superior craftsmanship of all Fender guitars, each instrument is practically a custom shop piece in itself. To the uninitiated the guitars may all look ostensibly very similar, but when they are picked up the difference is noticeable and when they are played the difference is even more plain to see. A Fender customer has a huge array to choose from and can sample one after another until they find the one that looks, feels and plays exactly how they wish. With a true dedication to high standards in all their ranges and a determination to ensure that every customer finds their dream instrument, it is little wonder that Fender is still the most popular guitar company.

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Celebs Reveal their Bikini Secrets

Here are some secrets to get the stars that cut lean, and hot research organization, reported the Sun to do.

Ex-member of the Spice Girls Geri Halliwell, 38, the super good and super tonic is both mentally and physically, she keeps her figure with yoga and healthy diet.

Halliwell ditched crunchy rice crackers and chocolate for the seed, and now takes yoga classes three times a week, working the body and mind, while your muscles toning.

Actress Halle Berry, 44, has a body to die and it keeps that way by making a strenuous cardio workout for a five times a week with a personal trainer.

Berry worked on the elliptical (coach of the cross), then do freeweight keep the arms tight and give kickboxing, a factory six-pack.

For the actress Cameron Diaz, 38, she prefers to keep forms of outdoor sports such as surfing, working the abdominal and hip, as well as hiking and snowboarding on the legs and buttocks to strengthen.

Diaz also holds her lithe body and long, thin legs do yoga three times a week.

Model Naomi Campbell, 40 draws, to skip it, which is the best way the heart pumps to maintain and strengthen muscles is.

With him, it makes a complete detoxification three times a year by a cocktail of maple syrup, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and water for up to 18 days.

And to speak to the lingerie model Danielle Bux, 30 years, Pilates and walking around the dog.

Pilates works the core muscles is a good posture and muscle definition.