Charles Edward Ives: American Composer

Optimistic, idealistic, fiercely democratic, he unified the voice of the American people with the forms and traditions of European classical music.
~The Charles Ives Society

I heard a Charles Ives piece for the first time today - Sonata No. 4 Children's day at the Camp Meeting. It was played beautifully by Dawn Wohn, violinist, and Ellen Hwango, pianist. The piece was very lively, discordant in places, and certainly elaborate.



Ives was born in Danbury Connecticut in 1874, the son of a bandmaster. He had music lessons from an early age but after graduating from college pursued a career in insurance. He was quite successful in insurance, but continued composing music until 1925. His collection is prolific, comprised of 114 songs, 4 symphonies, and much more (including the sonata I heard today).

His music was largely ignored in his lifetime (he died in 1954). His experimenting with compositions was not compatible with the musical standards of the time.  His major orchestral works were extremely complex, required unexpected combinations of instruments often in large numbers. Ives wanted to be popularly accepted, but had no intention of compromising his music (that is one of the reasons he chose a career in insurance).

His music gained some notice in the 1940s when Lou Harrison edited and promoted Ives' Symphony No. 3. The piece won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1947. Ives, unimpressed by the honor,  gave the prize money to Harrison.

Note: I did not particularly care for the piece, it was discordant to my ear - this is no comment on the artists performing the work, they did a fantastic job. Also playing a Mozart piece immediately following only served to highlight how much classical music varies, and why Mozart is loved by all, and I never heard of Charles Ives until today.*

Something else I learned:  Ives is now currently regarded as an American Original, a composer working in a uniquely American style.

*I am not a music critic! The comments in the note are purely my opinion.

Aluminum is the Third Most Abundant Element in the Earth's Crust

Name: Aluminum
Type: Metal
Density @ 293 K: 2.702 g/cm³
Symbol: Al
Atomic weight: 26.98154
Atomic volume: 9.98 cm³/mol  

Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust (after oxygen and silicon). It is never exists as a sole element, but is always bonded with another element, making extraction necessary. This was not easily or efficiently possible until the 1880s when 2 processes were invented to extract aluminum from aluminum oxide and from bauxite.

The first of these aluminum extraction methods is the Hall Herout Method which involves dissolving aluminum oxide. This was discovered in 1885. The Bayer Method, discovered in 1889 extracts aluminum from bauxite. With these 2 discoveries, aluminum became cheap and readily available.It is now widely used as foil which we frequently use in the kitchen and as soda containers.




There are other uses for aluminum:

• It is used in jet fuel
• Electrical wiring is sometimes made from aluminum or a combination of aluminum and copper
• Baseball bats are often made out of aluminum
• Parts for cars, planes, boats, and bicycles are made from aluminum
• Street lights are made from aluminum

Aluminum absorbs heat very quickly. Aluminum foil heats up very fast in the oven, but because it is so thin, it quickly loses the heat. That is why it can be handled even when immediately removed from the oven.

Note: Most of the world refers to aluminum as aluminium.

Something else I learned: The Hall Heroult Method of aluminum extraction was discovered simultaneously, yet separately by a scientist in France and a scientist in the US.

Boxing Day: Origins, Traditions, and Explanations

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
~Traditionally a Christmas song

The Feast of Stephen (St. Stephen's Day) is on December 26. The first clue that can be found to boxing day is in this song. The song was officially published in 1853, but music originates some 300 years earlier, in Finland.

King Wenceslas was the Duke of Bohemia in the 10th century. He was, based on the lyrics of this song, a good guy. St. Stephen's Day, the 26th of December, Boxing day, originated as a day of charity - a day when the English have traditionally given charity to the less fortunate.

Our good king, Wenceslas is not the origin of Boxing Day, he is just a good song. There are a couple of theories as to the origins of Boxing Day.

The first: Historically in England during Advent, Anglican parishes had a box for churchgoers to put monetary donations in. The day after Christmas, the boxes were opened and the contents distributed to the poor. That is why it is called Boxing Day.

Another: The day after Christmas was the day that the aristocracy distributed presents (boxes) to servants and employees.  Since the gifts were in boxes, the day was called Boxing Day.

Boxing Day is a national holiday in England, Wales, Ireland, Canada, Finland, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong (there are other countries that celebrate the holiday but where it is not recognized as a national holiday). Whatever the origin of the holiday, Boxing Day now bears no resemblance to the initial charitable day it once was. It has become a day similar to the USA Thanksgiving - a day to laze about, eat plenty, and watch a sporting event on TV.

If you wonder about Good King Wenceslas - he was assassinated by his brother Boleslaw (rhymes with coleslaw I guess).

Note: We have a Boxing Day celebration in our family. (That British son thing, you recall.)  We get together, eat some good food, exchange gifts. There are no sporting events of note on 26 Dec. so no TV.

Something else I learned: Boxing Day has become something of a black Friday equivalent. Interesting evolution for a day that was once about charitable giving.

Christmas Traditions Around the World

Christmas... is not an external event at all, but a piece of one's home that one carries in one's heart.
~Freya Stark 

The way Christmas is celebrated in a few countries around the world. 

In Finland:
Finns believe that Father Christmas (Santa Claus) lives in the north part of Finland called Korvatunturi, north of the Arctic Circle (he probably does!)  There is a theme park called 'Christmas Land' in the north of Finland, near where they say that Father Christmas lives.


Finns celebrate 3 holy days of Christmas - Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. During these clebration days they eat special holiday foods. They have Christmas trees and church services. They also visit graveyards and place lit candles on the graves of loved ones - this is reportedly quite pretty as Christmas in Finland is always white.

Sauna, of course, is a part of the Christmas tradition. People go there before the festive holiday dinner. After dinner: Presents!

Hyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta!

In France:
Christmas Eve is the special time in the French celebration of Christmas. In cathedral squares, the story of Christ's birth is re-enacted in cathedral squares. Most French homes display crèches. After fasting all day there is a feast (le reveillon) held after midnight mass. The menu includes a yule log cake, poultry, ham, salads and wine.

Saints (santons) for Christmas crèches:


Children leave their shoes outside or on the hearth so that Father Christmas can fill them with gifts.

Joyeux Noël et Bonne année!

In Japan:
Despite the fact that very few Japanese people are Christian, most homes have Christmas trees decorated with origami ornaments. They enjoy gift giving so this is what they clebrate. Japanese Christians do not celebrate Christmas as a family day or a day of feasting. They spend the day helping others, especially those that are ill or in hosptials.

The use of lights during the holiday celebrations is very popular in Japan.

There is Hotei-osho, a Santa-like Buddhist monk that brings presents for children. He reportedly has eyes in the back of his head.

メリークリスマスと新年あけましておめでとうございます！

In Russia:
Russia observed Christmas in similar fashion to current Western tradition until the revolution in 1917. After that, Christmas and other religious celebrations were banned. In 1992, Christmas was again celebrated openly. The Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar, so Christmas is celebrated on January 7th.Christmas Eve is celebrated with all night Masses, and a fast is observed until the Mass is ended. Christmas Eve dinner is generally meatless, but the Christmas day feast includes many traditional foods.



During the holiday season priests visit individual homes with vessels of holy water. The water is sprinkled in each room in hope of happiness and good fortune for the coming year. Children also carol frequently in Russia on Christmas and are rewarded with sweets.

Светлого Рождества и счастливого нового года!

In Egypt:
Approximately 15% of Egypts poulation is Christian. They belong mostly to the Coptic Orthodox Church. During the Holy Nativity fast, which precedes Christmas by 40 days, they eat no meat procucts except fish. This time period is called Kiahk.

Christmas Bazaar in Egypt:

On Christmas Eve, Christian Egyptians go to church wearing new clothes. After the Mass, they eat a meal of bread, rice, and boiled meat. On January 7, Christmas day in Egypt, people visit friends and share cake and beverages.
عيد ميلاد سعيدوسنة جديدة سعيدة

What the Heck is Cheese Curd and Why Would I Eat It on a Sandwich?

Cheese is milk's leap towards immortality.
~Cliff Fadiman

Cheese curds are a byproduct of the cheese making process. Curds are small bits of solids that separate from the whey in milk when the milk is curdled (the first step in the cheese making process). Most of the curds are then shaped and aged, making them full-fledged cheese.

Cheese curds can be exempted from the rest of the processing and consumed fresh. The flavor is mild and milky. The consistency is somewhat rubbery, and there is apparently a "squeak" associated with eating fresh cheese curds. Some cheese curds are flavored (spiced, garlic, ranch, etc.)

A bag of fresh cheese curds:


I don't know what has caused the sudden popularity surge of grilled cheese curd sandwiches (though I suspect it is rooted somewhere in Wisconsin). Up until a coworker ordered one at a restaurant the other day, I had never even heard of such a thing. She said it was tasty, and then suggested I learn what the heck it is for my blog. This one is for you Laura! :-)

Cheese curd recipes.

Note: Cheese curds are best when they are very fresh. 

Something else I learned: Cottage cheese is curd that comes from skim milk cheese processing.

***UPDATE*** 12-30-2011: I saw a bag of cheese curd available at my local grocery store today. That is the first time I have ever seen it in the cheese section. There was no date on it, and I know from my research that the curds are best when they are very fresh - otherwise I might have bought some and tried a recipe or two.

The Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams

I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again.
~Scarlett O'Hara

That sweet potato scene was so very memorable. Yes, it was sweet potatoes, not yams. It turns out there is a difference!

Sweet Potatoes:

• Grow in the Southern United States
• Grow in the ground
• Are orange or yellow with orange flesh

Yams:

• Grow in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Grow on vines
• Are black or brown and have off-white, purple, or red flesh

Yams and sweet potatoes are not even related vegetables. Yams contain more natural sugar than sweet potatoes, thus are sweeter of flavor. Sweet potatoes are tubers with elongated ends. Yams can grow up to a seven foot length!

A succinct comparison of sweet potatoes and yams.

Note: I love sweet potatoes and prepare them in many ways. After learning about the differences between sweet potatoes and yams (mainly seeing images) I am not sure that I have ever actually had a yam.

Something else I learned: The word yam comes from an African word, which means "to eat."

You Can Buy A Play ATM Machine for Your Kids

The kids who use this thing can do so by touching the display directly with their fingers or with a stylus and are offered their own ATM card and PIN code. Moreover, they're capable of carrying out quite a few important transactions, including here checking their account balance, making deposits or even withdrawing funds.
~Toy ATM ad

I had never heard of this toy before. They seem to be quite popular, if the Google search results are any indication. There are a couple of hundred results for a "toy ATM" search and all the links are to sites you can buy this toy from.




According to advertisers, this is a wonderful toy that will teach children all about money management. I don't know - I personally am uncomfortable introducing kids to the usage of fake credit card type toys at such an early age. Put the card in the slot, money comes out! Isn't that kind of how we end up going in to debt?

Note: This toy is an awful lot of ugly plastic for $86.48 +shipping.

Something else I learned: If you say you are going to post something new on your blog every day, people expect you to post something new on your blog EVERY day! *waves to blog followers and readers* I have a generous amount of time off work so I think I am back on track.