Ashley's Philosophy Corner

Don't mind the...interesting freezed picture.  :) But this song, (more Libera), was just so uplifting and the message very good and true, I couldn't help it. I hope you enjoy it.

Austin's Funnies Corner

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

This is, again, is the description: Random, and really, really, REALLY awesome. SHE is really, really awesome. I am in complete admiration for her skill and talent, because....as you will see...wow. Just -wow. She embodies what an actress is, what an actress -truly is. Not a theatre kid with the annoying "let's disrupt the peace" and who lives for the funny and shallow, and the touching, and the weirdness....Not a showgirl, whose mommy has an in with some Broadway director and whose daddy has big bucks to pay for her private voice lessons and her expensive tour, who's every musical's lead and every theatre teacher's pet. She. Is. An. Actress. And when you watch the third video, (which hopefully you will watch in succession of the first two, for they are carefully placed, and I HIGHLY recommend each of them) you will understand what being an actress truly means.

Anna's All Things Classical and Jazz



I just felt like putting a lot of gorgeous viola pieces. I don't mean to video-overload, but, well...I think I officially possibly have decided that its my new favorite string instrument. There's just something so unique and very different about viola, how its played in tenor clef, how its rarely played -period- being not quite a violin, and not quite a cello, but retaining the richness and passion and depth of both in its own individual sort of way. Kind of funny how its always the weakest section in the orchestra, too. Anyway, here are four videos, that have something or somethings to be appreciated in each. I hope you enjoy them!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C54Ka_VrSxU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjZ7BK0jbzw

  Ashley's Philosophy Corner

     “When we have peace in our hearts and minds, we draw peace into our lives. ”

--Inspirational speaker, Iyanla Vanzant

     "It is okay to take life so seriously that you find yourself taking it lightly. It is not okay to take life so lightly that you find you cannot take it seriously."

     "That is human. Good and evil. Wickedness and deceit and greed. Kindness and selflessness and love. That is human. To love -then to hurt. But overall to love."

     "Teach me about something or someone good, stick me in front of a group of reviling prosecutors and make me defend that something, then tape my mouth shut and tie my hands behind my back -like setting me on fire and asking me not to burn." 

      "When you're the youngest you live your life watching previews. When you're the oldest you live your life watching reruns.When you're in the middle, life is sure to be an interesting show."

      "Simplicity can be a difficult thing to decipher."

     "...'nice' isn't a sufficient quality for friendship, but it’s a necessary one."

--Pamela Duckerman

   
      "I am no longer afraid to look at a human passing by in the eyes. I am no longer afraid to sit next to a  human on a bench and give them a nice 'Good afternoon!' I am no longer afraid to hold onto another human passing by, to not let them pass me by.Why should I be? I am a human, they are a human. And I am no longer afraid to be one. For I've realized, it is not so great a thing to be human. And yet -to be human is so great a thing."

   
     --Other quotes by Macy Adams

Austin's Funnies Corner

     

     Half the people you know are below average.

     The leader of the vegetarian society just couldn't control himself anymore. He just needed to try some pork, just to see what it tasted like. So one summer day he told his members he was going on a vacation. He packed out of town, and headed to the nearest restaurant. After sitting down, he ordered a roasted pig, and impatiently waited for his delicacy.

     After just a few minutes, he heard someone call his name, and to his great chagrin he saw one of his fellow members walking towards him. Just at that same moment, the waiter walked over, with a huge platter, holding a full roasted pig with an apple in it’s mouth.

      “Isn't that something,” says the leader after only a moments pause, “All I do is order an apple, and look what it comes with!”

      What if there were no hypothetical situations?

Alex's Random Awesome Corner


So, I'm saving up for a harp. Yes, I don't know how many years it's going to take in consideration of the thousands of dollars and the car and insurance and college that has to be paid for...but, I am doing it. Anyway, I was looking up harp songs and...well, I came upon these two that are just absolutely beautiful! You feel like you're sitting in a cloud in heaven when you listen to them. And one of them also has cello, which I also play, so is also very gorgeous. Anyway, I hope you like them. You might need to go to the doctor's or something if you don't, because they are so universally beautiful, I should hope you do :)
http://grooveshark.com/#!/search?q=A+Silver+Lining+harp
http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Sara+s+Dream/3g1Xi8?src=5

Anna's All Things Classical and Jazz

And, doing what I always seem to do as far as theming things, I will just share with you three more really beautiful harp pieces that are actual classical pieces by Debussy.

http://grooveshark.com/#!/search?q=Arabesque+No.+1+in+E+by+Claude+Debussy+harp
http://grooveshark.com/#!/search?q=The+Girl+with+the+Flaxen+Hair+Claude+Debussy+harp
http://grooveshark.com/#!/search?q=Reverie+Claude+Debussy+harp

     

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

Things That Never Die

The pure, the bright, the beautiful, 

That stirred our hearts in youth, 

The impulses to wordless prayer, 
The dreams of love and truth; 
The longing after something's lost, 
The spirit's yearning cry. 
The striving after better hopes; 
These things can never die. 

The timid hand stretched forth to aid 
A brother in his need, 
A kindly word in grief's dark hour 
That proves a friend indeed ; 
The plea for mercy softly breathed, 
When justice threatens nigh. 
The sorrow of a contrite heart, 
These things shall never die. 

Let nothing pass for every hand 
Must find some work to do, 
Lose not a chance to waken love; 
Be firm and just and true. 
So shall a light that cannot fade 
Beam on thee from on high, 
And angel voices say to thee,
These things shall never die.

    This poem by Charles Dickens has brought me to tears many times now. We're singing the song of it in choir, and while I don't think it's adequate (if adequacy in this case is possible), it is very beautiful. It's so difficult to describe the poem, and how it makes you feel, and I think it's different according to your own depth and understanding. But as I've realized, the reason why I have yet to be able to put it into words, is because what this poem talks about....there are no words, at least in this world, that you can use to describe. I could only describe it with feelings, if it was possible to make another feel what I do. If nothing else, I have come to understand now, what he was referring to. The depth of these....no eloquent words to to say what....but, will never die, because their depth is so that it pertains to the spirit. Our own spirits, which lived before they received bodies when we came to this earth, and will go on to live throughout the eternities when we leave our bodies behind. Just as our spirits will never die, these things shall never die. They touch us to our very core, because they touch our spirits. These things -shall never die!

    These things shall never die.

Austin's Funnies Corner

Funny. All there is to it. :)

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

Speaking of singing in choirs, this is my sister's choir when they went on tour to New York City and sang in a cathedral. It's just so flawless and lovely! (Refraining not to prolong the continuance of the overuse problem I have of the word beautiful.:)

And...speaking of choirs that my sister's in -oh hey! Whaddya know? There's another video of them at that cathedral which is really beautiful, (I slipped :) and amazing and the accoustics are incredible, and...yes. Do feel free to watch now. :)

Anna's All Things Classical and Jazz

Well, this song is...classical....ish....but we're playing in my orchestra, and it is by far my FAVORITE orchestral piece. Well, along with Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers, Ravel's Pavane, and a few other songs... But, it's like everything you could ever want in a song, all rolled into one. The perfect adventure song! Incredibly awesomely cool! Enjoy!

http://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10066401

P.S. Don't mind the weird highlighted thing. Contraptions. Am I right? :)

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

   "I could never be so happy as you. Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness."

--Elizabeth from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice 

    "The devil, who was clever, took to hating man. Man, who was more clever, took to loving woman."

--Victor Hugo in Les Miserables

    

Austin's Funnies Corner

    Everyone loved Priest John. He was a happy jolly fellow always willing to help or lend a hand. One time John was walking down the street humming a tune when he saw a little boy trying to reach the doorbell of a nearby house.  “Hey there sonny” said John “let me help you out”, and with that  John reached out and pressed the bell. “Anything else I can do for you,” asked John with a smile. “Yes” said the boy. “Run! We’ve only got a few seconds before they come!”   

    For a couple years I've been blaming it on lack of sleep, not enough sunshine, too much pressure from my job, earwax build-up, poor blood, or anything else I could think of. But now I found out the real reason: I'm tired because I'm overworked. Here's why: The population of this country is 273 million.

140 million are retired.

That leaves 133 million to do the work.

There are 85 million in school, which leaves 48 million to do the work.

Of this there are 29 million employed by the federal government, leaving 19 million to do the work.

2.8 million are in the armed forces preoccupied with killing Saddam Hussein. Which leaves 16.2 million to do the work.

Take from that total the 14,800,000 people who work for state and city governments, and that leaves 1.4 million to do the work.

At any given time there are 188,000 people in hospitals, leaving 1,212,000 to do the work.

Now, there are 1,211,998 people in prisons.

That leaves just two people to do the work. You and me. And there you are sitting, at your computer, reading jokes.

Nice, real nice.

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

This is awesome in a sad, sweet sort of way. But the kid's genuine, not trying to evoke pity, increase chances of stardom or anything of the sort -but just the simple talent in singing, and devotion and love he has for his mother, is what's so captivating and hear-warming. It makes me sad all the clapping and fanfare and how popular it's become just because I don't think he, nor his mother, would want this song that he wrote for her nor this precious moment of getting to share it, tainted. However, if it does good for people to see it, well, there's no harm in good. Anyway, not as an absolutely necessary part, but, excusing the Czech subtitles, :) a certainly worth-while and enriching suggestion for your experience. After watching this, they actually made a music video of I think him singing it, but it's all artistic and beautiful and it shows the grasslands and everything. If you weren't about to cry in the other one, after watching that, and then watching this, let's just say that will most likely not stay that way. Here's the link to watch it. (And I recommend that you do, because you will love it as much if not more.)  :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnSo-MuTQoc

Anna's All Things Classical and Jazz Corner

I play cello for this piece. And then to add ballet -you can't get more beautiful and lovely than this, folks.  :)

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

There is little one can say about this video. 

    "An inclination towards happiness is only the slight removal of blindness."

--Macy Adams

Austin's Funnies Corner

Sigh -so true. In some ways, anyway... :)

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

I share this because I recently saw the movie. It's PG13, which I was wary of, but I found it's only so,  because of the subject matter of World War II, so it's definitely still wholesome. But THIS WAS THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN, and I'm not just being dramatic, and it isn't because I don't get out much. I have seen A LOT of good movies in my day. A LOT. But this -this just exceeded them all. It was a beautiful and uplifting and inspiring and heart-wrenching experience. It touches your soul. When I left, my mother asked me if I had cried, and I told her quietly, that yes, I had cried. That I was still crying. And then as I walked, seeming to see the world with a whole new perspective, I could hardly speak. And throughout the night, I continued to cry every few minutes or so, remembering certain scenes. It looks pretty good, and that's what I thought, too -at first. But it is far better than that, I assure you. Far, far better than that.

Anna's All Things Classical and Jazz

This piece is absolutely beautiful. It has a way of lulling your soul into a reverie of beauty that you just find yourself lost in. We're playing it in my orchestra, and every time it just captivates you. Allow it to do the same for you -to truly depict the expressive dance of a princess. (It's a memorial for such.)

You don't have to listen to the whole thing, but there's a lot of good little moments, not to mention, ah -sweet jazz! Makes every night classier -the evening gowns, the fedoras, the glittering city lights, the ambiance -you just gotta love it. :)

And there's the -I LOVE- smooth and romantic vintage side to it, as well. That's the thing about jazz -about anything I suppose -is there are a LOT of ways to interpret it. And I love so many of them -so many aspects that the umbrella of jazz include. 'Cause it can really get distorted like a lot of other things, but this one -this one is wonderful, takes you back in time and reminds you of how wonderful and genuine life can really be.

And, for the last video -because this is after all, meant to explore classical and jazz- I have a link (since the video search up thing on here is kind of messed up and I can't seem to find the right one directly) to one more absolutely wonderful jazz video, from a wonderful musical movie that's has lot of FORMIDABLE (awesome in French) jazz in it. A 50s black society spin on Pollyanna -and a wonderful one, too. Anyway, I hope you enjoy -it's the most delightful little song, ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMeWaOZIzyw