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 

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

How beautiful and sweet this video is! (How wonderful this choir is!) And how much young boys are in need of help and guidance during these difficult times of violence and corruption and political unrest. What a blessing it is to know that God is there watching over us -watching over them.

Austin's Funnies Corner

I don't expect you to burst out laughing to the point of crying or anything, but what's funny is how much effort -how high quality all of it is, and then to pair that with the ridiculousness, (if you know the real story, this is...a rather amusing version... :) I hope you see fit to laugh at least once, as I did. 

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

Article of Faith #13    

"...if  there is anything lovely of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

   

     Just because I recently discovered this Libera choir (and am now in love with), I am going to share with you two more of their videos, because you have to admit, they are very awesome. And how sweet the boys! (I've never met them in real life, so I can't really say, but they seem genuine), and how good their cause, meaningful their songs, and quality of their voices and production. So I thought you wouldn't mind (since they are after all magnificent). I hope you enjoy them!  

Anna's All Things Classical and Jazz

    As far as Jazz goes, I was reading a book on the Harlem Renaissance, and picked up some fun terms from the time. Hope you like them!

Sayings:

Busting your conk -to apply yourself or use your brain really hard (like working on a math problem or such)

Togged to the bricks -when you're all dressed up, spiffy like

Jumps or Shouts -During the time, they'd have jazz get-togethers, and took to calling them by these names, which I find very appropriate. :)

Chitterling Struts -Also during the time, for jazz get-togethers, the jazz pianists would come and kind of unofficially compete, face off and try to see who was better. Everyone had a wonderful time during these. 

"Get in the gully and give us the everlovin' stomp!" - During the jazz get-togethers or parties, when dawn would come and they had been playing all through the night and were exhausted, everyone would cry out once more to play just a little longer and cheer them on, and so they'd shout this phrase to encourage them.

"Trip the light fantastic" -to go down to a dance emporium

Dance Moves:

• the Charleston
• the Droll Black Bottom
• the Shim-Sham-Shimmy
• the Pixie-Like Truckin'
• (most popular) the Lindy Hop 
• the Jitterbug (later evolved version of the Lindy Hop)
• the Suzy Q

    *Don't ask me to demonstrate. :)

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

    "Something that has taken me a great deal to learn, is that the battle between good and evil does not exist, except within people. To say a man is evil is to give blind disregard for everything they've been through, every scar they carry with them, every value that was lost at childhood, and to repress whatever good is present. To say a man is good is to give blind disregard for every gross mistake and shadow, and every scar that they carry with them. But if a man can look upon another man, however much good or evil resides in him, and learn to see only the good, and then learn to love him for it... then, and only then can we have hope for the generation. Then we can know that there was some evil rooted out of the both of them that day."

--Macy Adams  

Austin's Funnies Corner

   (Answers at the bottom.)

    In California, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not?

    What was the president's name in 1975?

    

    Two men met at a bus stop and struck up a conversation.

One of them kept complaining of family problems.

Finally, the other man said: “You think you have family problems? Listen to my situation:

“A few years ago I met a young widow with a grown-up daughter.

We got married and I got myself a stepdaughter.

Later, my father married my stepdaughter.

That made my stepdaughter, my step-mother.

And my father became my stepson.

Also, my wife became mother-in-law of her father-in-law.

Much later, the daughter of my wife, my stepmother, had a son.

This boy was my half-brother because he was my father’s son.

But he was also the son of my wife’s daughter which made him my wife’s grandson.

That made me the grandfather of my half-brother.

This was nothing until my wife and I had a son.

Now the half-sister of my son, my stepmother, is also the grandmother.

This makes my father, the brother-in-law of my child, whose stepsister is my father’s wife, I am my stepmother’s brother-in-law, my wife is her own child’s aunt, my son is my father’s nephew and I am my OWN GRANDFATHER!”

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

(Recently Changed)

Anna's All Things Classical and Jazz

    I think these pictures, (not mine, only gathered mind you) very finely represent a beautiful blend inside of people. I don't know if it necessarily goes for everyone, but at least with me -a part of me knows I need to be disciplined and conduct myself cordially and be kind and gracious, gentle and refined -and yet another part of me  is whimsical and spontaneous, yearns for revolution, change, fun, freedom and spirit! It's a delicate balance I carry, for if one were to squelch your 'classical side' may I call it, you would become reckless, susceptible to weakness and to becoming wild and disagreeable, or irresponsible. (This is often the tipped side as an adolescent.) But if you had no 'jazz side' then you would lose the joy in the journey, become stiff and/or judgmental, lose the laughter and the music in life. And, knowing this, it kind of gives you a new appreciation for these genres of music. The general discourses of people of this generation have deemed classical music boring. (I'd hardly call it that at all!) They think all it's for is for putting to sleep, but that's mostly because music now days has not only lost refinement, (that was lost in the 20s) but its genuine nature as well. These composers had brilliant minds, and they put their whole heart and soul into their music, with grand ideas, fantastical dreams, all sorts of complex and incredibly entertainingly orchestrated pieces of music. And there's tens of thousands of compositions to choose from! Classical music carries much more of the human spirit than people now days sitting around a recording studio pushing buttons and making money off of worldly 'mediaized'  'stars'. Then there's jazz! Born in the most oppressed, trodden under, and downcast part of the world within the black communities, it was their way of crying out and expressing themselves with a new sort of  uncharted and free way, that caught onto the rest of the community, country, and then world, and that carried with it the human spirit just as much. With all the intense emotion going on, they were able to turn it around and into music, incredible music, still as complex and brilliant, but meant to express a different part of you. I hope after reading this, you will someday be just a little bit more swayed to listen to the classical station while you do your bills because of its stimulating focus, just for a few minutes, or maybe to put jazz music in the background of your power point to give it that fun feel that you want. Or even when you want to dance, jazz is the most natural thing in the world to dance to, and I'm pretty sure it can be scientifically proven that it does something to you that just makes every part of you want to dance! There truly is plenty of joy in the journey to be found! All you have to do is look around a little and you can find your life  greatly enriched in ways you never expected.

Answers:

You need a camera to take a picture.

Barack Obama. It hasn't changed.