This blog is used to send Grandma my Omnibus assignments for review. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:56:00 -0500 Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:56:00 -0500             Hector Berlioz, a French Romantic composer, was born in France at La Côte-Saint-André near Grenoble on December 11, 1803. His father was a physician and his mother a pious catholic woman. He studied music at age twelve, rather old for a composer in his time. He had taught himself the guitar and flute in his younger year, but never the piano. His father disapproved of Hector’s career in music, and sent him to Paris to study in medicine. Hector was uninterested and left to study composition. He attended the Paris Conservatoire in 1826 and studied under the teachings of Jean-François Lesueur. Four years later, 1830, won the Prix de Rome, a scholarship of arts. Age twenty-three, Hector attended Hamlet, where he fell head-over-heals in love with Ophelia, Irish actress Harriet Smithson. Oddly enough, the opera was in English, language not familiar to Hector. He wrote her letters, but she had nothing to do with him. In this incident, Hector composed of the Symphonie fantastique It is of a young man (himself) with unrequited love toward a beautiful maiden (Harriet). It was first performed in 1830. He then traveled to Rome for two years for study. Hector returned to Paris, there meeting with Harriet Smithson. She attended the Symphonie Fantastique performance, realizing during the performance that the piece was of her. They married a year later in 1833. The following Harriet bore a son, Louis. Louis Berlioz became the captain of a merchant marine ship. He died in Havana Cuba of yellow fever in 1867. Their marriage ended in 1844, yet Hector supported and visited her and his son from time to time throughout her life until her death in 1854. Hector remarried in 1854 to Marie Recio, a singer who lived and traveled with him. 1847, Hector was appointed as orchestra conductor at London Drury-Lane Theatre. He was a famous conductor as well. He traveled to Germany, France, and Russia to conduct operas and symphonic music, both of his own work and others. He wrote several vocal works such as Roméo et Juliette (symphony). It was a great success, unlike some of his other vocal works, “Les Troyens” (opera) and “La Damnation de Faust”. Hector himself said Roméo et Juliette was his favorite among his work. Hector also wrote a song cycle, Les nuits d'été and a concertante symphony, Harold in Italy. Hector took on writing musical criticism for Paris publications, primarily “Le Journal des Debats”. This helped him pay off debts for himself and Harriet. He did this for over thirty years. Hector Berlioz died in Paris at age 66, on March 8, 1869. He is buried by his two wives, Harriet and Marie, who died in 1862 in the Cimetiere de Montmartre. I must say, I am head-over-heels for his Symphonie fantastique. I can’t explain exactly why it grips me, but I love how it starts out slow then unexpectedly speeds up with the drum roll followed by the clarinets. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/374610/ Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:56:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/374610/ Comprehension Questions:   1.  How do the following categories intersect: church member (baptized), non-church member, Christian, elect, non-elect?  Elect, Christian, and Church member (baptized). 2.  Explain why you cannot be a good Christian if you neglect the Church, using both chapters 25 & 26?  Because the Head of the Church is Christ and to neglect the Church is to neglect Christ; unless the Church is corrupt in its teachings… I hope that suffices. I couldn’t exactly get a good outlook on what they want in those two chapters. Maybe you can read in those chapters and see for yourself if ya want to… http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/index.html 3.  Why is church discipline (or censure) necessary?  Church censures are necessary, for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren, for preventing others from the like offenses, for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump, for justifying the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the Gospel, and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the Church. 4.  What are the responsibilities of church councils?  To consult and advise about matters of religion: to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his Church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same Why do you think it is important to have church governments above local churches?  The church government makes sure its "family" of churches are on the same page on their point of views concerning Scripture. As for the local churches, they go off on their own views; not having anybody to steer them in the right direction if heading down the wrong path. So, like the missionary churches have a "church government" where they come together and discuss their teachings and views and correct their wrongs, if any. 5.  From where does the authority of synods and councils come?  The Church officers and magistrate(s) When may they be disregarded?  When related to civil affairs which concern the commonwealth 6.  Is it enough for Christians to believe in the immortality of the soul?  Not only believing in the immortality of the soul, but Heaven, upon which the soul is sent after departure. There, the soul if judged by God to either enter the Kingdom of Heaven or be thrown into the pits of hell. 7.  Who will be resurrected on the last day?  At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed: and all the dead shall be raised up, with the selfsame bodies, and none other (although with different qualities), which shall be united again to their souls forever. 8.  How is the nature of God revealed in the last judgment?  The manifestation of the glory of His mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the ****ation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient 9.  Can (or should) we predict when Christ will return?  No, but we must be alert and prepared. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/373984/ Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:02:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/373984/ Egypt: The Art of the Immortality                         Ramesses II was the third Egyptian of the nineteenth dynasty. He ruled from 1279 to 1213 B.C. and was one of the greatest Egyptian pharaohs to reign. He was born in 1303 BC (possibly February 22nd) as the second child to the pharaoh Seti I and his queen Tuya. He had one sibling, a sister Princess Tia. At age 14, he was appointed by his father as Prince Regent. He reigned in his father’s place in 1279 BC. His reign lasted 67 years, longest reign of the pharaohs. He married eight women barring the title Great Royal wives and had countless others and sired more then 100 children. Nefertari was one of his wives, the most famous and important of his consorts. The tomb of Nefertari is referred to as one of the greatest achievements of Egyptian art.             Ramesses II is known for the Battle of Kedash. He built the city Per-Ramesses for the manufacturing of the weapons, shields, and chariots. The time came to march out to battle. He was tricked by some spies, who told him Hittite king was miles away. The spies were forced to tell them the King and his thousands of armies were just beyond the valley waiting to attack. Ramesses hardly had time to gather his divided army before the enemy attacked. The battle was crazy, both gaining nothing. Ramesses had to retreat back, for the battle loss. A peace treaty was later made between the two countries, dating to be the first peace treaty ever accomplished.             Ramesses II died in 1213 BC and buried in the Valley of the Kings. He was later moved to the mummy cache at Deir el-Bahri. His mummy was discovered in 1881. They examined the mummy and scientific analysis revealed battle wounds and old fractures, as well as the pharaoh's arthritis and poor circulation. His last years, he suffered arthritis in his back, causing a hunched back. Also, the mummy was found to still have hair, red hair in fact. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/373284/ Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:26:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/373284/             Franz Peter Schubert was born in Vienna, Austria in January 31, 1797. His parents were Franz Theodor Florian and Elizabeth Vietz Schubert. His father taught at his schoolhouse on the Himmelpfortgrund. He taught Franz little of what he knew of music. At age seven, his first instructor was Michael Holzer; he did little to improve his knowledge on music, but gave him the opportunity to practice on many beautiful fortes in a warehouse.             October 1808, he attended Stadtkonvikt as a pupil {the Imperial religious boarding house} through a scholarship. He played in an amateur orchestra, with him and his two brothers and father. Franz played the viola. A man named Antonio Salieri recognized his talent and gave him lessons to improve his knowledge of composition. During his time at the boarding house, Franz wrote his first of nearly his thousand written compositions; his first symphony (D. 82), a cantata (D. 110), and an octet for wind instruments (D. 72/72a). This was said to commemorate the death of his mother in 1812.             1813, left school and became a teacher at his father’s school. A couple years later in 1816, a man named Franz von Schober offered Franz to leave and lodge with him. He did so and gave lessons of music there.  But he later stopped giving lessons and devoted himself to just writing compositions.             Schubert hardly performed in public. He was known, though, for throwing the best of parties, there did he perform. Though he wrote nearly a thousand compositions, his work was appreciated years after his death. And it is very impressive composing as much as he did dieing at the age of only 31. And I must add he was only 5’ 1 ½’’.             Franz had fallen in love with a young girl, Therese Grob; she had an excellent soprano voice and sang Franz’s first completed mass {Mass in F (D.105)}. They were to marry in 1816, but were refused by a law concerning the male needing enough to provide for a family. Unfortunately, Franz was and always had been broke and couldn’t exactly afford to marry. They were forced to part and Franz was absolutely heartbroken.             Schubert, with the help of his friends, got his work out in public. One of them, Johann Michael Vogl, a famous baritone, sang some of his songs in salons in Vienna. Franz did however perform at parties. The Sonnleithner family was kind enough to let Franz have free access to their home. They even threw many parties on his behalf. There, he was the life of the party and performed his works while people danced and listened and had a good ‘ole time.             The remainder of Franz’s life is little known but through his works, and there is plenty of them. The reason being his wrote so many songs, I believe, is that that was the only thing he really did in his life. He had no real on-going job; his friends willingly helped him out whenever money was an issue.             In 1820, Franz began on his unfinished oratorio, “Lazarus”. Also, the Quartettsatz in C minor (D. 703), “Wanderer fantasy” for piano (D. 760), and two operas: Die Zwillingsbrüder (D.647) on June 14, and Die Zauberharfe (D.644) on August 19. He had little amateur orchestra play hi works. A man named Antonio Diabelli hesitantly agreed to publish some of Franz work. The process was later ceased and Franz began to receive the meager pittance, which were all the publishing house ever accorded to him. The public just didn’t seem to be drawn in as easy.             In 1822-1825 were Franz’s darkest years. Nothing seemed to go right and no one would take in his works. Several operas were rejected, or stopped the performances within days of release. Though, Franz did in 1823 did his first song cycle, Die schöne Müllerin, after poems by Wilhelm Müllen. He also began his “Unfinished” Symphony {Symphony No. 8 in B minor (D. 759)} in 1822. No one is for certain exactly why he never completed it. He also composed Mass in A flat (D. 678).             1825 and onward were brighter years for Franz. For 1825, a pleasant holiday was being celebrated in Upper Austria and to his surprise Franz was welcomed with delight. 1826, completed Symphony No. 9 (D. 944), but as later refurbished for performance in ’28. He completed “Death and the Maiden”, String Quartet in D minor (D. 894, Op. 78) in winter of 1825-26. Following year, Fantasia for piano and violin in C (D. 934) and Song for Miriam, Mass in E flat (D. 956).             Franz had been sick with syphilis in 1822. His health declined since. He came down with other symptoms, most likely the typhoid fever to end it. There was also a hint of mercury poisoning as well. Franz Schubert died at age 31 on November 19, 1828. At 3 p.m., “someone observed that he had ceased to breathe.” He had been staying in the care of his brother, Ferdinand at the time in his apartment in Vienna. At his request, he was buried next to Beethoven in the Währing cemetery. His remains was moved, along with Beethoven’s, to the Zentralfriedhof in 1888. In 1872, a memorial was erected to Franz Schubert in Vienna’s Stadtpark. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/372853/ Mon, 13 Aug 2007 19:14:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/372853/ Writing: The Sacraments.  The Sacraments, to me, are the union of God and man. They are performed for the presentation of Christ being in us and His benefits of Him dwelling in us. The two sacraments which are celebrated are the Lord’s Supper and the baptism. They are the holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace.             Baptism is a way of saying “I’m in!” Being baptized is the newness of being a Christian. It signifies one as regenerated, the forgiveness of sins, and the giving up one’s life to follow after Christ. It is to be done with the pouring or sprinkling of water. The renewed person is to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit by a minister in the Gospel.             It is not tied into the regeneration of a person; one can meet Jesus after giving up his life and still not baptized. Baptism to me is just a signification of one being truly reborn and cleansed. Yet, refusing to be baptized is a sin; this is disobedience toward Jesus’ instructions. Also, the baptism is of the Lord. In other words, a newly reborn Christian does not need water for baptism right away. It is of the Lord’s time and will be done when is necessary. Baptism should be done once by one person in his lifetime.             The Lord’s Supper is a way of saying we are still one with Christ and continue to grow in Him. It is also a remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion the cross. “…This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me…This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” – Romans 11:24-25. Christ is not offered up to His Father. Christ offered Himself by Himself for all. On the night before His crucifixion, He used the bread being His body and the wine His blood; as it says in Matthew 26: 28: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” The Lord’s Supper is celebrated by communion: taking and eating the bread and drinking the wine. His followers take in the elements by faith and spiritually receiving and feeding upon Christ crucified, and all benefits of His death. Transubstantiation is the view of the bread and wine of Christ actually becoming the body and blood of Christ when in prayer by the pope. This view, I and the Confession states, is false. It goes against Scripture and cancels out common sense, as well. And such as the refusing of the baptism, it is a sin when one does not take the Lord’s Supper seriously. One is committing sin when one does not have faith and yet takes the bread and wine. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/371264/ Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:54:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/371264/             Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. His parents were Johann and Magdelena Keverich van Beethoven. His father was his first tutor in his early years. Unfortunately, his father was an alcoholic. Beethoven did become a tenor singer in the Electoral Court.             1779, Beethoven became the protégé of Christian Gottlob Neefe. He taught Ludwig composition. In 1781, he was an assistant organist and in ’84, a paid employee of the court chapel. Beethoven’s first three piano sonatas were published in 1783. The Elector, Maximilian Franz recognized his talents and helped support him through his couple rough years to come.             1787, traveled to Vienna, but cut short by his mother’s poor health, who later died. He had to stay home for the next several years to take care of his younger brothers, for his father went head-over-heels in his alcohol addiction. Beethoven even got legal order by which half of his father’s income paid to himself for family support. Beethoven also pursued a violin career in the court orchestra.             With the help of the Elector, Beethoven went to Vienna in 1792. There he studied performed piano concertos. He was under the teaching of Haydn, but he left in 1794 to England. Beethoven stayed in Vienna with the help of other financial supporters.             Ludwig had his first public performance in Vienna, 1795, with the Second Piano Concerto. Same year, the first of his compositions were published, to which he assigned an opus number, the piano trios of Opus 1. In 1800-02, he wrote the First and Second Symphonies; and in 1800, his first six quartets.             1801, Beethoven’s hearing began to fail him. He suffered a severe case of tinnitus. The actual cause is unknown, but many say it is of high levels of lead poisoning. Because of this mishap, Beethoven became depressed and had suicide on his mind. He moved out of Vienna to Heiligenstadt, a small Austrian town.             The “Middle period” (or “Heroic”) began in Beethoven’s lifetime after his hearing left him, in 1802. He declared he wanted something different in his work. He started out with “Eroica” Symphony in E flat. Later he composed the opera Fidelio, Third through Eight Symphonies, string quartets 7-11, the Violin Concerto, and the Waldstein and Appassionata piano sonatas. In 1812, Beethoven’s “middle period” ended with his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies and third version of Fidelio. During this time, Beethoven’s popularity was at its peak. Beethoven turned to writing many string quartets. He wrote Fourteenth Quartet, op. 131 in C# Minor, which is said to be his greatest work in Schubert’s view.             Beethoven wrote the last few Quartets during his failing health. His last completed work was the final movement of the Thirteenth Quartet. 1821, Beethoven caught a serious case of jaundice, a sign of his liver failure. In 1825, he was bedridden and ill for a month. He soon recovered, only in December of 1826 he fell ill again, having four minor operations to relieve ascites. Unfortunately he fell into an unconscious state dieing that same day on March 26, 1827. He was buried in the Währinger cemetery, west of Vienna. His remains were then moved in 1888 to the Zentralfriedhof. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/371177/ Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:54:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/371177/             Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria on January 27, 1756 to Leopold and Maria Anna Pertl Mozart. His father, Leopold, was a music teacher; the deputy Kapellmeister to the court orchestra of the Archbishop in Salzburg. He recognized Wolfgang’s talents early. Leopold taught the child music his first few years. Mozart is said to have written two compositions by age five.             Mozart began touring Europe with his father in 1762, starting in Munich at the Court of the Elector of Bavaria, then the Imperial Court I Vienna and Prague. Then another tour involving Paris, London, Mannheim, and Munich for 3 and a half years. London, he met Johann Christian Bach. He was one of the greatest influences on Mozart. Mozart then performed in Vienna in 1767 and remained there until the end of 1768, there catching smallpox.             Mozart took on three tours in Italy. During those tours he wrote three opera pieces: Mitridate Rè di Ponto (1770), Ascanio in Alba (1771), and Lucio Silla (1772). All performed in Mulin. There he also became an important member of the Academia Filarmonica of Bologna.             1777, Mozart toured accompanied with his mother through Europe. Unfortunately, his mother died the following year. Mozart did though met and almost married Aloysia Weber, but broke the relationship with him. He ended up marrying her sister, Constanze Weber {1763-1842} on August 4, 1782. They had six children, only two boys survived childhood.             1782, Mozart became the Konzertmeister for the Archbishop Colloredo. Yet, it did not work out between the two, so Mozart became a freelance in his music career. In 1781, his first great opera work, Idomeneo, was performed in Munich. 1783, completed Mass in C Minor in Salzburg, having his wife be the lead female solo voice piece. This is said to have written to please Mozart’s father, whom did not appreciate their marriage or Constanze herself.             1782, mozart became acquainted with Haydn. Together they played in string quartets. They both praised each other, and Mozart dedicated to him six sets of quartets. During these years, Mozart had been performing solo in piano concertos, making a nice sizable porfit. These were also the last years Mozart really did a lot of composing and performing.             1789, Mozart toured with his patron Prince Karl Lichnowsky. They went to Prague, Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden. In Prague, said to be Mozart’s favorite city, he performed for the King of Prussia himself. In Dresden, he performed for Elector Friedrich August III of Saxony and wife Amalie. That trip earned him a snuff-box with 100 ducats.             Mozart’s death has never revealed itself. Many have their opinions on how he died, such as of illness or poisoned by someone. The illness that could have taken him was rheumatic fever. He had caught it several times as a child. The sickness does have a tendency to reoccur and leaving damages of rampant infections and heart valve damage. So, he did die on December 5, 1791. His burial is even unknown. Mozart had been writing on a piece, Requiem, before his death. It was never completed. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/370802/ Thu, 9 Aug 2007 16:54:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/370802/ Text Analysis:   1.  What are the types of law, and which apply to us?  The ten commandments consists of two types of law: the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the other six, our duty to man   What is the purpose of this law in the Covenant of Grace?  2.  What are Christians liberated from?  From the guilt of sin, and condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law; and, in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin; from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting ****ation.   What are they liberated to?  To God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind.   3.  When and why are we obligated to follow human commands and traditions?  We are to follow their commands and such, unless it involves disobedience toward God.   4.  According to the Confession, must every aspect of worship be explicitly commanded in Scripture?  Do you agree with the Confession?  What does it mean for something to be “explicitly commanded”?  I'm not exactly sure what they mean by this... 5.  Suppose you have a friend who says, “I love Sundays - after church I can relax and have the whole afternoon to myself.”  According to the Confession, is he keeping the Sabbath? Why or why not?  No, for as I see it, he is having the whole Sunday afternoon revolving around him and not of praising God; for that is what the Sabbath {or Sundays} are for, praising God.   6.  When, if ever, are we obligated to take an oath?  Upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calls God to witness what he asserts, or promises, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he swears.   A vow?  When out of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want, whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/370055/ Wed, 8 Aug 2007 01:17:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/370055/ Progymnasmata   Mistress Anne Askew, daughter of Sir William Askew, Knight of Lincolnshire             “I for one must start off as to say I have not described or condemned the priests of the papal of any evil nature. Christopher Dare himself only put words into my mouth. For, my only point was to get a crossed, was I would refer to read five lines from the Scriptures instead of hearing five masses. All I was saying was I find it more appealing in the Bible than of their lips.             “Sir Dare, who hath questioned me on this opinion of mine he heard of, referred to my point as ‘if the evil priest ministered, it was the devil not God’. I only answered him I had said no such thing. In turn, I did tell him the evil priest’s ministry fell on deaf ears and did not hurt my faith, for it is in spirit that I receive the good news of Christ.”   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/369509/ Tue, 7 Aug 2007 15:52:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/369509/   A question to consider:   ·        What are repentance and faith, and what are their roles in salvation and in the Christian life?  Repentance: the act of giving up sinful behavior; Faith: the act of believing in something one cannot see. Salvation rests in these to acts. One must repent and then have faith in the one they repented to.   Text Analysis:   1.    From where does faith come?  The work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts.   2.       What exactly is involved in “having faith”?  To believe what is written in the Word and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.   3.       How are people moved to repentance?  The sinner realizes his sinful behavior and so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God.   4.      Does salvation depend on true repentance?  Yes.   5.    To whom must we confess our sin?  To God. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/369502/ Tue, 7 Aug 2007 15:41:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/paigewhite/369502/