zevsimon

[zevsimon]

According to several sources, Ludwig Von Beethoven’s Fur Elise: Bagatelle in A Minor WoO 59 is not only one of his more recognizable pieces but has also become one of the most taught and played piano pieces of all time. Beethoven labeled the piece a bagatelle, which means a thing of little importance. The piece is described as a rondo with an A-B-A-C-A structure, or the first section (theme A) is repeated within other sections (themes B and C).

Described as both whimsical and melancholy, Fur Elise has held the interest of music enthusiasts and scholars for other reasons, namely the person for which the work was written. At 40, when it was written, Beethoven’s hearing had worsened. He had also stopped performing live altogether at the time. After writing the piece in 1810 as a small piano piece, he shoved it into a drawer in 1822. Forty years after his passing in 1827, another Ludwig, Ludwig Nohl, found Beethoven’s Fur Elise and published it. Fur Elise’s lasting effect is because it is a simple piece easily taught to intermediate students while at the same time a melodic one leaving the listener with a sense of nostalgia.

The only reason the public knows that the song was about another person was that Beethoven scribbled the name on the composition, according to Nohl’s accounts. The many possible inspirations for this song have been reduced to three of the composer’s many female interests.

Previous to writing the composition, Beethoven befriended Elisabeth Rockel, an opera singer. There is no conclusive evidence that this person went by Elise, even though it might seem plausible. The affair was ended after Rockel married one of Beethoven’s rivals Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

One possibility explains the piece’s origins as a misunderstanding Nohl had upon reading the notes on the piece. Instead of writing Fur Elise, Beethoven wrote Fur Therese or Therese Malfatti. Malfatti was one of his students, one who he fell madly in love with to the point that he cleaned up his act to impress.

Malfatti was the daughter of a medical doctor who purportedly not only flirted with classical composer, but some say she instigated the whole affair. However, their affair did not last because of an incident caused when Beethoven had a little too much punch and became rude while visiting the Malfatti home. According to historical accounts, he actually proposed marriage to her, but she either outright rejected him or did so some time afterward.

Finally, the last possible woman for whom the piece might be written was Elisabet Barensfeld, a prodigy and possibly a student of Therese Malfatti. Barensfeld was often called Elise, and many think that Beethoven wrote it as a favor to Malfatti.

Of the three women, many scholars believe that Malfatti was most likely the person for which Beethoven wrote the piece. They did not think this because the two seemed to have the closest relationship with the three by historical accounts. Still, they surmised Malfatti was the inspiration for the piece because she owned the original composition until her passing.

History and scholars might never know the truth of for whom this piece was written. For those playing the song on the piano or listening to it, though, one can only imagine the pain, longing, and sentiment Beethoven felt while composing the music, note for note.

[zevsimon]

Natural World and Animals to the Public

CuriOdyssey, located in San Mateo, California, is a non-profit museum and zoo featuring exhibits and programs for adults and children. CuriOdyssey is involved with hosting field trips and launching programs designed for students attending underserved schools and populations. In addition to these programs, it has hosted several exhibits since being rebranded in 2011. Its animal exhibits provide visitors with the chance to see an array of animals in their natural habitats. CuriOdyssey was founded as a junior museum in 1953 and then rebranded 10 years ago. Since this time, the museum and zoo have been able to increase their annual attendance from just under 70,000 to an estimated 200,000 a year. In line with its humane values, the museum and zoo house almost 100 animals across the five classes with the intent of educating and inspiring the public to take an interest in learning more about these animals and taking care of the Earth. Most of the animals that are a part of these exhibits are native to California, but the museum also takes care of non-native animals. The animals that are a part of the exhibits are non-releasable in that they cannot be returned to their natural environment because they would not survive. Furthermore, the animals remain with CuriOdyssey for the rest of their lives. The great thing about the animal exhibits at CuriOdyssey is that visitors can wander through the naturalistic wildlife exhibits. This is an opportunity to tour the grounds independently to get an up-close look at these animals. The museum and zoo contain 20 exhibits designed to keep the needs of animals that live in the space a priority. For example, visitors to the museum can walk through a 4,000-foot aviary that is home to a dozen native birds. CuriOdyssey has also created the Animal Ambassador program to put a face on the environment and the animal's natural habitat. These animals help in imparting information about the web of life to visitors, in many cases walking with them as they tour the buildings or garden. Of course, an animal keeper accompanies the animal guides as they take visitors on a tour of the grounds. A past exhibit that illustrates the panoramic view that visitors get when visiting was the Creature FEETures outdoor exhibit that began in March 2021. This exhibit allowed visitors to learn about the anatomy of the world’s smallest creatures through the lens of Dr. Igor Siwanowicz, an acclaimed neurobiologist and biochemist who photographs tiny creatures. The images are taken with a digital camera and confocal microscope. In addition to the photographs, visitors could play with four of the exhibits, ones redesigned to be foot-operated. Visitors also got the chance to see adaptations of the creatures’ feet through life-size castings of their tracks. Outside of formal museum exhibits, visitors can also view these animals through CuriOdyssey’s virtual platform. Viewers can watch the habits of the museum and zoo’s bobcat and otter cams, available throughout the daytime, and they can see the barn owl through the cam, available at night. CuriOdyssey has come to be known as a place that has championed teaching children about science. The animal exhibit platform, in addition to the museum and zoo’s other programs, is just one spoke of the entire learning platform.

[zevsimon]

California’s Indigenous Snakes

California is home to dozens of snake varieties, including several venomous species. Identifying the region’s snakes requires knowledge of their appearance and natural habitat. Many California snakes are not endangered, and some varieties are popular household pets. The California mountain kingsnake is a banded and nonvenomous variety found across the state. Kingsnakes gained their name from their ability to eat other snakes. They live in varying ecosystems and eat a variety of small reptiles and mammals. Domesticated kingsnakes eat mice. These snakes reach up to 4 feet in length and live up to 15 years. Due to their tail rattling when threatened, they often are mistaken for rattlesnakes. Kingsnakes have muted coloration, such as brown and cream or black and yellow. However, domestic breeding practices have resulted in striking color patterns, including bright orange. The coachwhip is another snake breed commonly found in California. These snakes prefer hot, dry landscapes, so they are commonly found in the desert. Coachwhips have a speckled appearance and often come in shades of red, silver, and tan, with flecks of black. The snakes are easily recognized by their tails, which are tightly coiled and tapered. Coachwhips are common sights on roadways on sunny days. The snakes bite if aggravated but are not aggressive or venomous. The Pacific gopher snake, named for its propensity to consume rodents, can imitate a rattlesnake when on the defensive. Its markings also are similar to the diamond pattern on rattlesnakes. However, gopher snakes are noticeably thinner with more reflective scales. These snakes have adapted well to humans and can be found in gardens and other habitats. They can grow up to 5 feet long and live up to 20 years in captivity. The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is a venomous snake common in the Northwest. Its patterns are dull and earth-toned for better camouflage. These snakes can live up to three decades. Unlike the gopher snake and coachwhip, Northern Pacific rattlesnakes are nocturnal. Instead, they hunt rodents and smaller reptiles. Rattlesnakes live in a variety of habitats, from deserts to grasslands and forests. They are best known for the rattling sound they make by vibrating the end of their tails. The snake's rattle gains a new layer each time it sheds its skin. The rattles eventually can break off, so a rattle’s length is not accurately indicating the snake’s age. Although rattlesnakes are not endangered, they often are killed unnecessarily due to their frightening reputation. While rattlesnakes are venomous, they are not aggressive. Rattlesnake bites are medical emergencies but rarely fatal. The best way to avoid a rattlesnake bite is to stay clear of the snake’s vicinity since its striking distance is usually less than 2 feet. Three of the eight reptiles on California's endangered species list are snakes. The worm-line Southern Rubber Boa is only found around the mountains of San Bernardino and San Jacinto. It lives in forested areas where it can find natural hiding spots amongst dead logs. The Alameda Striped Racer is mostly found in Central California. It is patterned with bold bright yellow and orange stripes. While racers are not poisonous, they become aggressive if threatened. Finally, Giant Garter Snakes make their home in wetlands and rice fields. As their name suggests, they are much larger than the average garter snake and can grow more than five feet long.