Robert Bateman - Mossy Branches - Spotted Owl,

Robert Bateman's "Mossy Branches - Spotted Owl" --Beautiful work! This link allows you to zoom in to see the details of this painting. 

Mossy Branches - Spotted Owl, © Robert Bateman

Following is a link to our   Picassa Web Album of Robert Bateman Paintings. These will be the paintings we will be viewing this summer.  Though they are copyrighted we have been given permission to copy them for educational use.  

Books of paintings by Robert Bateman 

Continuing with "The Creation" oratorio by Franz Joseph Haydn -  
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8omYmytYvlo&feature=related
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S03cwGuw43s&feature=related  there are two places with nude artwork that you may want to minimize the screen for and just listen, from 04:28-05:15 and 06:33-06:48.  
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=JYvdjGzlNYc
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=ucr4VikNxQw
Part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=WFs18ayIg5Y
Part 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=-ul_KX2AV1U
Part 7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQ0_HnJYuc
Part 8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=JZFeA-INyV4 (Part 8 does include lots of nude artwork depicting Adam and Eve from about 00:32-04:15. You may want to minimize the screen and just listen.  Also footage of a Lion attacking a Wildebeast which might be too graphic for young or sensitive children - you could minimize when the lions start stalking at about 07:45 and continue to listen until this part is past- about 08:12).
Part 9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRlL_0rTgsM&feature=related
Part 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKIYumIqvBQ&feature=related  (01:55-02:12 includes a piece of artwork of a person without clothes)
Part 11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=5lhp86YCQUQ (Part 11 from minute 06:52-08:05 focuses on a drawing of Adam and Eve without clothes - if this bothers you, just minimize for that minute....)
Part 12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJXb2H4J268&feature=related


The following are short biographical sketches of Franz Joseph Haydn's life:
Composer Franz Joseph Haydn
8Notes Franz Joseph Haydn
Wikipedia Hanz Joseph Haydn

Phillis Wheatley had a beautiful and humble attitude toward what God had brought into her life, seeing the gift through the pain - 

On Being Brought from Africa to America

'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic die."
Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

Robert Bateman - Great Blue Heron,

The Blue Heron is one of my favorite birds.  Here is a lovely painting of one by our artist for this season, Robert Bateman.

Great Blue Heron - © Robert Bateman

Following is a link to the paintings we will be viewing this summer:   Picassa Web Album of Robert Bateman Paintings. Though they are copyrighted we have been given permission to copy them for educational use.  

 I'd like to revisit Franz Joseph Haydn, partly because I'd like my children to experience again the wonderful oratorio - The Creation, but I like his other works as well and think that they are worth studying more than once.  
Here is a nice children's biography by Opal Wheeler, Joseph Haydn - the Merry Little Peasant.



 Franz Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer during the Classical Period.  He is often called the "Father of the Symphony".  One of my favorites works by Haydn is his oratorio "The Creation".  This oratorio is long and you may want to watch a bit each day for the next two or three weeks.   Much of this is taken directly from scripture and some comes from John Milton's "Paradise Lost". The music itself beautifully parallels the words and describes the creation with sound.  From the very beginning sounds, starting with chaos until God says "Let there be light," you can almost hear the light burst forth.  When we listened I photocopied an enlarged copy of the words from the booklet in the CD for my children so they could follow along.  I tried unsuccessfully to find the words online. The Following link is an overview of this oratorio.  It includes detailed descriptions of this oratorio  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Creation_(Haydn).  If you don't plan to listen to the whole thing I would recommend Part 3 as a sample.  It is from Day 3 of Creation or you might enjoy Part 7 which has lots of animals.  This video intersperses the musicians with beautiful and fitting photography.  You can listen to the whole oratorio in about 10 minutes a day for twelve days.  I will be featuring this oratorio for four weeks to give time to listen to the whole thing (three sessions per week).


Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8omYmytYvlo&feature=related
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S03cwGuw43s&feature=related  there are two places with nude artwork that you may want to minimize the screen for and just listen, from 04:28-05:15 and 06:33-06:48.  
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=JYvdjGzlNYc
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=ucr4VikNxQw
Part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=WFs18ayIg5Y
Part 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=-ul_KX2AV1U
Part 7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQ0_HnJYuc
Part 8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=JZFeA-INyV4 (Part 8 does include lots of nude artwork depicting Adam and Eve from about 00:32-04:15. You may want to minimize the screen and just listen.  Also footage of a Lion attacking a Wildebeast which might be too graphic for young or sensitive children - you could minimize when the lions start stalking at about 07:45 and continue to listen until this part is past- about 08:12).
Part 9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRlL_0rTgsM&feature=related
Part 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKIYumIqvBQ&feature=related  (01:55-02:12 includes a piece of artwork of a person without clothes)
Part 11 http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=5lhp86YCQUQ (Part 11 from minute 06:52-08:05 focuses on a drawing of Adam and Eve without clothes - if this bothers you, just minimize for that minute....)
Part 12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJXb2H4J268&feature=related


The following are short biographical sketches of Franz Joseph Haydn's life:
Composer Franz Joseph Haydn
8Notes Franz Joseph Haydn
Wikipedia Hanz Joseph Haydn


The following is a link to an article that discusses the difficulties that came because this work which was originally done in German has been translated into English by someone who didn't know English very well. http://www.neiljenkins.info/documents/thecreation.pdf

Our new poet is Phillis Wheatley - following are a couple of biographical sketches:
Phillis Wheatley - Bio
Phillis Wheatley - Wikipedia
The Famous People - Phillis Wheatley

    On Virtue

By Phillis Wheatley

O thou bright jewel in my aim I strive

To comprehend thee. Thine own words declare

Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach.

I cease to wonder, and no more attempt

Thine height t’explore, or fathom thy profound.

But, O my soul, sink not into despair,

Virtue is near thee, and with gentle hand

Would now embrace thee, hovers o’er thine head.

Fain would the heaven-born soul with her converse,

Then seek, then court her for her promised bliss.

Auspicious queen, thine heavenly pinions spread,

And lead celestial Chastity along;

Lo! now her sacred retinue descends,

Arrayed in glory from the orbs above.

Attend me, Virtue, thro’ my youthful years!

O leave me not to the false joys of time!

But guide my steps to endless life and bliss.

Greatness, or Goodness, say what I shall call thee,

To give an higher appellation still,

Teach me a better strain, a nobler lay,

O Thou, enthroned with Cherubs in the realms of day!

Jacob von Rueysdale - Landscape with a Brook, Georg Philipp Telemann - Twelve Fantasias for Flute No. 2, A.A.Milne - The Dormouse and the Doctor

This painting by Jacob Von Rueysdale is different from so many others with it's warm yellows and browns and no water in sight....  I think the details are fun - with the traveler in the red jacket and his dog.

Landscape with a Traveler

Next week as June begins I will be featuring our new artist, musician and poet.  Robert Bateman will be our artist.  Following is a link to my   Picassa Web Album of Robert Bateman Paintings. These will be the paintings we will be viewing this summer in case you want to get some printed ahead.  Though they are copyrighted we have been given permission to copy them for educational use. 


 Twelve Fantasias for Flute No. 2  By Georg Philipp Telemann

Here is a link to a playlist of music by Georg Philipp Telemann.  It's almost 4 hours long.  We've been enjoying it as background music. 

The Dormouse and the Doctor

   (Dedicated to my daughter Rachael who has had more than her share of doctor experiences - many of them "yellow Chrysanthemums"! I thought you'd get a smile out or this.... Just shut your eyes, dear, and dream of delphiniums - blue and geraniums - red)

 by A. A. Milne

There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And all the day long he'd a wonderful view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

A Doctor came hurrying round, and he said:
"Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed.
Just say 'Ninety-nine' while I look at your chest....
Don't you find that chrysanthemums answer the best?"

The Dormouse looked round at the view and replied
(When he'd said "Ninety-nine") that he'd tried and he'd tried,
And much the most answering things that he knew
Were geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

The Doctor stood frowning and shaking his head,
And he took up his shiny silk hat as he said:
"What the patient requires is a change," and he went
To see some chrysanthemum people in Kent.

The Dormouse lay there, and he gazed at the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue),
And he knew there was nothing he wanted instead
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

The Doctor came back and, to show what he meant,
He had brought some chrysanthemum cuttings from Kent.
"Now these," he remarked, "give a much better view
Than geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)."

They took out their spades and they dug up the bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And they planted chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
"And now," said the Doctor, "we'll soon have you right."

The Dormouse looked out, and he said with a sigh:
"I suppose all these people know better than I.
It was silly, perhaps, but I did like the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)."

The Doctor came round and examined his chest,
And ordered him Nourishment, Tonics, and Rest.
"How very effective," he said, as he shook
The thermometer, "all these chrysanthemums look!"

The Dormouse turned over to shut out the sight
Of the endless chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
"How lovely," he thought, "to be back in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red.)"

The Doctor said, "Tut! It's another attack!"
And ordered him Milk and Massage-of-the-back,
And Freedom-from-worry and Drives-in-a-car,
And murmured, "How sweet your chrysanthemums are!"

The Dormouse lay there with his paws to his eyes,
And imagined himself such a pleasant surprise:
"I'll pretend the chrysanthemums turn to a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red)!"

The Doctor next morning was rubbing his hands,
And saying, "There's nobody quite understands
These cases as I do! The cure has begun!
How fresh the chrysanthemums look in the sun!"

The Dormouse lay happy, his eyes were so tight
He could see no chrysanthemums, yellow or white.
And all that he felt at the back of his head
Were delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

And that is the reason (Aunt Emily said)
If a Dormouse gets in a chrysanthemum bed,
You will find (so Aunt Emily says) that he lies
Fast asleep on his front with his paws to his eyes.

Jacob von Rueysdale - the Dam Square in Amsterdam, Georg Philipp Telemann - Concerto in D Major for Trumpet and Violin, A.A. Milne - Twice Times

Interesting architecture and costumes in this painting by Jacob von Rueysdale
I am very pleased to announce that we have been given permission to use pictures by Robert Bateman, a wonderful Canadian wildlife artist.  Following is a link to the Picasa Web Album with the paintings I plan to use for our summer term.  Picassa Web Album of Robert Bateman Paintings.

  Concerto in D Major for Trumpet and Violin by Georg Philipp Telemann 


A.A. Milne

Twice Times

There were Two Little Bears who lived in a Wood,
And one of them was Bad and the other was Good.
Good Bear learnt his Twice Times One -
But Bad Bear left all his buttons undone.

They lived in a Tree when the weather was hot,
And one of them was Good, and the other was Not.
Good Bear learnt his Twice Times Two -
But Bad Bear's thingummies were worn right through.

They lived in a Cave when the weather was cold,
And they Did, and they Didn't Do, what they were told.
Good Bear learnt his Twice Times Three -
But Bad Bear never had his hand-ker-chee.

They lived in the Wood with a Kind Old Aunt,
And one said "Yes'm," and the other said "Shan't!"
Good Bear learnt his Twice Times Four -
But Bad Bear's knicketies were terrible tore.

And then quite suddenly (just like Us)
One got Better and the other got Wuss.
Good Bear muddled his Twice Times Three -
But Bad Bear coughed in his hand-ker-chee!

Good Bear muddled his Twice Times Two -
But Bad Bear's thingummies looked like new.
Good Bear muddled his Twice Times One -
But Bad Bear never left his buttons undone.

There may be a Moral, though some say not;
I think there's a moral, though I don't know what.
But if one gets better, as the other gets wuss,
These Two Little Bears are just like Us.
For Christopher remembers up to Twice Times Ten ...
But I keep forgetting where I put my pen.* 

* So I have had to write this one in pencil.

Jacob von Rueysdale - A Cottage and a Hayrick by a River, Georg Philipp Telemann - Musique de Table, A.A.Milne - Vespers

This painting by Jacob von Rueysdale is very peaceful with  mostly greens and blues and the quiet water.  There are some interesting details to study and remember.  Notice the trees in the foreground, middle ground, and distant background - the size diminishes and the color becomes more blue as they recede, and there is less detail.  These are ways artists make things look distant.

A Cottage and a Hayrick by a River

I am very pleased to announce that we have been given permission to use pictures by Robert Bateman, a wonderful Canadian wildlife artist.  Following is a link to the Picasa Web Album with the paintings I plan to use for our summer term.  Picassa Web Album of Robert Bateman Paintings. Though they are copyrighted we have been given permission to copy them for educational use.  


 Lovely music today by Georg Philipp Telemann - "Musique de Table" Part 1

Here is a link to a playlist of music by Georg Philipp Telemann.  It's almost 4 hours long.  We've been enjoying it as background music. 


Our A.A.Milne poem this week is about Christopher Robin saying his prayers....

Vespers

Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.
God bless Mummy. I know that's right.
Wasn't it fun in the bath to-night?
The cold's so cold, and the hot's so hot.
Oh! God bless Daddy - I quite forgot.
If I open my fingers a little bit more,
I can see Nanny's dressing-gown on the door.
It's a beautiful blue, but it hasn't a hood.
Oh! God bless Nanny and make her good.
Mine has a hood, and I lie in bed,
And pull the hood right over my head,
And I shut my eyes, and I curl up small,
And nobody knows that I'm there at all.
Oh! Thank you, God, for a lovely day.
And what was the other I had to say?
I said "Bless Daddy," so what can it be?
Oh! Now I remember it. God bless Me.
Little Boy kneels at the foot of the bed,
Droops on the little hands little gold head.
Hush! Hush! Whisper who dares!
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.

Jacob von Rueysdale - Winter Landscape,

Lovely winter scene by Jacob von Rueysdale with what looks to me like a sundog.  I love the mauve, cream and blue.  The figures are interesting - notice how much smaller they are in the middle ground than in the foreground giving the feeling of distance. 

Winter Landscape

 
I've been enjoying the music of  Georg Philipp Telemann.  Today's piece - Concerto in E minor for Flute and recorder.

And a link to almost four hours or Telemann:
Music of George Philipp Telemann 


I recommend the following book if you are enjoying the poems of A.A. Milne.


The Complete Poems of Winnie the Pooh



Today's poem is fun for Spring.

Twinkletoes

When the sun
Shines through the leaves of the apple-tree,
When the sun
Makes shadows of the leaves of the apple-tree,
Then I pass
On the grass
From one leaf to another,
From one leaf to its brother,
Tip-toe, tip-toe!
Here I go!

Jacob von Rueysdale - Hogesluis Amstel, Georg Philipp Telemann - flauto Dolce Ensemble, A.A.Milne - Us Two

I love the blues or the sky and water contrasted with the warm oranges and yellows in this wonderful painting by Jacob von Rueysdale.

Hogesluis Amstel

 Georg Philipp Telemann - Flauto Dolce Ensemble
Amazing to me that this lovely music comes from three recorders - obviously skillfully played!

A fun Winnie the Pooh poem today by A.A.Milne 

            Us Two

Wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
Whatever I do, he wants to do,
"Where are you going today?" says Pooh:
"Well, that's very odd 'cos I was too.
Let's go together," says Pooh, says he.
"Let's go together," says Pooh.
"What's twice eleven?" I said to Pooh.
("Twice what?" said Pooh to Me.)
"I think it ought to be twenty-two."
"Just what I think myself," said Pooh.
"It wasn't an easy sum to do,
But that's what it is," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what it is," said Pooh.
"Let's look for dragons," I said to Pooh.
"Yes, let's," said Pooh to Me.
We crossed the river and found a few-
"Yes, those are dragons all right," said Pooh.
"As soon as I saw their beaks I knew.
That's what they are," said Pooh, said he.
"That's what they are," said Pooh.
"Let's frighten the dragons," I said to Pooh.
"That's right," said Pooh to Me.
"I'm not afraid," I said to Pooh,
And I held his paw and I shouted "Shoo!
Silly old dragons!"- and off they flew.
"I wasn't afraid," said Pooh, said he,
"I'm never afraid with you."
So wherever I am, there's always Pooh,
There's always Pooh and Me.
"What would I do?" I said to Pooh,
"If it wasn't for you," and Pooh said: "True,
It isn't much fun for One, but Two,
Can stick together, says Pooh, says he. "That's how it is," says Pooh.