Introduction Mr. Holland’s opus follows thirty years of Glenn Holland’s life and his details his journey of enlightenment. The only clues to his life before the movie opens are his love for music and desire to become a composer, having been a member of a traveling band and earning a degree in music. The movie picks up as Glenn and his wife, Iris, are settling into a small apartment as he prepares for his first day as a high school music teacher. Iris does not seem to have any dreams of her own other than supporting her husband – her happiness is derived from Glenn’s happiness. Movie Setting and Story Glenn Holland is a musician in his early 30s with a dream to compose his own symphony score (opus). He stops traveling with his band to settle down with his wife, taking on a job as a high school music teacher at John F. Kennedy (JFK) High School. Glenn has quit his band and took on the teaching position in order to enable him to fulfill his dream of composing his own symphony. Iris Holland is Glenn’s wife. She is very supportive of his and is willing to work as a photographer to ensure he is able to quit teaching after a few years so he can devote himself fulltime to his opus. She remains devoted to Glenn after the birth of their son but clearly takes a larger role in their son’s life, while it is years before Glenn discovers he and his son can have a meaningful relationship. Coltrane (Cole) Holland is the son of Glenn and Iris. Glenn is frustrated with teaching when Iris tells him she is pregnant, again redirecting his life. Once Glenn comes to terms with the idea of having a family, even giving up his summers to teach driver’s education in order to buy a house rather than work on his opus, he seems quite happy to have a s... ... middle of paper ... ...does his work family. Summary and Conclusion In the closing scene, Gertrude tells Glenn he may feel his life has been “misspent” having not become rich and famous with his opus, but he needs to realize his students and his family are his legacy (Field et al., 1995). Despite seeing Glenn happy at various instances throughout Mr. Holland’s opus – the birth of his son, musical breakthroughs with students – those are just brief moments in time. Glenn doesn’t appear to realize his life has had meaning all along and to truly appreciate the life he has with his wife and son until the end of the movie when he is confronted by all of the people whose lives he has touched over the past three decades. At the moment of his enlightenment he is rewarded by conducting his opus that is being played by his most memorable students while his family watches on and shares in his joy.
Allen and Herb are alike in this way because both are sufferers of a family tragedy. It is evident that Allen is traumatized. Allen, in the beginning, is very apprehensive in meeting new people. He does not want to get attached to someone new and lose them too. When Maggie discovers his wedding band, she believes it indicates that he is still holding on to the past, and “wonders if it symbolized some lingering attachment to an ex-wife” (13). Later to find out Allen’s wife, Claire, and daughter, Miranda, died in a car accident coming to get Allen from the airport. When Maggie and Allen were going to get coffee one day, Maggie was calling for Allen’s attention when she accidentally steps in front of oncoming traffic. Allen was stunned, and explains to her how his family died. The stunned expression on his face made Maggie wonder, “if Herb Kowalsky had looked much the same as he watched his daughter down the river” (135). Herb develops frustration and desperation in his time of suffering. He is trying to be nice and considers the county’s way, but is not receiving any results, saying, “ ‘ I was told Ruth would be out in a day…’ “(48). Frustration overwhelming him, he insists on getting her out his self. The desperation of his suffering is captured into a picture taken by Maggie Glenn. As he gazes into the river, longing for his daughter, Ruth, to come back, Herb now just wants her body out of the river to give her spiritual
Sondheim’s music is well-appreciated by many people of all ages. He has won eight Tony’s, more than any other composer. Sondheim sculpted the musicality of musical theatre into what it is today by
Though Jelly Roll Morton began his career without formal training, he grew to live an influential life. His piano style, musical notations on paper, and creative compositions thrived in the 1910s and the 1920s and even weaved its way into the later eras as musicians used Morton’s music as the foundation for their own. Even past his death, Jelly Roll Morton remains a legendary figure. His works are meticulously preserved and displayed in the prestigious Smithsonian Museum and universities around the world continue his legacy by teaching students about Jelly Roll Morton and his influential career.
One of his very famous pieces of work was The Rite of Spring, last year in band class we had to write a paper about that marvelous performance. That was one of his greatest pieces that he ever wrote. That was a piece that he had worked very hard at for a long time.
this paper I will discuss Gershwin’s life as a child and his upbringing and how his music
Elmer Bernstein was a composer best known for his many soundtracks displayed in movies. Bernstein began his career at a young age and continued composing for five decades. He is praised for his many contributions to the film industry with his “golden touch”. His impact on music is still felt today, and he will always be mourned by friends, family, and especially moviemakers. It is common for artists to be pigeonholed as a composer for just one category, but Elmer refused to accept just one label and decided to wear them all. Bernstein composed for westerns, epics, comedies, and intimate dramas. Every moment in Elmer’s life molded him into a remembered well rounded composer and aspects such as his family, education, and work sent Elmer to
Anderson had a very strong musical education. At age eleven he began piano lessons and music studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Cambridge. At his high school graduation from the Cambridge High and Latin School, Anderson composed, orchestrated, and conducted his class song. In 1925 he entered Harvard College. While at Harvard he studied musical harmony with Walter Spalding, counterpoint with Edward Ballantine, canon and fugue with William C. Heilman, and orchestration with Edward B. Hill and Walter Piston. Between 1926 and 1929 he played trombone for the Harvard University Band. He eventually became the director of the Harvard University Band for four years. In 1929 Anderson received a B.A. magna cum laude in Music from Harvard. The magna cum laude is the next-to-highest of three special honors for grades above the average. He was also elected into Phi Beta Kappa. Anderson continued into graduate school at Harvard. In 1930, he earned an M.A. with a major in music. He began studying composition with Walter Piston and Georges Enesco; organ with Henry Gideon and double bass with Gaston Dufresne of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. As well as his studies in music, he continued for his PhD in German and Scandinavian languages. He ultimately mastered Danish, Norwegian, Icel...
Ellie Mulder is an eighth-grade student at Northview Crossroads Middle School. The fourteen-year-old strives her hardest in every subject, and she will be enrolled in the accelerated courses at the high school next year. Training relentlessly and working hard, Ellie can be found outside of class rowing in long shell boats with her teammates on the Northview Crew Team, performing jazz compositions on her tenor saxophone with the Jazz Band, and playing rhythmic music with the Percussion Ensemble. She was recently accepted into the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band at the high school and looks forward to crafting music with incredibly talented sophomores, juniors and seniors. With a work ethic stronger than most, Ellie is a conscientious, well-rounded
A Genetic Odyssey’ is an interesting movie to watch. There were many thoughts that passed my mind as I watched the movie. First of all, it was interesting to visualize the movie back in the day, assuming how one single man lived in Africa approximately sixty thousand years ago. It is quite amazing to have traced the records so far behind to find that Adam could be the father of homo sapiens after all. The better question arises when there are different sizes, races and shapes to each human being.
After going on through much of life’s ups and downs, he finally be came a renowned composer. He has written and arranged hundreds of famous pieces. One that is probably the most popular nowadays would be Pomp and Circumstance. If you have been to any high school or college graduation, you have heard this song played over and over again. Pomp and Circumstance is the usual graduation music that is played. He first wrote this piece in 1901, and continued to write 4 other similar versions. After this he was knighted in 1904, and from 1905-1908 he served as the University of Birmingham’s first professor of music.
Frank discusses his feelings for his new friend with his family. It had been 5 years since his previous relationship and Sheryl and the others thought it would be in Frank’s best interest to pursue this relationship. The following therapy session, Frank brings up his crush on his friend his therapist ask him questions to determine whether or not Frank is ready to commit to another person. At the end of the session, Frank’s therapist decided that Frank is ready to develop a new romantic relationship with this new guy.
...alonen. Symphony: Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall. New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc. Publishers, 2003.
Since the movie came out in 2006, “ The Pursuit of Happyness” has been one of my favorite movies. A non-fiction movie based on a true story, of a man called Chris Gardner and his son Christopher Gardner Jr. Both these roles are played by the famous actors Will Smith, and his real life son Jaden Smith. In this very inspirational movie, directed by Gabriele Muccino, Will smith plays out Chris Gardner when he was struggling to start as a stockbroker while being a father in need of money. This movie takes place at San Francisco in 1981, and has always meant a great deal to me. Inspiring me to always work my hardest in order to be successful in life. On this movie that is the message it holds, to inspire people to dream big, and to not let anyone
Art was not John’s only love. John also had a passion for music. He had been in a few bands as a teenager, one even allowing him to meet future band member Paul McCartney. John although did not think about doing music as a career until he was older and in Art School. While at school he decided to form a ne...
As an elementary school student she opened our ears and our young hearts to the wonderful world of music. Her love of music was infectious but the life lessons that she cleverly inserted were priceless. Music has the undeniable ability to transform an ordinary moment into a magical and emotional memory. The iconic musical, The Sound of Music, is just one example that comes to mind. Miss Dorsey taught us that every person, no matter their race, culture, socioeconomic background or life path- music a universal connect. Passion, love, heartache, and inspiration can all be conveyed and expressed through