Hector Berlioz & Symphonie Fantastique

Hector Berlioz & Symphonie Fantastique

What is Romanticism? (It has many definitions, and is many things.)
Romanticism is a complex artistic, literary, intellectual, movement in the late 18th century in the Western Europe. The Romantic period started from 1820 ~ 1918 and it is preceded by the Classical period and followed by the Modernist period. The musics during this time are very emotional and creative, and almost every composer has their own style of music.

How does your subject fit into the world of Romanticism (their work, their life)
Symphonie Fantastique of Berlioz is very emotional and creative.

Are there elements or aspects of your subject that are not romantic in nature?
No. I don't think so.

Who is your subject. When and where did they live.
Hector Louis Berlioz was born in France and somewhere near Lyon and died in Paris (December 11th, 1803~March 8th, 1869). He was a Romantic composer, the well known musics that he composed are Symphonie Fantastique and Grande Messe des morts.

What is their major contribution to music? (Why are they famous?)
Berlioz's contributions to music is helped to break old mold create new forms full of strong contrasts of passion and emotion.

What type of symphony is "Symphonie Fantastique"
Symphonie Fatastique is a program symphony.

Why was Symphonie Fantastique controversial? What were the arguments?
The Symphonie Fatastique was controversial because it defies the traditional listening practices of music.

Is either argument correct? How do you feel about it?
I think that this is personal opinion. I think that it was good that he putted all his creativity and imagination into the music, it affects many other music composers after him.

Music Project - Barbershop Quartets

Barbershop Quartets

(Barbershop Quartets Dapper Dans from Disneyland)

Barbershop quartets are a style of capella with four vocals.

a. What did they evolve from?
Barbershop quartets was evolved from hymns, psalms, and folk songs that immigrants to the U.S., and the traditional close-harmony quartets at the mid-1800s.

b. What was the musical texture?
The musical texture of Barbershop Quartets is homophonic.

c. Describe the music
There are four voice parts - tenor, lead, baritone, and bass. The melody is set in the second-lowest voice.

Bibliography -
New World
Wikipedia
British Association of Barbershop Singers

Art Field Trip Reflection

Image from deviantART

November 10th, we went to a glass factory in Hsinchu for our Art trip. We walked under sun for 10~15 min to get there. It's already very hot outside, but in the factory it's hotter.
The workers were working very hard. Non of them were chatting or spacing out. The boss said that they work 24 hours almost no resting.
The first melting process of recycle glasses it's 1500 degrees C. And second time it's about 1100 degrees C. Hsinchu is so famous for glasses making because there are many silicons and natural gasses, which is materials for making glasses. But the last 10 years, many of the glass factory move to China, and so now there are only few large factory in Hsinchu.
We saw them making glass bottles. Then they show us how to little animals like snail, penguin and sea lion. Ms. Sheilah and Mr. Marchione tried to blow the glass, but both of them fail.
Making glasses might seem easy but it is actually very hard.
I learned more knowledge about glass, I also learned more about Hsinchu's culture and history.

November 10th, 2009 - Citizenship

First, what is citizenship?
Person that is part of community, with a government.

Kinds of citizen:
Naturalized - move there, fill out paper work, change citizenship to a citizen of another country
Native - person who was born in a nation, will legally become citizen of that nation

I am citizen of family, school, Hsinchu, Taiwan, community, and the world.
Responsibilities for family: clean house, sleep early, etc.
Responsibilities for school: respect each other, cooperate, help each other when they need, listen to the person that is talking, etc.

South Africa President Election.

South Africa President Election.

Next Wednesday is the election of South Africa president. And now there's a campaign called "Stop Zuma", it was started by opposition leader Helen Zille. She can't stop Jacob Zuma (leader of the African National Congress) to be the next South Africa's president. But she hope to stop A.N.C. from two-third of the votes.

Link to news
Link to the picture

The Three Test, Fifa's Sheep and Tamari of Tamarinda

First story: The Three Test
We read a story called The Tree Test. It is a story from Africa.
I learned about their religion. They believe that humans can talk to animals and animals can talk humans.

Second story: Fifa's Sheep
This story boy that never listen to adults... (You can read the whole story by clicking on the link)
I learned that Africans love to tell stories because they don't have enough money to buy books, and even that they can buy books they can't really read. Another thing that I learned is that their toy was sheep, they make signs on their sheep. And most of them love in country side (rural). And they sell grass to earn money. They live in the house that its roof was made of grasses, because grasses are cheaper. I also learned that only few people has cars, most them walk

Third story: Tamari of Tamarinda
In this story I learned that Africans also believe in magic.

My Photo Journal....

Sandra's Photo Journal.

Hi! I'm a student from HIS. Now come with me and I'll introduce our city to you.

My Bedroom.
I live with my And this is also where I do my homework. There's a bed, desk, wardrobe... I wake up at 7:15.

Some of they (African Student) has rent a room near the school and lived by them self.




School Sign.
Our school (Hsinchu International School) sign is bamboo. Because

Eat Breakfast.
After I brush my teeth, comb my hair, and change my clothes. I go to dinning room and eat breakfast that my mom had prepared. Most of the time breakfast are breads, porridge, cereal...

The students that lived by them self cook the meal by them self.





Go to school.
I go to school about 7:50~8:00. My mom drive my sister and I to school. From my house to school is about 10~15min.

Most of them walk to school. Because car is too expensive to them, only a few of them.

(picture)



School.
At day A, I study Science, Wellness, Independent Learning, and Language Arts. And B day I study Humanities, Math, Creative Writing, and ESL. And we use computer to study.

They only study Language, Science, and Math. They use books for study.




Lunch.
The school will prepare lunch for students, some of us eat the lunch that our parents made.

They need to cook their lunch at school.

Back To Home.
I came back from school. I will pet my pet first then do my homework. And after I done my homework I will practice my violin and piano.

The first thing when they came back from school is to water their garden after school every day. And they need to help their family to wash clothes, hang out to dry, ironing, grinding spices, making kenkey, cook, etc.


Sports.
We play soccer at the soccer field and basketball at basketball field.

They play soccer at the open area. Because they don't have many money to build a soccer field.

Stampedes Won't Be An Issue

Stampedes Won't Be An Issue

Date: March 30, 2009 (When the event happen)
Danny Jordaan (The organizer of 2010 World Cup in South Africa) promised that the problems of stampedes in the stadium won't be a issue during the game. The stampede in World Cup match in Ivory Coast caused 19 people died.
Jordaan said that some African fans buy their tickets when they reach the stadium and arrive late, so that makes the outside of the stadium impatient crowded and causes disorder.
The tickets of 2010 World Cup in South Africa will have to purchase in advance. He also said that the fans without tickets will not be able to some near the stadium.

Link to the news
Link to the picture

First Win In 7 Years Over European Opposition.

First Win In 7 Years Over European Opposition.

Last Saturday (Saturday, 28 March 2009) South Africa win (Soccer) Norway, and it was the first win in this 7 years over European Opposition.
Siphiwe Tshabalala (Substitute) scored in two minutes. It was a long-range shot, this shot brought morale-boosting win to their team.
South Africa want to get the 2010 world cup of soccer.

"I'm very, very satisfied - apart from winning, the team played really well against a strong team." the coach of South Africa team said.

The also told the reporters that "It's a game that has given our team a little bit more experience at a high international level."

Link to the news
Link to the picture

First Family of USA Provide Their Own Food.

First Family of USA Provide Their Own Food.

The First Lady of United States of America helped students in school. And Obama his wife Michelle had built a kitchen garden in White House to feed their family and the official visitors.
The shape of the kitchen garden is a L-shaped. It grows spinach, carrots, lettuce, and blackberries. Mrs. Obama said that there will be a beehive in future. So that will provide honey for their family, staff and official visitors.
The some of the fruits and crops will donated to charity soup kitchen near the white house.

Link to the news
Link to the picture

Big Earthquake Under The Sea.

Big Earthquake Under The Sea.

In South Pacific near Tonga. A underwater volcano shot out steam and ash into the sky. The eruption was cause by a huge earthquake in the deep ocean bed. Scientists went to the ocean and checked out where did the eruption began. And the eruption won't damage any buildings or hurt people that live near there. The big earthquake and volcano eruption was happened on Pacific Ring of Fire, where most of the earthquakes and volcanoes were located.


Link to the news
Link to picture 1
Link to picture 2

Kenbrena 2.

Kenbrena 2.

* If you lived in part of Kenbrena where you did not have energy resources, what could you do to survive?

If I live in part of Kenbrena where I didnt have any energy resources, I could cut the woods down and carve it into something I need. And gather some foods and clothes. I would go look around if there's any people, go to another places try very hard to suit in the environment.

* "To have a strong country, it is best to have only rich people with financial control." Support or refute that statement.

I refute that statement. Because sometimes rich people don't know how to control theirself of using the money, so they might spend all their money on their craving. And also that sometimes rich people's ambition will just make things worse.

* "People of different levels of wealth may not love one another, but they might need each other." Support or refute that statement.

I support this statement. Rich people might think that poor people are dirty, stupid... and poor poeple might think that the rich people are conceited and they might be jealous about them... But they all need each other. Because if there's no poor people in this society all the products and things will be much more expansive. Becuase it would be cheapper to hire the poor people when they are making the product. So the products will be cheapper.

(It's just my opinion...)

Kenbrena.

Kenbrena.



What are some possible reasons for some groups in Kenbrena to be friendly to each other while other groups do not get along?
I think it's because of the classes. The lower class are jealous about the higher class. Then they started to say something bad about each other. Or maybe it's because of they don't like each other's living style, culture....

Is there a social group above the makes you think of yourself or your family?
I think my family are "Saknich" because we don't really people that we don't get along with. My family always told me that if you respect other people, they will respect you back.


Link to the picture

Mission- Find "New Earth"

Mission- Find "New Earth"










A new telescope named Kepler telescope was blasted into the space. And it's mission is to spend three and a half years to find a planet that has similar characteristic like Earth's or a Earth-like planet. Scientists don't look forward to find any animals and humans on the Earth-like planet, but they said that there might be some living things on it. Living things to live on other planet is called Goldilocks effect. It is called Goldilocks effect because the planets is like Goldilocks in the story it has to keep a distance between other planets so that the Earth-like planet won't be too hot or cold.

The manager of Kepler project said "Trying to detect Jupiter-size planets crossing in front of their stars is like trying to measure the effect of a mosquito flying by a car's headlight.

"Finding Earth-sized planets is like trying to detect a very tiny flea in that same headlight."

Link to the news

Link to the picture on the left

Link to the picture on the right

World Economy.

World Economy.

The world economy is going down and degenerating. And the stock market of United States of America fall to the lowest point in this twelve years today. Dow Jones industry went down 1.21% today.
And Japan stock market also got to the lowest point in this twenty-six years. The stock market in Taiwan didn't go down today. It went up today, and this shows that the stock market in Taiwan are growing.


Questions:
- Will the stock market in USA keep going down?


Link to the news (It is in Chinese)
Link to the picture

Capital Resources.

Capital Resources.

Financial capital:
Where people produce money and wealth.
Example:
Hire people to work in a company...

Human capital:
Skills and knowledge that was gained by educated worker.
Example:
Farmers, worker...

Natural capital:
The capital that produce natural resource, environmental goods and services.
Example: Lake, mountains, rivers, volcanoes...

My Learning of the 5 Themes of Geography.

What is geography?
Geography is the study of Earth's lands, features and trait, tenants, and phenomena.

Where are you right now?
The absolute location of where I am is 24°49'14.28"N 120°58'24.00"E. And my house is on 11F, No. 189, Nanya St., North District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan 300. Now I'm in my room. You walk 5 big steps from the door straight into my house. Then you turn right and walk about 10 steps you might hear my sister screaming or singing. And then you walk straight through the door of my room. And you'll see my room.

What do we mean by the terms “physical, human and cultural” when we describe a place?
When you describe a place with physical characteristics means to describe the place with its landforms, its features. To describe a place with human characteristics means to use the place's political, buildings, and man-made thing to describe it. Cultural characteristics is to describe the place with its the interactions of humans and geography.

How do humans adapt to and/or change the environment?
Humans adapt to by using the natural thing in their environment. And humans change environment by building thing like house, shop, roads, highways, bridges, towers.....

How do we depend upon the environment?
We depend on the nature sources like petroleum, coal..... And we make things from woods.

How does movement affect your daily life?
Movement really affect you in daily life because you move every single day. And it is impossible to not move. When you move from a place to another that's a movement too, and you might use some transportation such as bus, train, airplane, car, boat, high-speed-rail..... Not just living things can move. Nonliving things can move too. For example, ideas can move from a place to another place by the internet and by people.

What “items” are being moved that you interact with on a regular basis?
Foods is an example, food can move from a country to another, it can be moved by airplanes or boats. And the

Describe the difference between a formal, functional and perceptual description of a region.
Formal region is where you can see boundaries on the map. Functional regions is like city or suburb where most of the people live and work. Perceptual region is where you can't see the boundaries on map, people imagine the boundaries in their mind.

Prague, Czech

Prague, Czech

Last year I wen to Prague during spring break. I really like that place because it is VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! Prague is a formal region and functional region. Because it the capital city of Czech (you can see it on map) and it is also a suburb. Some famous building in Prague are the Prague Orloj and Prague Castle. And the economy of Prague it's really good, it is twice of the whole Czech. Prague is the 12th wealthiest area in the European Union.

Link to the Picture

Isolating the Variable

Isolating the Variable

This Monday and today's science class we had SMASH Day. This time we were been attacked by Chine with chocolate. And we were trying to design a boat that can carry students and teachers in HIS with three papers, three straws, and one meter of tape. Serena, Cherine and I were in one group. And we folded the paper into two garbage bins. And we got many tapes on the bottom of the garbage bin. We putted our design in the pond and putted the stoppers on our design to test it.

Things that keep the same:
- Every groups got the same materials.
- We all putted our design in the same fish pond.
- And we use the same kind of stoppers on the top of our designs to test it.

The things that were different:
- Our designs and how we putted the stoppers.
- Different people to put the stoppers.
- Even that we putted our designs in the same pond, but we still can't put them on the exact place that other people putted their design.

Link to the PICTURE

Puzzles And Drift

Puzzles And Drift



We did a puzzle games in our science class. Serena, Jasmine W and I were in one group. First we putted the white paper puzzle together. During the time that we were trying to put the puzzle together, I communicated with my group mates and discussed about how to put them into one piece of white paper. The second puzzle was the news paper puzzle. It was easier to put it in together because there words and colors on the puzzles.

And now we are studying about continental drift. Continental drift is the movement of continents. Continents were like puzzles, there are some similar angles to put it together.

Link to the picture

Puzzles

HUGE Rabbit!!!!

HUGE Rabbit!!!!

The police in Southeast of England found a rabbit in the middle of the busy road in Canterbury.
The officers tried to catch the rabbit and passers-by tried to catch the rabbit. It took ten people to catch this white rabbit. And they gave the rabbit a name called Tiny, but actually this rabbit was huge and enormous. The animal experts are to care for Tiny.


Link to the website
Link to the picture

Fake snow???!!!

Fake snow???!!!



An special chemical was sprinkled into the cloud at China. And the chemical makes man-made rain and snow, the process is called cloud-seeding. It was the longest drought in 38 years in Beijing. It's not the first time that China had made "Man-made". This chemical was used in some North country. Some people think that if cloud-seeding was used in one place, the other places might not less rain fall. But the people in Beijing said the "Man-made" rain and snow can improve the quality of air.


Link to the website
Link to the picture

Geographic Lens 4

This video is about geography standards. I learn that there are 18 contents standards and divided in 6 essential elements.
- The world in spatial term
Using maps and other materials to understand our world.
- Places and regions
Combine the places into regions, to help us understand complexity of Earth's surface.
- Physical systems
Understand the physical system of Earth, and how does it work with nature.
- Human systems
The humans population, characteristic, and interaction.
- Environment and society
How society adapt to the environment and change the environment.
- The uses of geography
To help us to explain the past and get ready for tomorrow' Earth.
Another geography standards is "Geography Skills".
- Geography Skills
Asking geographic questions, acquiring geographic information, organizing geographic data, analysis and synthesis, and finding answer.

From My House To My Grandma' House.....

From My House (Taipei) To My Grandma' House.....

From my house in Taipie to my grandma' house.
I walked down stairs to second floor I heard the birds singing and the car' engine, I smelled the orchids in the corner, and I saw gray stairs, wooden handrail, purple orchids, two windows, and birds standing on the wire pole. When I walked down to first floor I saw silver mailboxes, handbills, and the front door. I opened the door and I smelled the smell of the car and petrol, I heard the sound of the car' engine, I saw people walking, car drove by, building, and trees..... I walked 3 meters and watched if there's a car coming. Then I turned right (My right) and walked about 18 meters. I saw birds wastes on the ground, I saw many cars, bicycle and motorcycle. I heard people talking and the engine' sound. I walk about 20 meters I saw interior design company and people riding bicycle.
Then I walked about 60 meters I smell the smell of dog wastes. I heard dog bark. And I saw a passerby walking her dog, I also saw my grandma' friends.
Then I turn left, and walked about 5 meters and I walked into the elevator and go to 7 floor. After the elevator' door opened, I turned left and I opened the door. I got to my grandma' house.

National Geographic- Geography.

National Geographic- Geography.

Our homework is to watch the 2 short videos. The first video is about how geography affect the climate. I learned that geography is the story of Earth and it's inhabitants, the Earth that we live now, and the Earth that we will live in the feature. I also learned that 'Ge' means Earth and 'graphia' means description. I learned about the climate that Asia has. Because the land and water heat up unevenly. It sets up temperature difference, when temperature are different it sets up pressure difference. And that's how the flow of wind start.
The second video is about how geography affect people, places, clothes, buildings, foods, sport, culture....

Lets Travel~~~

Are you ready to travel???

Lets go!!!

(Click on the picture will took you to a bigger picture.)


First stop
From Hsinhu, Taiwan travel Northeast to Tokyo, Japan
Latitude: 35°41'22.16"N
Longitude: 139°41'30.14"E

Japan is a island country at the Eastern Asia. It is county made of 4 big island and more than 3000 little. It is located between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, East of Korean Peninsula. The climate of Japan is tropical in South, cool temperate in North.
You will visit the Tokyo tower. It's a tower like Eiffel Tower. But it was painting in red and white, and it is world highest vertical tower.



Second stop
Tokyo, Japan travel Southwest to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Latitude: 33°52'1.70"S
Longitude: 151°12'25.61"E

Australia is the smallest continent in the world, the capital of Australia is Canberra. Sydney, New South Wales is most populous city in Australia.
The climate of Australia is normally arid to semiarid, it's temperate in South and East, tropical in North. And the climate in Sydney are warm in summers and cool in winters and it rains throughout the year.
The East of Sydney is Pacific Ocean, Blue Mountains to West, Hawkesbury River to North.
You will visit the Blue Mountains and Sydney Opera House. Sydney Opera House is a modern design. It looks like a series of large "sail". Sydney Opera House is designed by Jørn Utzon. And it can has 2,500 people in the concert hall.


Third stop
From Sydney, New South Wales, Australia travel Northwest to New Delhi, Delhi, India
Latitude: 28°38'1.37"N
Longitude: 77°13'31.17"E

India is a country in Southern Asia. It is the second most populous country in the world. The capital of India is New Delhi. The climate in India is temperate in North and tropical monsoon in South.
The summers in New Delhi are in April to October, with the monsoon climate. The winters are about 4 degrees Celsius. The East of New Delhi is Yamuna River.
You will visit the India Gate and the Yamuna River. Indian is one of the largest war memorials in India. It is located in the middle of New Delhi. India gate is Indian Army's tomb of the unknown soldiers.


Fourth stop
From New Delhi, Delhi, India travel North West to Valley of the Kings, Cairo, Egypt
Latitude: 29°58'43.14"N
Longitude: 31° 7'57.41"E

Egypt is a country in Northern Africa. West of Egypt is Libya, Sudan to the South, and on East are Gaza Strip and Israel. The climate of Egypt is hot and dry in summers, and moderate in winters.
You will visit the world longest river Nile River and Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62). It was found in 1922 by Howard Cater.The tomb of Tutankhamun is famous because of the wealth treasure in it. The Nile River has two main tributaries called the White Nile and Blue Nile. The Nile River fertilized the soil, and the Nile River was a very important river in North Africa.


Fifth stop
From Valley of the Kings, Cairo, Egypt travel Northwest to Prague, Czechia (Czech Republic)
Latitude: 50° 5'16.12"N
Longitude: 14°25'13.68"E

Czechia is a landlocked country in Europe. At the North of Czechia is Poland, West is Germany, South is Austria. And the capital city and the biggest city is Prague. The climate in Czechia is temperate continental climate. Hot summers and cold, cloudy, humid winters.
You are going to visit the Prague Orloj (Astronomical clock), the Vltava River, and the Prague castle. The Prague Orloj is located in Old Town Square, Old Town, Prague, Czechia. Prague Orloj is made by clockmaker called Mikuláš of Kadaň and letter professor Jan Šindel in 1410. There are two clock dials on Prague Orloj. One is if the dials astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon, horoscope and the position of some planets. Another one is he calendar dial, it shows the date. You will have a dinner on boat on Vltava River.


Sixth Stop
From Prague, Czechia (Czech Republic) travel Southwest to Paris, France.
Latitude: 46°13'39.50"N
Longitude: 2°12'49.50"E

France is a country in West Europe, it is slightly smaller than Texas. And it's neighbouring countries are Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain. The North of France is coastal plain, South of France is Pyrenees, Southeast is Alps, South central is Massif Central. And near English Channel, North Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The main rivers in France are Loire River, Rhone, Garonne, and Seine.
The North and Northwest of France have temperate climate, and Southeast has Mediterranean climate, West has predominantly oceanic and many rainfalls.
Paris is the capital and biggest city of France.
You will visit the Eiffel Tower. It is located in Champ de Mars, Paris. The designer of Eiffel Tower is Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. Eiffel Tower was constructed from 1887 to 15th May, 1889. It is has three floors, first floor and second floor has restaurant, and third floor is observatory.


Seventh stop
From Paris, France travel Southeast to Milan, Italy (Italian Republic)
Latitude: 45°27'49.22"N
Longitude: 9°11'17.25"E

Italy is a country in Southern Europe, it is slightly larger than Arizona and it looks like a boot. At the North of Italy is France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. There are two enclaved countries in Italy called San Marino and Vatican City.
Milan is located at one of the most plentiful places in the world. It is also one of the fashion capitals.
On the West by is the Tyrrhenian Sea, East is Adriatic Sea, Alps in Northern boundary and Lake Garda. Po is the principal river of Italy, it flows from Alps on the Western border across the Padan plain to the Adriatic Sea. The climate that Italy has is Mediterranean climate.
You are going to visit Milan Cathedral (Domm di Milan). Milan Cathedral was built from 1386 to 1897. It is the third biggest church in the world. First it was built by duke Galeazzo Visconti Ⅲ. The architectural style that Milan Cathedral have are Gothic, Gothic Revival, and Baroque. The steeples (There are 138 steeple) of Milan Cathedral is Gothic, and the lower part of Milan Cathedral is Baroque.



Eighth Stop
Milan, Italy (Italian Republic)
Latitude: 33°25'31.30"S
Longitude: 70°33'59.28"W

Chile is a country in South America. It's slightly smaller than twice size of Montana. It is bordering the South Pacific Ocean, and between Argentina and Peru. Santiago is the capital city of Chile.The climate of Chile is Mediterranean in central, temperate in North, cool and damp in South.
You are going to visit Fort Santiago. Fort Santiago is an ancient castle that was built in 1590 .



When you click on the pictures, it will takes you to the link!!!!