Bach and Handel Beethoven essays

Bach and Handel Beethoven essays Johann Sebastian Bach and George Friderick Handel were two of the most important composers of the Baroque Period. Compare and contrast their lives and sacred musical works studied in class. Johann Sebastian Bach and George Friderick Handel are two of the most important composers of the Baroque period. Born only one month apart both in Germany. Handel lived nine more years than Bach. Coming from the same period the two composers have many qualities that are alike and some unlike. These qualities include the time frames of their childhood, adult hood and later years as well as a comparison between two sacred musical pieces. Bach and Handel, though both born in Germany only one month apart, they came from different family lifestyles. George Handel did not come from a musical family, his father wanted him to study law. By age 9, his talent was too obvious and began to study with a local organist and composer. Whereas Johann Bach came from a long line of musicians. Four of his own sons became composers. Bach also started as an organist and composer, but as a church organist. At the age of 18 Handel went to Hamburg and became a violinist and a harpsichordist in the orchestra. In the meantime Bach was a court conductor for the Prince of Cothen, it was his first position that was not involved in the church or organ music. Bach later became a director of must at St. Thomas church where he stayed for the next 27 years. At the age of 21 Handel was successfully producing operas. He later went to Italy where he associated with famous musicians and princes. Handel became knows as Englands most important composer. Bach was not considered the greatest composer of his day, but he was recognized as the greatest organist and harpsichordist. Handel wrote suites, organ concertos, concerti grossi but mostly oratorios and Italian operas. Bach wrote all forms of Baroque music, all exc...

Interesting Facts About US Housing

Interesting Facts About US Housing About 7.2 million homeowners took out home equity lines of credit in 2003, up 12 percent from 2001 when 6.4 million such credit lines were established. Thats just one of the interesting facts and statistics reported in the latest edition of the American Housing Survey (AHS) [pdf], sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Now entering its fourth decade of publication, the AHS provides information on a variety of topics, including home ownership, characteristics of homes and their owners, housing costs, vacation homes, gated communities and people’s views of their neighborhoods. Some more highlights from the latest AHS: About 3.8 million homeowners had lump-sum home equity mortgages, down nearly 20 percent from 2001, when there were 4.7 million such loans.Homeowners occupied more than 72 million homes. Overall, the nation had about 106 million occupied housing units.Renters occupied 33.6 million housing units.The nation’s median mortgage interest rate was 6.7 percent, down from 7.5 percent in 2001.The median value of owner-occupied homes was $140,000.Between 2001 and 2003, the number of owner-occupied units with four or more bedrooms increased by about 1 million to 18.7 million.There were 3 million owner-occupied homes in planned gated communities.The vacancy rate for rental housing units was 9.6 percent, up from 7.8 percent in 2001.On a scale of 1-to-10, with 10 being the best, 3-in-4 homeowners rated their neighborhood an 8 or higher.