Who is Dmitry Kabalevsky?

I'm currently working on the translation of some liner notes about Dmitry Kabalevsky, a 20th century Russian classical music composer. He was born in Saint Petersburg in 1904, lived through the revolution and had a long career in music and music education. 

Never heard of Kabalevsky? Me neither, but that's what I love about translation . . . I get to learn about new things all the time. Here are some Kabalevsky facts:

Kabalevsky was a controversial figure in Russian culture. He had been considered among the top five greatest composers but was later included in the list of those accused of “formalism.” In his works, Kabalevsky extolled the objectives and aspirations of the Soviet Union, commemorating the most important events of the life and history of its people. 

The First Symphony, was dedicated to the revolution on its 15th anniversary with a depiction of the Russian people under the czarist regime and then a celebration of the people's rebellion and victory. The Third Symphony (Requiem), was composed for the 10th anniversary of the death of Lenin, in memory of the Soviet heroes who died during the First World War. The work The Taras Family exalts the partisan's fight against the invading Nazis during the Second World War. 

His style harkens back to the tradition of Russian musicians such as Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky and Borodin, yet he distinguishes himself for his charming and exhilarating melodic vein, rhythmic energy and attention to the folkloric element.

Kabalevsky composed operas, ballets, choral operas, the musical scores for theatrical and radio productions, film soundtracks, four symphonies, concerts, songs and pieces for the piano for young pianists and instrumentalists. He remains famous in the West primarily for the use of his music in teaching.

Please enjoy the upbeat Prelude No. 2, Scherzando

Celebrate with Creativity

I love this video about how to stay creative. Thought I'd share it with you today, since it's my birthday and on birthdays I tend to get philosophical and think about life . . . and all the things I've been so lucky to do and all the people I've been so lucky to meet. 

I feel particularly lucky to do creative work that I love, both in my teaching at the university and in all the translation and writing work I do as well. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by all my work commitments, but I never wish I were doing something else. 

I love to create a lesson to help my students reach a new level of proficiency in writing in a foreign language and to help them see the world from a different cultural perspective. They don't know it, but they are such a pleasure to get to know and work with. How wonderful to have a chance to meet a new group of interesting people each academic year! 

I love the mental gymnastics required to render an Italian text into a meaningful piece of writing in English. The Italian and English languages are so similar and, at the same time, so dissimilar that the job never ceases to be challenging.

I love sharing the beautiful corner of Italy that I live in with people around the world in the articles I write on-line. There is so much to see here and tourism is so underdeveloped. The lack of heavy tourism can make it difficult at times for the visitor (public transport could be better, more signs could be in English, etc.) but that very lack offers the tourist a more authentic experience of the region. 

And that's just work . . . I have so much else to be thankful for in my family life, with my friends, my health! None of it perfect, but all of it really good!

Enjoy the video and add stay creative!

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

p.s. I hope my students noticed number 3!

Discover Puglia

Seems like all I do these days is write, translate or take care of business on-line. Even when I'm relaxing, I find myself in front of the pc screen either watching tv (isn't streaming wonderful for the ex-pat?) or obsessively entering giveaways! Feels like my portable is permanently attached to me at the wrists!

I have been enjoying myself recently, I must admit, writing articles about the Puglia region for Charming Italy. I've always been one of those "gosh, I'd like to be a writer types" (probably like many other people who love to read), but I've never felt the urgency of a topic I really wanted to express myself on nor a talent for fiction. Instead, writing about Puglia is great fun for me and just comes naturally. I know lots about this area after living here for 18 years (wow, has it really been that long?) and I have lots of ideas about interesting things to share with others.

Hop on over to Charming Italy and take a look at what this region (and others!) have to offer.

Have you heard of the Bari International Film & TV Festival?

It's not too late to enjoy this year's Carnival in Puglia!

An evening of feasting and bonfires at the Feast of Saint Anthony.

Discover Puglian Christmas culinary traditions.

Higher Education

I just found out today what course I will be teaching in this academic year at the University...the same course as last year. I'm happy to hear that, because I enjoy teaching second year writing and, as I have been doing it for a while, I feel quite confident that I know what I'm going on about in the classroom.

Every year my course is a bit different, because I like to experiment with a variety of approaches and materials, and also because the students are different and, so, create a different dynamic each time. I have chosen new books for this year and I'm looking forward to seeing how I can best use them in class.

I just wish that for once, we could have gotten started on time. Every year something happens to set back the start of the academic year. Classes "should" start at the beginning of October, yet here we are on the 14th and I just found out what I'll be teaching... I still don't know which professor I'll be collaborating with because they haven't gotten around to deciding that little detail just yet. Without the professor, the course can't start... I've got students emailing me asking when lessons will begin and I don't know what to tell them!

This year's delay is linked to a strike by the researchers who, at least in the English department, teach most of the course hours, but actually don't have teaching contracts. Last year we started a month late because they "forgot" to assign us classrooms...it's always something!

Hi, ho, hi, ho!