Month: October 2021

The Legacy and Impact of Composers Today

Classical music or classic music, which has a more lasting impact? Two very different genres but perhaps today, the same answer – classical music, whether instrumental or operatic has all other genres beat, across generations and platforms. You see, when you ask a person about classic music, answers can vary with the number of people surveyed and discussed – or argued without an agreement in sight. Answers range from classic rock, bluegrass, country, reggae, hip-hop, etc. and the list goes on. However, classical music is in a category all its own having spanned centuries and has even seen a resurgence in the pandemic world. With music from Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Wilhelm Richard Wagner to diverse modern composers today, classical music has long been disproved as being only for aristocrats and people of a social status. In fact, the appreciation of the artists’ masterpieces has transcended time by cultivating new audiences for their work as it infiltrates new platforms. Take for instance the use of classical music in the entertainment industry – in this case, specifically movies.

Continue reading Classical Music, Marketing, and Mental Health

Baseball and Collectibles: A Healthy Pastime

 

Competition is inevitable when it comes to any sport, however perhaps the World Series is just what this country needs right now. You see, according to Larry Olmsted, author of Fans: How Watching Sports Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Understanding (Algonquin Books, March 2, 2021) finds that being a fan of any sport boosts self-esteem, reduces depression and promotes a sense of belonging, noting that people are tribal in nature and that ultimately sports can heal communities. People may disagree, even argue but they part ways amicably and remain friends. So, amid the great political divide is the World Series. The Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves will take to the field and battle it out to crown the 2021 baseball champion and it couldn’t come at a better time. We all may benefit from it. Perhaps that’s why baseball – or any sports collectors are happier people year-round.

Continue reading Showing Off Your Favorite Baseball Items in Time for The World Series

Oktoberfest takes place in Munich, Bavaria, Germany every year from mid-September to the beginning of October. The festival runs for 16 to 18 days and is celebrated annually by more than 6 million people visiting Germany’s fairgrounds or d’Wiesn until recent years due to the pandemic. However, nothing can dampen the spirit of Germans and fun-loving revelers of every nationality. Hence, the explosion of formal and makeshift biergartens or beer gardens – an outdoor space where beer and food is served and shared at communal tables (today with limited number of patrons per table) like those in Bavaria at Oktoberfest. Congregating safely in smaller groups or local settings celebrating traditions with costumes, music, German food and of course beverages like beer is the destination. Continue reading Oktoberfest Celebrations, Customs, and Displayed Keepsakes