Beethoven, Choral fantasie in C minor

"The Fantasia op. 80 (or “Choral Fantasy”) was first performed at the Akademie (benefit concert) of 22 December 1808, which also saw the premières of the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies as well as a performance of portion of the C major Mass. To conclude this memorable concert program, Beethoven wanted a “brilliant Finale” that would unite in a single piece the different musical elements highlighted in the concert night: piano solo, chorus and orchestra. The Fantasia op. 80, written shortly prior, was thus written expressly to fulfill this role.

Beethoven himself played the piano part and the opening solo offers an example of his improvisational style (at the première he did, in fact, improvise this section). The piece, however, is best known for an early version of that simplice theme that Beethoven would later use as the melodic line for the Ode to Joy theme in the Ninth Symphony. The text was provided by the poet Christoph Kuffner with Beethoven's input. The theme – universal fraternity with the meetings of arts – also foreshadows Schiller's "Ode to Joy". This, along with the strong musical similarities, means there is an obvious connection between the Fantasia op. 80 with the finale of the 9th Symphony (...)." (http://hr.cantorion.org/music/1853/Choral_Fantasy_in_C_minor_Full_Score)

http://www.youtube.com/user/OedipusTyrannus#p/c/40D5C98762917CBF/0/o-NCAIwSN3U

Burma VJ

"Burma VJ -- for video journalist -- is filmmaking at its most fearless, with Ostergaard creating a suspenseful, harrowing account of his original key subject, known only as "Joshua," whose face is never seen, and his colleagues risking their lives to record the "Saffron Rebellion" and its dire consequences in order that the whole world could see for itself a brave attempt to challenge one of the most brutal and repressive military dictatorships on the planet." (http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/29/entertainment/et-capsules29)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEwPqNMZIhg

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) 1/9

The Human Voice

"The great oral historian Studs Terkel was an inspiration to StoryCorps, and he was also an early participant in the project. In this animated short, he speaks out on what has been lost in modern life and where he sees hope for our future. "

http://vimeo.com/14772588

The Icing on the Cake

"Blanca Alvarez and her husband risked crossing the border to immigrate into the U.S. and then struggled to make ends meet. They hoped to shelter their children from these harsh realities, but Blanca's daughter Connie reveals how much children can really see of their parents' lives—and the inspiration they draw from their struggles."

http://vimeo.com/14775138

The history of Italian opera, beginnings

Germans in the Woods

"Joseph Robertson was an infantryman in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. The stark black and white images in this short haunt the viewer, just as Robertson is haunted by his memories from that battle."

http://vimeo.com/14554974

Q&A

"Joshua Littman, a 12-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome, interviews his mother, Sarah. Joshua’s unique questions and Sarah’s loving, unguarded answers reveal a beautiful relationship that reminds us of the best—and the most challenging—parts of being a parent."

http://vimeo.com/11305685

Danny & Annie

"Danny Perasa and his wife, Annie, came to StoryCorps to recount their twenty-seven-year romance. As they remember their life together from their first date to Danny’s final days with terminal cancer, these remarkable Brooklynites personify the eloquence, grace, and poetry that can be found in the voices of everyday people when we take the time to listen."

http://vimeo.com/12562270

Itzhak Perlman and Isaac Stern play Bach Double Concerto (part 1)