Thea Musgrave, Composer

Thea Musgrave, Composer A conductor as well as a composer,  Thea Musgrave  has conducted in the United States and Britain. She has taught at London University, the University of California at Santa Barbara, New College, Cambridge, and Queens University, New York. Her later work is known for dramatic-abstract musical forms. Dates:  May 27, 1928 - Occupation:  composer Music is a human art, not a sexual one. Sex is no more important than eye color. - Thea Musgrave Thea Musgrave was born in Barton, Scotland. She studied at Moreton Hall Schook, then at Edinburgh University, with Hans  Gl and Mary Grierson, and in Paris at the Conservatoire and with Nadia Boulanger. She studied with Tanglewood Festival with Aaron Copland in 1958. Thea Musgrave was a Guest Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1970, and from 1987 to 2002 taught at Queens College, City University of New York, appointed as a Distinguished Professor.   She has honorary degrees from Old Dominion University in Virginia, Glasgow University, Smith College and Bostons New England Conservatory of Music. Her early works include  The Suite oBairnsangs, a ballet  A Tale for Thieves  and an opera  The Abbot of Drimock.  Her best known works include  The Seasons, Rainbow, Black Tambourine  (for female voices, piano and percussion) and operas  The Voice of Ariadne, A Christmas Carol, Mary Queen of Scots,  and  Harriet: The Woman Called Moses.   Her later work, especially, extends traditional boundaries, emphasizing abstract form and dramatic content. Though her operas are perhaps her best known work, she also composed for ballet and childrens theater, and published many pieces for orchestra, piano and chamber music. as well as some pieces for vocal and choral performance. She often conducted her own work at major music festivals in America and Euorpe.   She is married to Peter Mark since 1971, a violist who was the conductor and general director of the Virginia Opera Association in the 1980s. Key Operas Composed in the 1970s,  Mary, Queen of Scots  is about the period when  Mary Stuart  returned to Scotland after her years in France, through her flight to England. Her A Christmas Carol, based on the story by Charles Dickens, was first performed in Virginia in 1979. Harriet: A Woman Called Moses was first performed in Virginia in 1985.   The opera is based on the life of Harriet Tubman  and her role in the Underground Railroad. Key Orchestral Works Thea  Musgrave published Concerto for Orchestra in 1967. This piece is noted for the solos moving around through different sections of the orchestra, then the soloists playing, standing, in the climax.   Several later pieces also featured soloists highlighting different parts of the orchestra, moving the players around the stage. Night Music is a 1969 piece noted for the emotions that it evokes.   In Viola Concerto the whole viola section is to rise at a specific point.   She considered her Peripeteia a kind of opera without words or specific plot. Choral Works The texts for Musgraves choral pieces are from a variety of classical and modern sources, including Hesiod, Chaucer, Michelangelo, John Donne, Shakespeare and D.H. Lawrence. Writing Musgrave published  The Choral Music of 21st Century Women Composers  in 1997, written with Elizabeth Lutyens and Elizabeth Merconchy. About Thea Musgrave Categories: musician, composer, conductorPlaces: Edinburgh, Scotland, United StatesPeriod: 20th century Print Bibliography Musgrave, Thea, Elizabeth Maconchy and Elisabeth Lutyens.  The Choral Music of Twentieth-Century Women Composers.  1997.Hixon, Donald L.  Thea Musgrave: A Bio-Bibliography. 1984. Music Women of Note  (CD)Premiere Performances  by Boston Musica VivaTwentieth Century Settings

What is an Anti-Hero Definition †Plus 10 Examples!

What is an Antis! What is an Antis! There’s something comforting about a protagonist who always does the right thing for the right reasons, like Superman. But there’s something compelling about a morally ambivalent protagonist who sometimes does the right thing, and only sometimes for the right reasons - like Tyrion Lannister.While Superman is a traditional take on a heroic protagonist, Tyrion is a decidedly skewed version. In other words, he’s an anti-hero.Let’s dig a little deeper into exactly what an anti-hero is, and why they’ve become so prevalent in stories. Learn all about the morally grey protagonists that readers love: the anti-hero Anti-Hero DefinitionAn anti-hero is a protagonist who lacks some of the conventional attributes of a traditional hero - like courage or morality. While their actions are ultimately noble, they don’t always act for the right reasons.For instance, they might save someone from a dangerous situation because it furthers their interests, not because they actually care about helping others.How is an anti-hero different from an anti-villain?While the two types of characters can be easily confused, the difference boils down to this:The anti-hero (or AH) does the right thing, but maybe not for the right reasons - and they lack a lot of the characteristics we’ve come to expect of tradition heroes.The anti-villain (or AV) does the wrong thing, but their motives are often noble - or, at least, sympathetic. Anti-villains typically have some characteristics we don’t commonly associate withâ€Å"bad guys.†At the end of the day, if you’re not quite sure whether a character is an anti-hero or an anti-villain, ask yourself this: who does the story ask readers to root for? If that character is morally grey, they’re likely the anti-hero. The morally grey character who opposes them is probably the anti-villain.Check out our post full of anti-villain examples to learn more.How is an anti-hero different from a villain-protagonist?Few books have been successfully written from the perspective of a completely irredeemable, morally reprehensible character. Readers want to be able to root for the protagonist at least a little bit. Exceptions include Humbert Humbert from Lolita, Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, and Tom Ripley from The Talented Mr. Ripley. By the end of these books, you’re likely waiting on tenterhooks for the protagonist to be brought to justice.These characters are classified as â€Å"Villain Protagonists.† They’re different from anti-heroes because the author purposefully avoids giving readers a reason to cheer for them. An anti-hero is a morally grey character we’re still encouraged to root for. But a villain protagonist is a â€Å"bad guy†- who happens to be the main character in the story.5 Types of Anti-HeroesNot all anti-heroes are created equally. In fact, TV Tropes classifies a â€Å"sliding scale† of these morally ambiguous protagonists. Unsurprisingly, the first type is†¦1. The Classic Anti-HeroTypical qualities of a fictional hero include confidence, bravery, stoicism, intelligence, handsome looks, and superb fighting capabilities. The Classic Anti-Hero is the inverse of these things: self-doubting, fearful, anxious, and lacking in combat skills. In general, the character arc of this AH follows them overcoming their â€Å"weaknesses† in order to vanquish the enemy.This type of AH is not necessarily on the grey scale of morality, they simply defy readers’ preconceived notions of heroism. id=attachment_18919 style="width: 1290px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">Olivia Pope from Scandal, V from V for Vendetta, Deadpool, Dexter, Nancy Botwin from Weeds, Arthur Dent from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Selina Meyer from Veep - once you know what an anti-hero is, there is no shortage of opportunities to spot them.If you’re looking to write your own controvertible protagonist, check out the following in-depth blog posts aimed at helping authors develop compelling characters.Character Development: How to Write Characters Your Readers Won't Forget 9 Common Types of Fantasy Characters (With Examples) How to Write a Compelling Character Arc 12 Character Archetypes Every Writer Should Know How to Create a Character Profile: the Ultimate Guide (with Template)Did we miss any anti-heroes who deserve a mention? Drop their name - or any other thoughts or questions - in the comments below!