Word: greats
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...Adam Smith, the founding father of capitalism, reminded us that the wealth of any nation could be measured by the number of people who live in poverty. The same can be said of Harvard. At a time when university administrators and alumni donors are busy celebrating the accumulation of great wealth, we would do well to remember that several thousand workers in our midst share neither the wealth nor the self-indulgence it so easily inspires...
...novel is overwritten enough that, when chopped into its composite elements, it makes for an enjoyable film that remains somewhat true to the book's original plot, as witnessed in the critically acclaimed L.A. Confidential. Occasionally, despite a terrible novel, a masterful director can be successfully reworked into a great movie, such as the aquatic thriller Jaws. But usually, a great work of literature finds itself dismembered and crammed into a limited space of two hours. While they can still be great movies, and even capture the true spirit of the works they are based on, the audience--if they...
...said exactly why they were first drawn to the instrument, but they both agree that there is a sort of adrenaline rush associated with the timpani's wildly expansive dynamic range. Beaver points out that he gets to play everything from the gentle, dying heartbeat in a requiem to great, rolling sforzandos where he "comes in like the hand of God," a not unsatisfying experience. Ganksheim also admits that he enjoys the timpani's central role in the orchestra--it's a crucial element, providing at once a rhythmic backbone and melodic counterpoint...
...them stooping over the drumhead during the concert as though they were whispering into a gargantuan ear, that's because they are testing their tuning. They're singing the pitch softly into the drum, and if it sings back, they know they have it right. A great deal of care goes into this process: as Beaver wryly put it, "If the hand of God comes in a half-step off, it's not too impressive...
...great acting is rounded out by Angela Bassett who plays Janet Reeves, the stubborn high school principal. Bassett is loud and emotional in her portrayal--the determination of her character shines right through. Moreover, Bassett and Streep complement each other well during many pivotal moments in the movie. When Guaspari's funding for the music program is cut and Reeves is unable to save it despite exhausting her efforts, the angry exchange between Streep and Bassett conveys the helplessness and frustration that many educators surely feel toward the politics of the education system. I was sold...