I usually get people’s attention when I type the word “ TWITTER,” followed by the caption, “ What’s The Most Powerful Thing in the World?”
This is not only a true statement for Twitter. Experts in the advertising world are saying that this form of Social Media is exploding and twitter is currently ranked #11 in the world of the most “hit” websites. Twitter also disclosed for the first time earlier this week that it currently has 105 million registered users and 180 million unique visitors to Twitter.com. They also handle 800 million search queries per day. Mind you, this company started in 2006. Just when your son and/ or daughter enrolled as a freshman in college and graduated, the three founders of Twitter became multi-millionaires in four short years!
Now, I’m not saying, “don’t go to school.” GO! What I am revealing to you is that while most people think an education is powerful; or government is powerful; or the economy is the most powerful thing in the world; or God is the most powerful thing in the world… those are all incorrect! Ladies and Gentleman, the most powerful thing in the world is… (drum roll)…an idea.
Now, this is where some of you may sigh and say “Coach Ron, come’on! God… the economy… government?” Well, let’s get down to the real nitty gritty here: If people don’t pray, God is not going to come down and make you do anything against your human will. (Trust me on this. I asked Him for years) Ok, the economy. Coach Ron, do you know how many people were forced to stop working because of the powerful force of the economy? I sure do and mind you, ask the founders of Twitter if the economy hit them.
We’re not negating God, the Economy or the Government’s power. In fact, in my heart and mind, God is King! But the most powerful thing in the world is to circulate and use the gifts you have been given to create, dream and implement an IDEA (hear the spirit in which I’m writing to you) coupled with the help of prayer, the good hardworking consumers of America and a government, do something so powerful that it completely changes your life and millions around you! Here’s a free idea for someone, “How can you help someone else today?” Here’s another idea: pray for one!
“Passion is the power that creates life and brings you to your ultimate cause.” – Ron Kardashian.”
What’s your passion? What’s your IDEA?
Send me your thoughts this week by e-mail and someone will win a FREE coaching session on just how to make your dream a reality! Who knows, you could be singing…”Rocking Robin…Tweet, tweet, tweelydeet..” I sure am and want you with me! Used by permission. “The 30 second Solution.” By Ron Kardashian in book stores Fall of 2011.
Ron Kardashian
Ron Kardashian is a life coach, fitness expert, educator, conference speaker, author, national television and radio personality, and NSCA-certified strength and conditioning coach. Kardashian was one of America’s first life coaches. In 1994, he founded Kardashian Life Coaching & Personal Training and has since inspired hundreds to reach their full physical, mental and spiritual potential.
Kardashian has been twice nominated as Personal Trainer of the Year. He has been an honored speaker for the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Considered a “coach’s coach,” he has empowered executives to operate at peak performance; personally, professionally, and most important , spiritually.
Ron also heads a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation that is relentless in its efforts of bringing optimal health to people of all walks of life. This organization’s mission is to fight obesity and related diseases on a global scale. Across the globe, Kardashian’s unique approach has garnered amazing results, making him a powerful, voice of change for professional athletes, CEOs, political leaders, and clergymen of every age, religion, and creed. Ron lives in California with his beautiful wife, Tia, and two children.
I feel like I’m living in one of those old newsreels, where calendar pages flip furiously to signify the passage of time. Okay, it’s December. I get it.
Like most of you I’ve been spending way too much time in crowded stores—not to mention hours spent shopping on line—but all of this only makes my weekly trips to the farmers’ market even sweeter. While loading up on this month’s cache of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables for entertaining and baking as well as daily sustenance, I often seize the opportunity to cross a few names off my gift list. Call it multi-tasking.
Just as boutiques and small specialty shops offer a more unique and pleasant shopping experience than elbowing your way through a massive department store, the farmers’ market provides a discerning alternative to sprawling supermarkets. At the farmers’ market you are sure to find top-quality locally-grown produce at a fair price…and without the distraction of Muzak, fluorescent lights, climate-controlled air conditioning, and pretty young things with perfume samples. Shopping in the fresh air—what a concept!
The people at Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association understand the plight of the harried holiday shopper, and recruit extra vendors to inspire you with tastefully selected seasonal items ideal for giving. The obvious choices are poinsettias and other living plants, holiday wreaths, and just-picked flowers at some of the best prices in town. All the makings for personalized gift bags or baskets are there, too—with products like bottles of California extra-virgin olive oil; plump sun-dried tomatoes; this year’s crop of California walnuts and almonds; golden honey; dried California apricots, raisins, and other popular preserved fruits, as well as glistening jars of jam and fruit preserves. I don’t know about you, but I would welcome any of these gifts over, say, a goofy coffee mug or a tin of imported cookies from the warehouse store.
I would even appreciate a gift-basket of tree-ripened apples or juicy oranges, with or without a big tartan-plaid bow. In simpler times it was considered A Very Big Deal to receive an orange in your Christmas stocking. And who can forget the kinder-gentler Don Corleone, deftly peeling an orange to delight his grandson? Californians tend to take oranges for granted…probably because we don’t need to look far to find an orange tree, if not a full-blown orange grove…but if you’ve ever been disappointed by a dry or flavorless orange, it’s time to reconsider your purchasing power.
Just when the fruit inventory at the farmers’ market appears less plentiful, citrus comes in strong—but beware. Not all oranges are created equal. They may resemble what you see at the supermarket, but the real test is in the taste. Farmers’ market citrus is grown locally, tree-ripened, and delivered directly to market by the growers—usually within 48 hours of harvesting. Fruit destined for supermarkets goes from the tree to a packing house, where it is stored for a while; then to a cooler, where it can be stored for months; then finally trucked an indeterminate number of miles to a grocery store warehouse, where it is stored once again until needed. Also consider that commercially grown oranges are often picked before they have attained optimum sweetness so they can be rushed to stores to meet the demand—and their skins are routinely dyed to cover green spots and give them a brighter, “fresher-looking” hue. Trying to out-smart Mother Nature takes a lot of time and labor….and it is the consumer who ultimately pays for it.
In a month laden with butter and chocolate and whipped cream with a heavy dusting of powdered sugar, a simple yet festive fruit dessert is often appreciated. Poached pears are always a favorite, but here is something that is totally refreshing…and a lot less work.
If you simply cannot resist the temptation to gild the lily, garnish with sprigs of fresh mint—or even a tablespoon or two of very thinly sliced fresh mint leaves.
Chilled Oranges in Marsala Syrup
9 medium California navel oranges
1 cup granulated pure cane sugar
21/2 cups sweet Marsala wine
1/3 cup orange-flavor liqueur, such as Triple Sec
1 or 2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
1/3 cup golden raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
Fresh mint (optional)
Using a vegetable peeler, peel away the skin from 1 orange, leaving the bitter white pith behind. Cut the skin into very thin strips. (Alternatively, remove the skin with a citrus zester.) Squeeze the juice from the orange and set aside.
In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the orange peel strips and boil for 3 minutes. Drain in a fine sieve, rinse with cold water, and drain again. Set aside.
Using a sharp knife, slice the ends from the remaining 8 oranges and cut away all the skin and white pith. Working over a large heatproof bowl to catch the juices, cut the oranges crosswise into 1/4-inch rounds. As you work, place the orange slices in the bowl. Pour in the reserved orange juice from Step 1.
In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, Marsala, orange liqueur, and cinnamon stick(s). Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture has a slightly syrupy consistency. Stir in the strips of orange peel and the raisins, if using.
Pour the hot syrup over the orange slices. Stir gently to mix with the orange slices and juices in the bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, until well chilled. (Feel free to make these a day in advance, if it’s more convenient.)
To serve, discard the cinnamon stick(s). Remove the fruit with a slotted spoon and arrange the orange slices overlapping slightly on a rimmed serving platter or in individual shallow dessert bowls, taking care that the zest and raisins are distributed evenly. Drizzle the Marsala syrup over the top and garnish with fresh mint, if desired. Serves 6-8.
Orange you glad to know….
–Contrary to common logic, the orange is not named for its color. The name comes from the Sanskrit naranga, which comes from the Tamil naru, which means fragrant.
–Oranges have long been associated with fertility and good fortune, as the lush evergreen tree can simultaneously produce flowers, fruit, and foliage. The fertility trifecta.
–Although oranges are native to Asia and now grow in warm-weather regions throughout the world, the U.S. is the world’s largest producer.
–Look for citrus that feels heavy for its size…this is a low-tech indicator of juice content. –Since commercially-produced oranges are often dyed, skin color is not an indication of quality.
–Plenty of varieties of sweet oranges abound this month. Valencia is an all-purpose variety best known for its superior juice; navel oranges are conveniently seedless. Exotic blood oranges have stunning ruby-red juice that is lower in acid. Then there are all those loose-skinned relatives from the mandarin branch of the family—like tangerines, clementines, and tangelos. Bitter oranges, like the Seville used for marmalade, are less common in the U.S.
–Almost all of the orange is usable: the flesh, the juice, and the aromatic skin. The spongy white pith is usually discarded because of its bitterness.
–Fresh-squeezed orange juice has a considerably higher Vitamin C content than canned, bottled, or frozen concentrate.
–Oranges will keep up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
———————————————————————————————————— The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com.
World Series Championships are rare. Naturally, the big fan on your holiday gift list will want to keep that glow of this season’s accomplishment burning until pitchers and catcher report for the 2011 season in February.
The easy solution is to purchase one of the quickly produced publications that recount the team’s miraculous run to the Western Division title from seven games back in August, and through the playoffs and World Series against teams most experts considered superior. Another more thoughtful approach would be to purchase one of three books selected by Off the Bench that capture the heritage behind Orange Fridays, The Freak and Aubrey Huff’s thong. These books give readers an understanding of how the Giants franchise came to be what it is today and made the Bay Area proud this fall.
Giants Past & Present by Dan Fost: Loaded with illustrations, most in full color, dating back to the team’s days in New York, Giants Past & Present is a lively primer on the history of the team that has won more major league games than any other. The Giants also have had more players enshrined as Hall of Famers than any other franchise, even the Yankees. In less than 150 pages, Fost covers the best players and teams in Giants history; some of the heartbreak; the best and worst trades; the ballparks the team has called home; and event features a chapter on its fans.
The real fun is the pictures. Readers can see all the Giants heroes from Hall of Fame manager John McGraw to Willie Mays to Will Clark to Barry Bonds to Tim Lincecum. Did you know that the team colors have not always been orange and black? In the early 20th Century the Giants wore purple, and in the 1940s the team wore red, white and blue as a salute to the war effort. Today’s uniform design is very similar to the style sported in 1958, the first season in San Francisco, but during the last 52 years it went through four overhauls. All are captured by Fost. Giants Past & Present is perfect for the fan on your list that is curious about how the Giants came to be what they are today, and wants to learn through historic photos and a simple, direct writing style. Fost’s book retails for $25 and is available on amazon.com and through MVP Books of Minneapolis. It is part of a series that captures most big league franchises.
The Giants of the Polo Grounds by Noel Hynd: This tome is for the serious baseball historian who is interested in exploring the team’s roots in New York up through the move to San Francisco. The 382 page paperback edition has just a few pictures and the text can be dense. It is also an exhaustive history of the franchise during its days playing in the most unique ballpark in the majors during what many consider to be baseball’s golden age. If the baseball fan in your house wants to learn more about Christy Mathewson and the 1908 pennant race, the dropped fly ball by Fred Snodgrass that cost the Giants the 1911 World Series, the feud between McGraw and Babe Ruth, the Giants role in the cancellation of the 1904 World Series, all the machinations behind Bobby Thomson’s pennant winning homer in 1951, and the glory of the 1905, 1921, 1922, 1933 and 1954 World Championship teams, then you can pick up this book new or used on amazon.com.
The Giants and the Dodgers by Andrew Goldblatt: Every good story needs a villain, and the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers play that role for the Giants and their fans. Goldblatt lives in Berkeley and describes himself as a Giants fan. He even expressed some sorrow during a presentation attended by this reviewer at the cooperation provided him by the Dodgers as he researched his lively and informative book. The Giants and the Dodgers is meticulously researched yet maintains its sense of fun. Readers will understand how the rivalry grew and festered in New York and was purposefully maintained by ownership of both clubs when the teams moved west. Giant fans will enjoy reliving how the orange and black broke Dodger hearts in 1951, 1962, 1971, 1982 and 1997. The playoff wins in 1951 and 1962 featuring improbable ninth inning rallies in the deciding games are given special attention. The book is loaded with colorful personalities and gives detailed coverage to the very real dislike players on both teams felt for each other throughout the history of the rivalry. And while Goldblatt hints that that enmity has cooled somewhat in recent years, it still runs high amongst Bay Area fans, and those on your list who revel in hating the Dodgers while loving the Giants will enjoy this book. You can find The Giants and the Dodgers on amazon.com and through McFarland & Co. publishers at prices up to $29.95.
As you read this there are about 100 days until the 2011 Giants season opens April 1 at Dodger Stadium. By giving the fan on your list all three books this holiday season, you may even keep him or her occupied until that first pitch is thrown.
I believe that it is more critical than ever for U.S. based investors to pay attention to what is happening outside our borders and particularly in the emerging markets. There appears to be a widening divergence between the expected economic growth rates within the developed world and the emerging markets. According to investment firm PIMCO, GDP growth of the developed world is expected to be in the 1% to 2% range going forward versus 4% to 8% for the emerging markets represented by China, Brazil, Russia, India, and Mexico.1 This trend is nothing new, yet many investors are under exposed to the fastest growing regions on the planet. In my opinion, investments in the emerging markets provide one of the most attractive risk/reward opportunities available.
In my view, the emerging market economies still hold tremendous potential over the next couple of decades. They are undergoing a long term trend of greater economic importance and wealth creation. Emerging market economies have several positive tail winds in place when compared to the developed world: They are commodity rich, have a growing middle class with rising incomes, younger demographics, and ironically, less government debt as a percentage of GDP than the U.S. and the rest of the developed world.2 The rise of the emerging market consumer is expected to gradually replacing the U.S. consumer as the key driver to global demand. Consider the case of General Motors. For the first time ever, during the first quarter of this year GM sold more vehicles in China than in the U.S. But this is not just a China story. Emerging market consumers all over the world are vital to GM. So far this year, roughly 50% of GM’s sales have been outside of the traditional American and European markets.1
So how should investors approach the emerging markets? Consider increasing your allocations to emerging market equities and also investing in the large U.S. based companies that do a lot of business in the emerging markets. Often overlooked is your bond exposure to emerging markets. Emerging market corporate and government bonds appear especially attractive when compared to bonds here in the U.S. and the developed world. Not only are yields much higher on emerging market bonds, but there is a very good chance that emerging market currencies will appreciate versus the U.S. dollar. Investors may benefit from both higher yields and some currency appreciation. None of this is without risk however. Emerging markets have historically been volatile and there are always political and policy risks to consider. Despite the risks, a new world order is upon us. Investors need to embrace the opportunity to invest in those countries that are rapidly becoming a significant economic force throughout the globe.
1. PIMCO’s Emerging Markets Watch, October 2010
2. J.P. Morgan, Guide to the Markets, 4Q, 2010 Damien helps individuals invest and manage risk. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a principal of Walnut Creek Wealth Management. These are the views of Damien Couture, CFP® and should not be construed as investment advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Your comments are welcome. Damien can be reached at 925-280-1800 x101 or Damien@WalnutCreekWealth.com.
The Holidays are so exciting with parties, family get-togethers, special events and more. To keep up with all the festivities and entertaining you need the right beauty secrets to keep you looking beautiful and refreshed.
GET EVEN The most important beauty accessory you can purchase this holiday season is a good foundation color and try a custom made specifically for your very own skin color. If you use a foundation, it is important to match the skin tones perfectly so it looks ultra-natural. The wrong color can make your complexion look ashy, ruddy or too yellow, making you look tired and older than you actually are. Even if you are pale, you can fake it by using a slightly warmer color to give you a new and natural glow and without lines under the chin area. Here at The Rouge we are experts at custom-blending foundations and powders. Our custom blend foundation from Fleur Visage is water-based and gives you perfect coverage without feeling heavy. We offer custom blending daily and walk–ins are always welcome. Be confident, beautiful and glow this holiday season with an incredible, personalized foundation just for you.
CAMOUFLAGE those under eye circles with a correct-all concealer. You can look brand new in seconds with the right concealer, applied directly to the eyelid and under the eye. It is important to use a concealer that is slightly lighter than your own skin tone so it looks natural and even. It should have a strong pigment to conceal imperfections and look natural. Always use a powder after applying the concealer to help seal and set the concealer and it will make eye shadows look smooth and fresh and last all day without creasing. Do not use a concealer that is much lighter than your natural skin tones, because it may have an owl-like effect around the eyes that not only looks unnatural but ages you as well. Furthermore do not do the mistake of using a green or yellow concealer because it will make your eyes and skin look ashy, ghostly and pale. A lot of women think if they use a lighter color concealer it will help hide redness and dark imperfections. But if you have the right color and enough pigment in the concealer, it will hide discoloration, flaws and dark circles easily, leaving a natural, youthful radiance to the eye area and the skin.
HYDRATE SKIN for a smoother, glowing complexion. Using creams filled with Nuero-Peptides will dramatically improve skins texture and smoothness. Neuro-Peptides has been scientifically researched and are in fact one of the most aggressive anti-aging antioxidant products on the market to give you visual improvement in decreasing wrinkle formation, preventing age spots and smoothing the surface of the skin.
We welcome you to stop by The Rouge this holiday season to try our concealers, sample our Neuro-peptide creams and we will personally formulate a custom blended foundation color just for you! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Last month, I jumped the gun by asking questions about the frustrations of the San Francisco Giants in not winning a World Series in 53 seasons playing in SF. I’m happy to report, our wait is over. They won and the entire Bay Area can rejoice. We are wonderfully blessed to have two Major League teams within our geographical area and they are both worthy of our support. Would like to do more baseball questions this month, but I am sure the readers are not all fans, so I work up some holiday cheer.
Who starred in the updated version of “Christmas Carol” known as “Scrooged” in 1988?
Who was the singing host of the perennial Christmas TV favorite “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”?
What famous singer wrote the lyrics to “The Christmas Song”?
Who played the title role in the 1985 movie “Santa Claus”?
What is in James Stewart’s pocket when he is brought back to the present on Christmas Eve in the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”?
Who played the music for “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” as well as all of the other Peanuts TV specials?
NOVEMBER’S TRIVIA ANSWERS:
Bobby Richardson
Ralph Terry
Candy Maldonado
Mitch Williams
Scott Spiezio
Bengie Molina
NOVEMBER TRIVIA WINNER:
Barry Tiras of Walnut Creek
WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate at The Uptown Cafe in downtown Danville, compliments of Ben Fernandez!
Entries must be received by Dec 24, 2010. In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 199 East Linda Mesa Avenue, Suite 10, Danville, CA 94526. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible.
Restaurant may be changed without notice.
I love Christmas and I love movies. I love Christmas movies! I have to admit that for years I recorded all the Christmas movies that came on TV to video, that way the day after Thanksgiving the Christmas movie marathon would begin. Every year I added a few new ones. Then came my precious DVR. I had been set free! I threw away all my old VHS tapes and cleared the shelves. This year has been especially great because the TV programmers are running all the Christmas re-runs at odd hours so they don’t conflict with prime time. Bless them!!
I tried to pick a favorite to review but found I had many favorites depending on my mood and who was watching with me. My grandkids and I have already watched Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Who Stole Christmas this year. I can do that with the kids because they don’t know about the “after Thanksgiving” rule and probably wouldn’t care if they did. It’s a great family movie with lots of action, fun and holiday sentiment. For the little ones, it’s not too scary and Jim Carrey is absolutely amazing as the Grinch who was an outcast as a little one because of his green hairy body. Why is the Grinch a grouch? Little Cindy Lou takes the matter into her own hands and turns both Whoville and The Grinch’s world upside down, inside out…funny side up in her search for the true meaning of Christmas. Kudos to Oscar-winning director Ron Howard for this holiday favorite.
When Tom and Laura, my thirty-something children, were young their favorite was Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. This movie is so very sweet even the littlest will enjoy. It has a message about love and family that even the toddlers can understand.
White Christmas is one of my favorite classics. My sisters and I still sing one of the songs, and we’ve passed the love on to our daughters. How can you go wrong with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye? A more recent holiday tradition is none other than Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation, still funny after all these years!
Last decade brought us Polar Express with Tom Hanks. This cinematic miracle was brought to us in 3D and was truly amazing not only for it’s message but also it’s technical delivery. I also loved The Holiday, a quirky little movie with Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black and Kate Winslet. It’s a good “cuddle up with your honey,” watch. I can’t forget my favorite Hallmark Christmas movie, Season of Miracles, to get you in the holiday spirit.
Last but certainly not least is The Nativity Story. This movie is about the birth of Christ which is obviously what Christmas is all about. If you and your family have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas, I encourage you to buy it, rent it or look for it on your TV this season. It’s definitely worth the watch every year!
No matter what your culture or religion these are great feel good movies that lift the spirit and the heart. Once again, I encourage your comments at hastings@rockcliff.com. You can find some past reviews on the www.aliveeastbay.com.
Q. Tom, our home has been on the market for about 45 days and on the advice of our Realtor we intend to leave it on through the holidays. Are we making the right decision to leave it on and what, if anything, should we do to make it more attractive to buyers?
Good for you! Many sellers take their homes off the active market during the holiday period causing the available inventory to decrease, which means from a supply/demand standpoint you have a better chance of selling. That’s good. In order to optimize your chance of selling, I recommend you focus on two fundamentals. First, review your pricing to confirm that you are “value-priced” for the market. As we say in the business, in this market everything is “for sale” – and your house must be “on-sale” as only the best values get the attention of the savvy buyers in the marketplace. Second, keep holiday decorating to a minimum by not overdoing the lights and ornamental clutter. Keep in mind it is important that the buyer gets a clear view of the real property and not personal property.
Q. What is the purpose of the appraisal contingency in the standard home purchase contract?
Great question. The appraisal is the “check and balance” in the transaction to insure that the buyer is not unknowingly paying too much for the property. The verbiage is fairly straightforward, “this agreement is contingent upon a written appraisal of the property by a licensed or certified appraiser at no less than the specified purchase price.” It also affirms to the lender that the home is, in fact, worth what the buyer is proposing to pay for it thereby insuring that lending against is it a reasonable risk. If a particular home does not appraise for the agreed upon purchase price, then the buyer and seller can agree to re-negotiate the price (generally to the lower appraisal amount) or the two parties can agree to cancel the contract with the buyer’s deposit refunded in full.
Q. I will most likely sell my home sometime in 2011. Tom, what should I be thinking of now to insure getting the highest price possible?I love sellers who plan ahead and pay attention to the fundamentals! They always end up being the happiest with the entire process. The following should be your plan:
1) Determine when you want to sell – early or late spring, summer or fall. 2) If you don’t have a professional real estate agent, start researching one. If you do have a trustworthy agent, call him or her over for a consultative appointment to review market conditions, pricing levels and property condition issues. 3) Start the de-clutter and enhancement work early as nearly every home needs to be cleaned, painted, landscaped, and/or handy-manned in some way. 4) Accept the fact that your home is worth less than it was a few years ago. 2007 values are long gone. 5) Listen to your agent when he/she recommends aggressively pricing your home. The best agents are bluntly forthright about pricing and the most satisfied sellers are the ones who understand that “value-priced” homes are the ones that sell in today’s market.
Tom HartTom Hart is a practicing Real Estate Broker and a partner at Empire Realty Associates in Danville. He is a Certified Master Negotiator by the University of San Francisco and a Certified Master Strategist by HSM Harvard Program on Negotiation. He is past president of the Contra Costa Association of Realtors (2005) and past president of the Realtors’ Marketing Association of the San Ramon Valley. Tom is in high demand as a speaker & trainer inside & outside the real estate industry.
Holiday music, sacred Christmas carols and secular songs, are heard almost daily in this festive season. Sacred carols center around the birth of the Christ Child who is Lord and Savior to millions of Christians around the globe. Secular holiday music speaks of other things like Santa Claus, white Christmas, chestnuts roasting, among others.
Prominent in the classical music genre is the music of two master composers of the late Baroque Period – George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) and Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). These giants in music history were both born in Germany but couldn’t be further apart in their personal life and world outlook.
Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was the consummate family man. An introverted conservative, he was a devoted Christian who was gifted as a master musician, organist and composer, Bach was sedentary in terms of travel and never ventured out of his native Germany. Born into a family of musicians he continued the family tradition by siring 20 children. He first married his cousin Maria Bach, with whom he had seven children. After she died, he married Anna Magdalena Wilke, and had thirteen children by her. Some of his children became gifted composers in their own right.
Bach’s main contribution to Christmas music is the great Christmas Oratorio composed in 1733-34. An oratorio is an extensive setting for orchestra, chorus and solo voices derived from, or based on, selections from the Bible. It is performed devoid of costumes, scenery or action on the part of the soloists.
The first performance of the Christmas Oratorio was on December 25, 1739 in St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig, Germany. It is in six parts and almost three hours long. Each part was presented on a major feast day between Christmas and Epiphany. It was also performed as a whole or split into two parts. Bach’s attitude towards the oratorio was one of absolute devotion. All of Bach’s music was dedicated to the greater glory of God.
George Frederick Handel
Handel was an extrovert and a “man of the world,” (unlike Bach) a bon vivant. In his early years he traveled extensively and spent three years in Italy studying and absorbing Italian music, especially Italian opera. In 1712 he went to England and remained there the rest of his life. He never returned to his native Germany. “The German became England’s greatest composer of Italian music,” said Musicologist, Marcus Weeks.
Handel’s musical talent was recognized early and he was allowed to have formal training even though he was not from a musical family. He is most well-known for his masterpiece, Messiah, often incorrectly called “The” Messiah.
While Bach’s attitude was devotional – Handel’s approach to the oratorio was more subjective, using it to express his own dynamic personality and incorporating the elements of his dramatic style. Handel’s oratorio was performed on stage in a theater for an audience, not a congregation. Unlike Bach’s religious oratorios, Handel’s oratorios were not designed for devotion but for a full evening of entertaining vocal and orchestral music using Biblical sources.
Depressed and in debt, Handel wrote Messiah in an astonishing 24 days in 1741. It contains elements of his mature, full-blown style. It is considered to be a high point of Baroque oratorical composition.
*Messiah presents an interpretation of the Christian view of the Messiah or “the anointed one” as Jesus the Christ. Divided into three parts, the libretto covers the prophecies concerning the Christ, the birth, miracles, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and finally the end times with Christ’s final victory over death and sin.
The first performance in 1742 was in Dublin, Ireland. The tradition of standing for the Hallelujah Chorus was started by King George II, who was so moved by the music that he stood up – audiences have been doing it ever since.
Messiah “Sing-A-Longs”
There are many opportunities to hear Messiah each Christmas season. It is the most performed large choral work ever written. There are also local opportunities to participate in “Sing-A-Long Messiahs.” Many communities offer this to the public. To participate in San Ramon, call Dean Christman at 925-984-2860. Christman will conduct ‘brush-up” work-shops for singers to perform Messiah on December 19, at 7 p.m. at the San Ramon Presbyterian Church. Come and be part of your own Messiah performance, complete with full orchestra. A memorable family event.
Mark your calendars for the 10th annual free Christmas Concert “Comin’Home For Christmas” with the Danville Community Band, Director, Robert Calonico and Director-Emeritus, Dr. Lawrence Anderson. A highlight is Danville’s own, George Komsky, tenor soloist, Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. East Bay Fellowship, 2615 Camino Tassajara, Danville, CA 94506 (Across from the Danville Post Office.)
The Band’s annual Christmas concert is the event that helps make the holidays bright, for young and old alike. A Christmas Festival, Mary’s Boy Child, Angels from the Realms of Glory, Holst Winter Suite and the perennial favorite, Sleigh Ride are some of the featured selections. (A visitor from the North Pole may appear.)
Join us for this wonderful family event to celebrate the holidays. Concert and parking FREE! For information see www.danvilleband.org or call 925-372-8420.
