7 research outputs found
J. S. Bach and the high school choir: A resource guide for teachers of intermediate and advanced level high school choirs
While familiarly with Bach’s well-known themes exists in the general aspects of contemporary lifestyle, providing exposure to the choral works of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) presents a particular challenge to the high school choral director. The purpose of this investigation is to provide a resource guide for the performance of choral masterworks of J. S. Bach at the high school level. For the purposes of narrowing this investigation, the following masterworks were reviewed: Magnificat, BWV 243; Mass in B Minor, BWV 232; Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248; St. John Passion, BWV 245; and St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244. A review of literature examined biographical and historical information, as well as choral pedagogy for high school singers. Three overarching categories were defined in order to focus the scope of this investigation, (1) Context: The Masterwork and Movement; (2) Analysis: The Learner, Singer, and Musician; and (3) Performance: Rehearsal/Concert Considerations. Within the three categories, specific criteria and parameters were defined to aid in the selection and preparation of suitable masterwork movements. Within the first category, “Context: The Masterwork and Movement,” investigation criteria included a historical introduction to the selection and consideration of the text and translation. Parameters defining these criteria were historical background, general difficulty levels, programming considerations, and meaning and application of the text to high school singers. Within the second category, “Analysis: The Learner, Singer, and Musician,” vocal considerations and compositional elements were designated as category criteria. Parameters defining these criteria included vocal range and passagios, tessitura, and flexibility as well as key and time signatures. Within the third category, “Performance: Rehearsal/Concert Considerations,” structural elements and performance recommendations were designated as category criteria. Parameters included formal structure, melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic structures, original instrumentation, and adaptation for modern high school performances, and the inclusion of professional soloists. Based on the categories, criteria, and study parameters, selected movements of the five Masterworks suitable for high school choral performance were analyzed. Embedded throughout the discussions are pedagogical recommendations pertaining to student acquisition, learning, and rehearsal strategies. A timeline of Bach’s life, text translations, and a summary reference chart are included in the appendixes
Meat and Nicotinamide:A Causal Role in Human Evolution, History, and Demographics
Hunting for meat was a critical step in all animal and human evolution. A key brain-trophic element in meat is vitamin B 3 /nicotinamide. The supply of meat and nicotinamide steadily increased from the Cambrian origin of animal predators ratcheting ever larger brains. This culminated in the 3-million-year evolution of Homo sapiens and our overall demographic success. We view human evolution, recent history, and agricultural and demographic transitions in the light of meat and nicotinamide intake. A biochemical and immunological switch is highlighted that affects fertility in the ‘de novo’ tryptophan-to-kynurenine-nicotinamide ‘immune tolerance’ pathway. Longevity relates to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide consumer pathways. High meat intake correlates with moderate fertility, high intelligence, good health, and longevity with consequent population stability, whereas low meat/high cereal intake (short of starvation) correlates with high fertility, disease, and population booms and busts. Too high a meat intake and fertility falls below replacement levels. Reducing variances in meat consumption might help stabilise population growth and improve human capital
The influence of “normal” temperatures on life processes in poikilotherm animals exclusive of growth and development processes
Contribution of copy number variants to schizophrenia from a genome-wide study of 41,321 subjects
Copy number variants (CNVs) have been strongly implicated in the genetic
etiology of schizophrenia (SCZ). However, genome-wide investigation of
the contribution of CNV to risk has been hampered by limited sample
sizes. We sought to address this obstacle by applying a centralized
analysis pipeline to a SCZ cohort of 21,094 cases and 20,227 controls. A
global enrichment of CNV burden was observed in cases (odds ratio (OR) =
1.11, P = 5.7 x 10(-15)), which persisted after excluding loci
implicated in previous studies (OR = 1.07, P = 1.7 x 10(-6)). CNV burden
was enriched for genes associated with synaptic function (OR = 1.68, P =
2.8 x 10(-11)) and neurobehavioral phenotypes in mouse (OR = 1.18, P =
7.3 x 10(-5)). Genome-wide significant evidence was obtained for eight
loci, including 1q21.1, 2p16.3 (NRXN1), 3q29, 7q11.2, 15q13.3, distal
16p11.2, proximal 16p11.2 and 22q11.2. Suggestive support was found for
eight additional candidate susceptibility and protective loci, which
consisted predominantly of CNVs mediated by nonallelic homologous
recombination
Contribution of copy number variants to schizophrenia from a genome-wide study of 41,321 subjects
Copy number variants (CNVs) have been strongly implicated in the genetic etiology of schizophrenia (SCZ). However, genome-wide investigation of the contribution of CNV to risk has been hampered by limited sample sizes. We sought to address this obstacle by applying a centralized analysis pipeline to a SCZ cohort of 21,094 cases and 20,227 controls. A global enrichment of CNV burden was observed in cases (odds ratio (OR) = 1.11, P = 5.7 x 10(-15)), which persisted after excluding loci implicated in previous studies (OR = 1.07, P = 1.7 x 10(-6)). CNV burden was enriched for genes associated with synaptic function (OR = 1.68, P = 2.8 x 10(-11)) and neurobehavioral phenotypes in mouse (OR = 1.18, P = 7.3 x 10(-5)). Genome-wide significant evidence was obtained for eight loci, including 1q21.1, 2p16.3 (NRXN1), 3q29, 7q11.2, 15q13.3, distal 16p11.2, proximal 16p11.2 and 22q11.2. Suggestive support was found for eight additional candidate susceptibility and protective loci, which consisted predominantly of CNVs mediated by nonallelic homologous recombination.</p