Enlightened Living
By Meghan Nelson
Music
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. Bach wrote classical music during the baroque period. His style was mainly chamber music, choral, concerto, keyboard, and orchestral. Some of his most well known pieces are, the Cantatas, St Matthew Passion, and Goldberg Variations.
George Frederic Handel
George Frederick Handel was born on February 23, 1685 in Halle, Germany. Handel was a German-British composer, during the baroque period. He is most famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Some of his most famous works include, "Messia", "Jephtha", and "Music for the Royal Fireworks".
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, also know as Mozart was born on January 27, 1756 in Salzburg Austria. Mozart typically composed classical pieces. He wrote in every major genre including symphony, opera, the solo concerto, chamber music including string quartet and string quintet, and the piano sonata. Some of his most famous works are Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music), and Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)
Art
Baroque
Baroque is a style of art that first began in the late 1600s and traveled through the 1700s. Baroque art is stylish, controversial, and complex. Most importantly, it is dramatic, evoking feelings and emotions within the observer. Some of the most famous pieces include, Boys Eating Grapes and Melon by Bartolome Esteban Murillo, Banquet Still Life by Abraham van Beijeren, and Children Teaching a Cat to Dance by Jan Steen.
"Children Teaching a Cat to Dance"
"Banquet Still Life"
"Boys Eating Grapes and Melon"
Rococo
Rococo is a style of art that first began trending in the 1700s and 1800s. It is a light and elegant form of work that is that has an exuberant use of curving. Some famous works of rococo art include The Copper Drinking Fountain by Jean-Baptiste-Simeon-Chardin, The Swing by Jean-Honore Fragonard, and Mercury Attaching his Wings by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle.
"The Copper Drinking Fountain"
"The Swing"
"Mercury Attaching his Wings"
Peasant Life
Daily Life
For the most part, European peasants lived in small rural villages. In Western Europe some peasants worked on their own plots of land while others were tenants of landowners. Some even were day laborers who hired themselves out to work on others farms. On the other hand, in Central and Eastern Europe peasants owed labor services to the landowners and could be bought and sold with the land. In France, peasants had to provide free labor such as repairing roads and ridges after natural causes. Along with the work, peasants didn't get any of the expensive or fancy food. For the most part they lived on fruits, vegetables, wheat and barley. Also, the peasants didn't get to enjoy as many games and activities as the upperclass did. For the most part they played soccer, hockey, or stick ball, a game similar to baseball or softball.