Sequoyah’s translation of the spoken Cherokee language into a written system, which he devised over a decade in the early 19th century, may be “the only known instance of an individual’s single-handedly creating an entirely new system of writing. An archaeologist and explorer of caves has now found what he thinks are the earliest known examples of the Sequoyah syllabary,” in a Kentucky cave.
Author: Laura Collins Hughes
A Musical Call And Response In Mice’s Mating Dance
“A few years ago, researchers determined that when male mice are courting, they produce ultrasonic vocalizations that have an elaborate structure, similar to bird songs. Left unanswered was the question of whether mice sing for a similar purpose — to mark their territory and attract mates.” New research says “male mice songs definitely elicit interest from the opposite sex.”
Aleichem Morphed Habits Of Faith Into Cultural Identity
“This season marks 150 years since the birth of Sholem Aleichem, whose appeal to ‘something more cheerful’ made him the most popular Yiddish writer at a time when more Jews spoke Yiddish than any other language. Known to modern audiences mostly through ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ — the Americanized musical adaptation of his stories of Tevye the Dairyman — Sholem Aleichem cast the Jews as a people who would live through laughter — or die trying.”
As NY Phil Clock Winds Down, Lorin Maazel Looks Back
“‘It’s not for me to assess whether or not I have lived up to the expectations that arise at the beginning of any music director’s tenure,’ he began. ‘The orchestra I found had a problem with self-esteem. Their reputation was not what it should have been. So it became my goal to restore their belief in themselves. And I leave feeling that I’ve been quite successful.'”
National, Royal Winnipeg Ballets To Share Olympic Stage
“The National Ballet of Canada and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet will share a stage in Vancouver next February as part of the cultural Olympiad accompanying the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. The Olympic ballet gala, featuring contemporary dance from the two classical ballet companies, is one of 35 new arts projects announced Monday by Vancouver 2010 organizers.”
Chinese Pre-Concert Caveat: Don’t Clap In The Wrong Place
“One thing I expected to find in China but didn’t seem to encounter were huge audiences eager to hear Western music.” Many who did attend seemed new to concert-going. Pre-concert announcements “included not only the familiar exhortation to turn off cell phones, but instructions about how many movements each piece had, and how the audience should uphold the country’s good image (or something along those lines) by not clapping in the wrong places.”
Court Slaps Simon & Schuster For Text-Message Ad
“A federal appellate court has reversed a lower court decision that had exonerated Simon & Schuster of breaking telecommunications law when it sent cellphone text messages to promote Stephen King’s novel ‘The Cell’ three years ago.”
Looking To Cut Staff 10%, Met Museum Chops 14% Instead
“The Metropolitan Museum of Art said on Monday that it had completed a significant round of layoffs and voluntary retirements that it had warned in March would probably be necessary to contend with deep losses in its endowment. Over the last few weeks, the museum laid off 74 employees and gave retirement packages to 95 others who chose to accept them, it said.” The departures included some curatorial staff.
NY Cultural Institutions Try To Delay Deaccessioning Bill
“More than a dozen major cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art, are trying to put the brakes on a bill introduced in the New York State Legislature in March to regulate the deaccessioning of collections, a controversial practice that has drawn attention as more institutions consider selling off artworks and artifacts in response to economic pressures.”
In Elgin Marbles Dispute, Greeks Need To Change Course
“Far be it from me to advise Greek ministers. Nevertheless, they are getting their tactics wrong over the interminable saga of the Elgin Marbles. … No argument goes on for this long — it has been simmering for around 200 years now — without both sides having a certain amount of justice in their cause. Let’s grant the Greeks that. The weak point of their case, though, is that it’s based on old-fashioned nationalism.”