Amazing Art

Norman Rockwell
By Rachel

Norman Rockwell was born on February 3, 1894 in New York City. He always longed to be taken seriously as a painter instead of just as an illustrator. Norman Rockwell was most famous for the 320 New York Times covers that he did. Norman Rockwell painted many holiday scenes; my favorite of them is called “The Discovery”. I love this picture. It is of a young boy who finds Santa’s clothes in a drawer in an old cabinet. Norman Rockwell died at the age of 84 in the year of 1978 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts on November eighth. Norman Rockwell was a wonderful painter.

History Mysteries

The Mystery of King Solomon’s Temple
By Rachel Donka
12/10/09

King Solomon was a Hebrew king who started his reign in the year of 965 BC, after his father, King David, died. King David had been preparing to build a large temple during the last years of his life. When his son, Solomon, came to the throne in 965 BC, he continued with his father’s plan to build a temple. This temple was to be built somewhere in Jerusalem. Archaeologists are not completely sure on the exact site, but most agree that it was most likely built on the mount platform in the city of Jerusalem. This temple took seven years to construct. Solomon’s Temple, as it was called, was destroyed in 587 BC by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon when he took control of Israel and Judea and banished the Jews from their home. Soon after Cyrus of Persia defeated Nebuchadnezzar and took control of the city of Jerusalem, the Jews were allowed to return and rebuild their temple presumably on the same spot as where it had once stood. Today, the Second Temple, as the second temple was called, is gone as well, and the only reason we know about this magnificent temple is from biblical records. But, with new technology and resources, who knows what new discoveries could be made about history and this puzzling mystery of Solomon’s Temple.

http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2008/temple.html

Magnificent Musicians

Peter Tchaikovsky
By Rachel Donka

Peter Tchaikovsky was born in Russia in 1840. Tchaikovsky began studying piano at the age of four. He graduated from law school at age nineteen and went to work as a clerk for the government. When Tchaikovsky was twenty-two, he entered the Conservatory at St. Petersburg. At the conservatory, he studied organ and flute. In 1886, Peter Tchaikovsky was hired as professor of Harmony in the Moscow Conservatory. Soon after Tchaikovsky arrived in Moscow, he was employed frequently by a widow named Mrs. Nadezhda von Meck to compose many different pieces. All though Tchaikovsky and Mrs. Von Meck corresponded often, Mrs. Von Meck insisted that that they never meet. After Tchaikovsky went on a tour of Europe and America, he began writing his most famous work, the Nutcracker Ballet. His last work was called the “Pathetique”. He died in 1893, just after his last work was performed. Peter Tchaikovsky was one of my favorite composers, and he will be always be remembered in history.