Critique (Once Upon A Mattress)

Cultural Event Critique

The Fort Dorchester High School production of Once Upon a Mattress was both interesting and comical. All of the actors and actresses worked exceedingly well together. They performed with such fluidity and unison that it was quite difficult to tell whether they performed together for a few months or years. All aspects of the musical were first-rate. In fact, there were no parts of the musical that were unlikable or mind-numbing. At some point during the musical, the crew experienced a few technical difficulties. Despite these petite errors, the actors and actresses continued to perform as if nothing ever occurred.

The most interesting aspects of the musical were evident in Act 2 when the audience begins to learn the appalling plot of Queen Aggrabain. Towards the end of the act, the audience celebrates the triumph over the Queen through the knowledge of Winifred and the court.

All of the actors deserve credit for the memorization of their lines and the lyrics of the songs. The musical continued for a little over two hours. Surprisingly, within that time frame, the actors were talking and singing continuously and they rarely made mistakes. Once again, due to the creative mind of Mrs. Winkle, the set took on the view of a real kingdom. The designing most likely required an exceedingly great amount of time and patience.

Overall, the musical was breathtaking and flawlessly performed. It was easily worth five dollars. Anyone who missed the musical missed a humorous production of the world-renowned Once Upon A Mattress.

Ivan Sings Free Choice #4

Ivan Sings

“Ivan Sings,” also known as Andantino, is a compelling masterpiece created by Aram Khachaturian, a Soviet-Armenian composer. The majority of Khachaturian’s pieces are influenced by Armenian folk music. The composition of “Ivan Sings” is written in E flat major, meaning all notes on the staff are natural except A, B, and E. This key creates a truly disturbing, yet beautiful atmosphere. I chose to cover this song because it was one of my earliest emotional pieces that was played before an audience. The composition is also striking because it is the creation of a diverse artist who not only specialized in piano, but also the cello, flute, and violin.

“Ivan Sings” is divided into 10 different stanzas or bars of music. Each bar of music is essentially the fearful yet remarkable voice of Ivan. The notes are slurred into one another to create a powerful message that affects the emotions of both the pianist and the listener. The sound produced by the notes is not a tale of joy, but one of sorrow and lost love. It seems as though the composition is the story of Ivan’s journey of healing after lost love. Surprisingly, the tone is quite similar to that of “Sad Story.”

Khachaturian, one of many great composers, shaped a truly magical piece. Though simple in note arrangement, “Ivan Sings” is the creator of complex emotion. Khachaturian could not have picked any other series of notes to better illustrate lost love and heartache.

Into Darkness (Poem#1)

Into Darkness

The words on the board swirl in a blur.
Beneath her feet the ground begins to tremble.
Her soul in pieces, wrapped and packaged
Given to those who reside over and control
All those things that matter.

What, today, will justify her actions to commit
A sin that gives joy and happiness to so few. But
Brings pain and destruction to so many.
For, what shall she give, to see those few
Seconds of vibrant colors of the sun, moon, and stars.

And so her long, hard journey begins. First
The pain and then a burst of joy and pleasure.
But oh how the pleasure soon began to fade.
She needs it back, she wants it back. The heightened
Pleasure, its all she needs, desires to live.

But with each ounce of pleasure comes a pound of pain.
The feel of an electric current rushes through her legs.
The weight of a cinderblock dropped onto her chest. The
Rooms begins to shake. The lights flicker. And then darkness.

Her parents discover her limp body upon the floor.
What atrocity could cause such an appalling tragedy?
Where did they go wrong? What didn’t they do right?
How could their daughter allow her mind, body, and
Soul slip away into darkness?

Toccatina Free Choice #3

Toccatina

“Toccatina,” also known as “An Old Dance,” is another remarkable and intricate classical piece formulated by Dmitri Kabalevsky. The framework of this composition is slightly more difficult than that of “Sad Story.” The piece is in C major, the easiest key acknowledged by all pianists. However, “Toccatina” is ten stanzas/bars long and changes key during the middle of the piece. I choose to perform a cover of this song merely because of the wonderful contrast it would produce with “Beauty and the Beast,” “Sad Story,” and “Ivan Sings.” The notes of “Toccatina” provide a jazzy edge to the overall composition.


As usually, Kabalevsky shaped a composition that can be enjoyed by anybody and everybody. The chord progression of the song creates a rhythmic jazz bounce that makes the listener want to become involved with the celebration of pleasure. Unlike “Sad Story,” “Toccatina” seems to encompass a more pleasant mood/tone. All of the chords are played in staccato to create an abrupt and sharp sound that ultimately supports the excessively cheerful mood. The chief complexity of the song is the transition of natural chords, chords having no flats and sharps, to chords that are a combination of flats and sharps.


For some reason “Sad Story” and “Toccatina” seem to draw a parallel. “Sad Story” represents the obscurity and the adversity of a child while “Toccatina” draws on the cheerfulness and pleasurable life within a child. Either way Kabalevsky, once again, uses music to articulate the complex world of children. Overall, Kabalevsky is a marvelous artist who employs music to express the emotions of the people he seems to treasure and respect the most – children.

"Sad Story" Free Choice #2

“Sad story”, a complex and heart wrenching song, was composed by the celebrated Dimitri Kabalevsky, who is universally recognized for his remarkable compositions of children’s music. The original composition is written in A flat major, making the song both remarkable and beautiful, yet difficult to play. All traditional notes on the staff line are flat with the exception of three notes. My choice to cover this captivating piece of music relates to the nationality of Ms. Irina Pevzner, piano teacher of the Charleston Academy of Music. Although I no longer receive formal lessons from the academy, this song assists in capturing the essence of my gratitude to a Russian composer and a Ukrainian teacher.


The composition of this piece is essentially divided into 5 “stanzas” or bars of music. Each stanza/bar illustrates the journey of a sad story. The layout of notes cast a haunting spirit over the pianist as they try to connect the dots of an untold tale. Kabalevsky composed this piece so beautifully that it is almost virtually impossible for the pianist not only to hear but also see the unfolding of the story before their eyes. Unfortunately, there is no direct interpretation of “Sad Story,” only the pianist can enlighten the listener of the piece’s connotation; as all pianists are diverse each interpretation will be dissimilar.


In general, “Sad Story” is a charming classical song that enchants pianist and listeners alike. Kabalevsky reinvents the traditional composition of children’s music. This piece alone demonstrates the ideology that the world of a child can be just as if not more intricate and emotional than the life of an adult.

Beauty and the Beast Free Choice #1

In 1991, the captivating theme of Beauty and the Beast was written and composed by the brilliant collaboration of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Since its creation, “Beauty and Beast” has become a world-renowned theme song recognized by countries across the globe. The original composition of the song has been altered several times to accommodate the different levels of pianist. Despite the different variations, the song always contains its original charm and beauty.

I chose to do a cover of the song because the movie, Beauty and Beast, has touched me on a personal level since I was a child. The song not only addresses love, but of the difficulty to accept and love something unusual and unfamiliar. Howard Ashman (lyricist) attempts to capture the thought that at some point in life, everyone is fearful of love. Beauty and the Beast, in general, is a traditional classical piece that captures the essence of the heart. The mood of the song is both enchanting and haunting. Quite a few individuals have been noted to cry during the song because it inflicts such great emotions on the soul.

The arrangement that I follow was fairly simple compared to the original composition. However, covering the song was not based on the difficulty; it was about capturing the beauty of every single note regardless if the original composition was composed of complex chords or progressions. Hopefully, the cover will affect the hearts of listeners the way the original touched the hearts of millions.

Literary Devices

Literary Devices

Simile: “A drop in the ocean / A change in the weather / I was praying that you and me might end up together / It’s like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert” (Pope 1-4). This quote illustrates a simile because the author uses like to make a direct comparison. It is used to demonstrate the improbability of the speaker and the girl becoming a couple.

Rhyme: “I'm a young soul in this very strange world hoping I could learn a bit about what is true and fake / But why all this hate? / Try to communicate/ Finding trust and love is not always easy to make (Naim 5-8). This is an example of rhyme because there is a similarity in sound between words that have corresponding positions.

Alliteration: “Roots, rock, reggae: dis a reggae music!” (Marley 9). This quote is an example of alliteration because there is a similar consonant sod in the words “roots,” “rock,” and “reggae.” Marley uses this alliteration to emphasize his cultural enjoyment of reggae music.

Repetition: “I know a place where we can carry on / I know a place where we can carry on / We can carry on, we can carry on / We can carry on, we can carry on” (Marley 7-10). The quote shows repetition because the same phrase is repeated continuously. Marley emphasizes “I know a place” because he wants to open up a safe haven for those who desire freedom from the hate and chaos of the world.

Repetition: “All you need is love / All you need is love / All you need is love, love / Love is all you need” (Beatles 12-15). This quote exemplifies repetition because the same phrase is repeated continuously. The Beatles repeat “all you need is love” to exemplify that anything and everything can be achieved through love.

Rhyme: “Just a little change / Small, to say the least / Both a little scared / Neither one prepared / Beauty and the Beast” (Dion 6-10). This is an example of rhyme because there is a similarity in sound between words that have corresponding positions.

Rhetorical Question: “What's love got to do, got to do with it? / What's love, but a second-hand emotion?” (Turner 11-12). This quote is an example of a rhetorical question because it is a question asked by the artist that does not necessarily require an answer. Tina Turner adds this lit device to her song to emphasize that physical attraction has nothing to do with love.

Repetition: “All I wanna say is that / They don't really care about us / All I wanna say is that / They don't really care about us” (Jackson 17-20). This is an example of repetition because the same phrase is repeated continuously. Michael Jackson repeats this phrase to emphasize the idea that the governments of all nations really don’t care about the welfare of its people.

Rhyme: “And then while I’m away / I’ll write home every day / And I’ll send all my loving to you / I’ll pretend I am kissing / The lips I am missing” (Beatles 4-8). This quote is an example of rhyme because there is a similarity in sound between words that have corresponding positions.

Simile: “Like autumn turns leaves, winter will breathe, cold on her necks, snow in our paths / Wherever she goes, all that I know about us is that beautiful things never last” (Pope 7-8). This quote is an example of a simile because the artist uses like to make a direct comparison. Ron Pope uses the simile in this passage to emphasize that just as the seasons turn things from pretty to old and ugly, nothing beautiful can ever last.

Talent Show (Cultural Event Summary)

Talent shows are the single event that high school students get motivated about each year. On April 11, Fort Dorchester High School held their annual talent show in the gymnasium. This year the talent show was funded and supported by the African American Studies Club. To outshine the traditional announcers from past talent shows, the brilliant minds of the club decided to have the announcers impersonate celebrities, such as, Ne-Yo, Beyonce, Ludacris, Soulja Boy, and Chris Brown.

In addition to these non-orthodox but humorous announcers, came a wonderful wave of talent. The talents of each performer ranged from dancing to signing. Some groups were even part of local bands. Each group of contestants applied to the talent show for recognition and the grand-prize of cash money. The performances continued for a time span of about two class periods. In the end, an R&B group called ADT won the grand prize. However, this proved not to be the end of the festivities. Shortly after the last performance, a local group that goes by the name of Primetime performed. Most students were astounded by their guest star appearance, while others considered themselves to be lost in translation. Overall, the African American Studies Club hosted an appealing and entertaining talent show. To many students it surpassed the quality of past talent shows. This complex club may have broken the opinion of the traditional and more acceptable versions of talent shows.

Across the Universe (Cultural Arts Summary)

Across the Universe, the most distinctive and enchanting film of 2007, is critically known as “the kind of movie you watch again, like listening to a favorite album” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). The film reinvents the time of the 60s in which a politically war was fought on foreign soil and at home in America. The movie unfolds the story of two young lovers brought together by fate and divided by the growing tension of the anti-war movement. Intertwined with the film are numerous hits by the world renowned Beatles. Each song assists in the telling of the character’s triumphs, downfalls, and passions.

The film begins with the journey of Jude, a young man from Liverpool, England, jumping ship to meet his father at Princeton University. While residing with his father at the university, Jude inadvertently meets Max, an indecisive college student. Unsurprisingly, Max eventually decides to drop out of university and live life as a free soul. As a result of his foolishness, Max and Jude eventually agree to move to New York’s Greenwich Village to live in an apartment owned and occupied by the infamous Sadie. The following year, Lucy, Max’s sister decides to join him [Max] and Jude in New York. Eventually, as expected, Jude and Lucy fall in love. Unfortunately, around this same time Max is required to attend an induction ceremony for the United States Army. While the war intensity seems to increase, political tensions go from straightforward pamphlets to radical protest. Lucy ultimately becomes involved and obsessed with the efforts of the anti-war group. Regrettably, the escalating violence eventually destroys the delicate relationship between Jude and Lucy. The complex plot becomes profoundly passionate until the viewer sees an ending that was perfectly designed to appeal to all audiences. [Sorry, I just could not permit myself to uncover the ending of such a fantastic movie].

The plot combined with the astounding covers of the some of the Beatles #1 hits creates a non-traditional, but remarkable movie. As an independent film, it stunningly surpassed the rating of some major motion pictures. Across the Universe is not only vibrant and captivating, but a film that depicts the social and political turmoil that occurred during one of America’s most contentious periods in history. It is a story that defines the meaning of love, friendship, and the hope needed to endure a time when the world was flipped up-side-down.

Once Upon A Mattress (Cultural Event Summary)

On February 28, 2008, Fort Dorchester High School’s Fine Arts Department performed an exceptional version of Roger and Hammerstein’s Once Upon a Mattress. The entire play is essentially a spin of the fairytale “The Princess and the Pea”. The chief distinction between the two stories is simply that Once Upon a Mattress includes quite a bit of singing and dancing. The cast included some of Fort Dorchester High School’s Fine Arts most exceptional students. These actors and actresses included Dalton Anderson (the Minstrel), Jordan Weeg (Lady Larkin), Ashley West (Queen Aggrabain), Anthony Massarotto (Prince Dauntless), Will Baber (King Sextimus), and Daniel McQueen (Sir Studley).

The musical is the tale of Prince Dauntless’ quest to find a bride. Through much researching and studying the court is able to produce twelve different princesses, all eligible to marry Prince Dauntless. However, the Queen, Aggrabain, refuses to assent to her son marrying any princess until they are capable of passing a series of test. Days, weeks, and months continue as each princess fails the appointed task. The tests are continued until the twelfth princess is unable to produce correct answers to Queen Aggrabain’s questions. When all seems lost the court is able to unearth one last eligible princess, Winifred. The only dilemma with the innovation is that Princess Winifred is relatively unorthodox. She refuses to follow the rules established by the courts and conducts herself in manner that is not traditionally considered ladylike. To much dismay, Queen Aggrabain is determined to ruin Winifred’s chances of becoming the future queen so she proposes a new test. Instead of conjuring a series of questions for Winifred to answer, she decides to place a single pea under a stack of mattress. In the eyes of Aggrabain, only a legitimate princess would be intelligent enough to feel the disturbance of a small pea under stack of fluffy mattresses. Unfortunately for Queen Aggrabain, Princess Winifred passes the test and is given the opportunity to marry Prince Dauntless.

Overall, the play was a captivating experience that kept the audience entertained and enchanted. It encompassed the moral that difference sometimes exceeds the appreciation of normality. Thanks to the production of Mr. Davis, the Fine Arts Department was once again able to produce a truly captivating and spell-binding production.

Video Error for Piano Songs

Unfortunately I was not able to upload my piano songs to the blog so I had to create a CD to give to Mr. Parry. So I guess the only thing I can do is just post the meaning of each individual song. Sorry guys I really wanted you guys to here my songs...=[