Afro-Caribbean Poetry Essay Example for Free

Afro-Caribbean Poetry Essay In this essay I will be studying the various items of poetry from manyAfro-Caribbean poets. One of the poets is Langston Hughes who was  born in Joplin, Missouri on the first of February 1902. He started  writing poetry after moving to Lincoln, Illinois. The poems I will be  studying are Mulatto and I, Too.  The next poet I will be looking at is Grace Nichols. Nichols was born  in Guyana in 1950, she came to England in 1977 this is when she  developed her fiction and verse writing. The poem I will be studying is  Praise song for my mother. The next poet I will look at will be Dr Benjamin Obadiah lqual  Zephaniah, he was born in Birmingham, but he spent most of his  time in Jamaica. After he spent some time in prison he decided to use  his energy for good and educate himself. The poem I will study I love  me mudder.  The last poet work I will be looking at will be John Agard. Agard was  born in Guyana in 1949, the country was still a British colony until  1966. In 1977 Agard moved to England. This is where he became the  light of the new West Indian British dawn of various bardic  compositions. Agard is a poet whom blends calypso styled language  with unique sounding spoken word. The work I will be studying is  Half-caste  I have paired the poems up. The pairs either share the same topic,  tone or language. One of the pairs is Half-caste by John Agard and  Mulatto by Langston Hughes, because they have the same type of  topic and also tone.  Half caste is about weather: the term half-caste can be applied to  any thing else apart from people. John Agard has written a very good  poem witch makes you think about the words we use every day with  out knowing the proper meanings and whether it makes any sense  when you break the word down. I think that many words we use now  are out of date and should be changed for politically correct terms  and alternatives. Agard also uses some stunning references to get you  thinking. The other half of this pair Mulatto tells us about the harsh  treatment black women faced at the hands of their white bosses in  the slave era and how the women were only used as play things, this  is shown in the part Whats a body but a toy?. The word mulatto  means the same as half caste but not as many people use it  nowadays. The boy in the story has a trouble fitting in with black  people and white people and does not have that sense of belonging if  he had been born to parents of the same race. The next pair is Praise song for my mother by Grace Nichols and I  love me mudder by Benjamin Zephaniah. Ive paired these poems  because they share the same topics which is their mothers.  Praise song for my mother is about how Grace Nichols loved her  mother and how she inspired to do the best she could. Its also how  she looked up to her, and how her mother was all the things she likes  such as the sunrise and the fried plantain smell. The poem is set in a  past tense which seems to tell us the readers that her mother has  died. The second half of my pair is I love me mudder. This poem is about  how Benjamin Zephaniahs mother came from Jamaica on a boat  called Windrush. Many people came from Jamaica because they  thought they would have a better life than the one they all ready had.  In black family family (need to delete this) life the figure of the  mother is very strong and is the main rule maker in the house, and  this poem shows how she works so hard just to make sure her familydont go without. The last pair of poems is taint by Grace Nichols and I, Too by  Langston Hughes these two poems have been joined together because  they both have kind of the same topic which shows the pain black  people have overcome but still yet we are strong.  taint is about the treachery that this person has had cast upon  them while they where a slave, the fact that they where stolen by men  the colour of their own skin. This reminds me of the black on black  gang warfare and killings. This person who trusted the people of their  same skin colour was betrayed. This work also shows how these  people where traded like they where animals. The poem has a  message to everyone: to stop fighting and live peacefully together.  The second half of the pair is I, Too which shows how black people  had to eat in a kitchen when company came but they ate well and  became strong. So when company comes no one will dare tell me to  eat in the kitchen and now you are ashamed about what you did to  me when I was mentally weak. This poem has a promise of hope for  Ã‚  change. Hughes suggests that Tomorrow things will be different and  people will see that beauty and equality of all peoples.

Poetry Is Key Essay Example for Free

Poetry Is Key Essay I interview Amani because she is a teenager guided by mentorship. She revealed to me how being mentored by positive, loving, and caring people has changed who she is as a person. She said â€Å"I see a big change in myself. It’s like my whole life I’ve been so angry and upset, and it was all because I was being misguided and I didn’t have the chance to become who I am now. † This interview helped me because It kind of showed me what type of response I should be getting from the kids in my program. It is simply a calibration of how the kids that decide to participate in my mentorship program should react. Frohman, Denice. Denice Frohman Gangsta Poetry YouTube. YouTube, 16 June 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2013. This video is a video of a youth poetry mentor for PYPM (Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement) who also participated in the Unliter Us Campaign. In this poem she speaks about differ writing tools (metaphors, similes, personification, etc) and different types of poems (haiku, slam, etc). She also talks about motivating the youth to get involved in poetry and imagination. This poem will help me because It is not only an introduction to different types of poetry and all types of writing tools but it’s in a cool poem that, to me, will make the kids want to know more and be less reluctant to participate in my program. Howard, Zora. Zora Howard Mama (lyrics). YouTube. YouTube, 04 Mar. 2011. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is a video by a youth slam poet alumni named Zora Howard who is now on a traveling adult poetry group called Strivers Row. This video is of a poem she performed. The poem is in letter form so it starts out saying, â€Å"Dear Son,†. Evidently, she is talking to her son in the letter. Her son is in the army and she’s writing him on his birthday just reminiscing about all the things they used to talk about and do before he was drafted into the army. This poem will help me because performance wasn’t at a competition so the tension is low and she’s just releasing. Although, from my knowledge, the poem is just not real fact for her, it still tells a story in it. It will show the kids how to turn a poem from a regular free  form poem into a letter or a story. James, Cliche M. Who Needs Mentorship. Personal interview. 27 Jan. 2013. I interview the mom of a boy who had never had any form of mentorship to ask her if she thought that mentorship was important and who did she think that it was for. She said that she thinks that it is a difference between â€Å"needing† mentorship and â€Å"wanting† it. She feels as though kids who going down the wrong road in life or kids who just have pain in there life that is hard to let go of should have mentorship. This interview helped me with my research because it, for the most part, proved to me that I made the right choice in targeting kids who have some pain in them, kids that practically have nothing to look forward to because of the situation that their parents are in. James, Nasir. The Importance of Mentorship. Personal interview. 27 Jan. 2013. I interview my nephew, a 15 year old boy who has had mentorship every super since he was 12. I asked him what the importance of mentorship was. At first he was a little reluctant because he though that he didn’t get much out of it but when I began to ask him other questions to break it down. Questions like was there anything about his personality that changed because of the interaction with someone who you could put your trust in and things like that. He ultimately said that after 3 years of being in contact with his mentors, he has seen a difference in who he is and that being with them, he now knows what kind of man he wants to be. He also said that if he didn’t have mentors, he would still have become a good person it would have taken a bit longer. This interview was important because I wanted to know how younger teens felt about mentorship because if they didn’t care, then there would be no purpose of me doing it in the long run because it wouldn’t have changed anything. Lissaint / Strivers Row, Carvens. Praise by Carvens Lissaint. YouTube. YouTube, 02 Feb. 2011. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is another video of a youth poet alumni from New York city. He is another member of the poetry group called strivers row and in his younger years, he was on the NYC poetry team that went to the nation wide poetry competition BNV (Brave New Voices) which  premiered on HBO in 2006. This poem is about poetry and every sense that plays a part in writing and speaking poetry. I think that this will help me because I know that a lot of people have a single story about poetry. A lot of people don’t really know what it cane be and in this poem, the poet Carvens Lissaint, touches in on all of that . Mans, Jasmine. Michelle Obama by Jasmine Mans. YouTube. YouTube, 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is a video of yet another strivers row poet. Jasmine Mans was on the NYC team in 2006. This is a video of a poem she recorded called Michelle Obama. This poem is about how first lady Michelle Obama inspires young black women to be great and do great things. It tells them that because she did it, that they can. I think that this will be a good video to use in my program because when I visited the shelter, there was a significant number of girls and I think that showing them this will help them find confidence. Perrin, Brianna. The Importance of Mentorship. Personal interview. 30 Jan. 2013. I interview a senior named Brianna Perrin about her experience with mentorship and community service to get a better understanding of how she felt about it afterward. I also got a chance to find out what she took from the experience as a person who had been mentored and decided to pass it on. I think that this interview was very helpful and very successful. It gave me a perspective of a person who had the same urge as I had. She expressed to me that to her it was more than just helping others and I feel the same way. Going to the shelter is about more than helping others its also a branch of growth for myself. Poetic Devices. Poetic Devices. N. p. , n. d. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is a link to a list of poetic devices. This link will be useful because I know that even I don’t know so It’ll help me and help the kids at the program. Poetry. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. I decided to use this link because some people think that poetry is only one thing, when in all actuality, poetry can be many things. This will be helpful because it will give a mor formal introduction than me saying this is was a metaphor is. It will actually explain to them what things are and how they should be used. I also think that this will show the kids the overall brand of poetry so that they know that poetry can be almost anything. This will be just an outline for what I want the kids to take from this program come April or May. Shearlds, Khalil. Mentorship. Personal interview. 7 Jan. 2013. This is the Manager, Center for Parenting Early Childhood Education at the People’s Emergency Center. I interviewed him about the importance of mentorship and who needs it. This interview was important for me to do because this is what he does on a day to day basis. He mentors kids to show them where they can go and to let them know that they don’t have to stay planted in a place where they aren’t happy just because someone put them there. This will be important in the long run because, not that I already didn’t know, i will always know my mission. What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy? What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy? N. p. , 05 Apr. 2007. Web. 04 Jan. 2013. This is a link to the definition of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I was talking to someone about my capstone and they told me that my whole idea fell along the lines of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. When I looked it up it actually told me a lot about myself and why poetry seemed to work for me. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that is directed toward dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors and cognitive processes. It’s basically disturbances of your feelings triggered by the things and stresses that you go through. This helped me because it told me almost exactly what these kids are going through inside. Young, B. I Am A Queen Urban Word NYC BNV Semis 2008. YouTube. YouTube, 24 July 2008. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. I decided to use this video of a New York City Poet B. Young. This poem was about his theory of why he would want to be a queen in the game of chess because it’s not about being the protected, he thinks that the protecter is the most important. I decided to use this video because I think it is a good perspective for young men to A realize how important a Queen/girl is and B to understand that being the protected or being the person who everyone who is always being looked after isn’t always who you want to be, sometimes you want to be apart of something bigger. Z. , Sharvon. Philly Youth Poetry Movement. Philly Youth Poetry Movement RSS 20. N. p. , 01 Feb. 2013. Web. 01 Feb. 2013. This is the website for PYPM or Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement. This is the where I got my mentoring from so not to incorporate and utilize this source would be foolish of me. This website will give me the latest updates on the PYPM team, there videos and events that I could possibly invite my teens to. I can use the videos posted on the website and some of the ideas from poetry workshops to use during my program.

What Are The Psychological Causes Of Crime Psychology Essay

What Are The Psychological Causes Of Crime Psychology Essay During the 19th century the concept of an influence of the biological factors on criminal behaviour was strong, due to Charles Darwin publications of the theory of evolution. However, when considering criminological issues, biological and psychological explanations have been rejected for some time. It is worth noting, that in recent times there has been an increasing interest in studying the relationships of biological and psychological factors and criminal behaviour. (Lilly et al, 2007; 20) According to Reid (2006), there is no doubt, that the biological and social factors, especially their interactions are important in understanding and explaining the causes of criminal behaviour. Cesare Lombroso (1835-1909), Italian psychiatrist and anthropologist , is considered today as a father of modern criminology. During his research about criminals, Lombroso relied on a Darwins theory of evolution, to support his own theory, that criminals had not evolved as far as non-criminals. Furthermore, Lombroso compared criminals to wild creatures, who like their wild predecessors, had many atavistic traits, which made them more likely to behave like a wild animals. That was the reason, that Lombroso famously claimed that he had found the biological characteristics, which allows to distinguish criminals according to crimes committed by them. Consequently rapists were characterized by short-handed, narrow forehead, often blonde hair, abnormalities of the nose and in the genital organs area. Lombroso believed that repeat offenders are among those that may be considered criminals by birth, so the two types of criminals were distinguished as a result of his studies about the crimina l behavior. These were criminaloid and insane criminal. According to Lombrosos findings, criminaloid is a person, who is motivated by passion, what with other factors lead to criminal behavior. On the other hand there is an insane criminal, who is epileptic, psychotic, unfit to society, who cannot control his behavior.(Lilly et al, 2007;18-24; Einstadter 2006, 84) Lombrosos views were shared also by Raffaele Garofalo and Enrico Ferri, who stated that any criminal behavior cannot be explained without involving another factors, such as environmental or physic.(Ferri 1901) It is worth considering, that Lombrosos studies were widely criticized, because of showing significant overemphasize of biological causes, while an environmental factors seemed to be neglected by him. As it was stated in Wolfgang cited in Reid (2007; 88) The fears of these critics that Lombroso diverted attention from social to individual phenomena, reveal their basic misunderstanding of his work and its effects (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). Lombroso served to direct emphasis from the crime to the criminal, not from social to individual factors Although Lombroso and other positivists had made the foundations for further scientific analysis of criminal behavior, but the effective crime prevention requires changes in the environment and the social structures, which are also important in an explanation of the causes of crime.(Williams,2008; 162) The physical approach of crime and human behavior, shows the assumption that function is determined by structure. The belief, saying that the crime is associated with body build, was introduced in the 1926 by Ernest Kretschmer,(Lilly 2007; 24-28) but the first real development of this issue begun with the scientific work of B. Sheldon in 1940. Sheldon connected psyche and body type with temperament. During his research, Sheldon introduced three body types: ectomorph- tall, skinny boned; endomorph- short, fat bodied; and mesomorph- athletic, well built. Main purposes of his research can be defined as a need of systematic study of human behavior and personality. Sheldon was further criticized about the way his sample was chosen. As it is stated in Cortez and Gatti, Sheldon picked only those persons, who could support his theory. His definition of three body types, has also been criticized because it was not precise enough to easily distinguish them. (Cortez, 1972;8). The next step in an explanation of criminal behavior is to take closer look at the history of the family just to find out, if whether the family has had a cases of criminal behavior. The early studies of family were conducted by Sheldon Glueck and Eleanor Glueck. Researchers concentrated on family history to find the possible explanation of criminal activity. But it is worth to remind, that the family studies have been discredited because it was not methodologically sophisticated enough to permit significant conclusion. Although there was a basic difficulty in family studies, which consisted of the impossibility to control the environment, the family was existing and developing, it was necessary to take further steps in an explanation of a correlation between family background and criminal behavior of ones. This inconvenience led researchers to introduce two other methods of studying genetic factors and criminality. Those studies included the environment , as the most important facto r affecting peoples behavior and leading to crime. Finally, aim of those studies were to find an explanation about the generations of violence and deviance within the families. Those two methods were studies of adoption and studies of twins.(Williams,2008; 139) Studies of twins were conducted by Karl O. Christiansen, who studied the occurrence of criminal behavior among twins in Denmark, between year of 1881 and 1910. Christiansen stated that if one of twins is engaged in criminal activity, the probability that the second twin will also do so was 35%, and only 12% if the twins were fraternal. His studies were continued and updated by Sarnoff A. Mednick and his colleagues, who concluded that genetic factors for some variables are linked with criminal behavior. Mednicks studies were criticized because of possibility of methodological errors, but finally were confirmed, despite of those errors occurrence there is an evidence of correlation between genetic factors and criminal behavior. (Burke 2009, 69-70) Another important issue in Mednicks research were studies of adoption. With his colleagues, Mednick conducted adoption studies in Denmark, using a sample of 72000 from Denmarks adoption registry. Mednick stated that the tendency to criminal activity was higher among those adoptees, whose biological parents were criminals. Moreover, research showed that there were much higher tendencies of criminal behavior in adoptees, who had both biological and adoptive parents engaged in criminal activity. His research undoubtedly proved that genetic factors cannot be ignored when explaining causes of criminal behavior. (Mednick et al, 1987; 67-80) Family studies were also a tool used to get the information about possible psychological explanations of crime. Early psychologists were focused mainly on intelligence traits. Research traced criminality in the same family through generations, showed that the mental retardation was the main cause of criminal behavior. It is worth to consider that one of the earliest explanation of the criminality in the middle ages, was demonology. People believed in evil spirits, which while possessing individuals, caused nasty behavior. Only exorcism seemed to be the right treatment, which could save possessed person from doing wrong things. In fifteenth century some beliefs arose that people, who were behaving badly, were actively cooperating with devil. In the enlightenment great discoveries about human body and mind were made, researchers started to be interested in human anatomy, physiology, neurology, medicine and chemistry. Causes of physical illnesses were discovered, and therefore researche rs applied that there must be reasons, which causes mental disorders. Those assumptions led to development of psychiatry, defined as the prevention, diagnosis and treatment in mental illnesses. According to psychiatry approach, each person is individual and requires specific treatment and an individual case study. William Healy was the first, who used the case study to explain delinquent behavior., and the case study seemed to be the only way to penetrate the ones background, concentrating mainly on emotional development. Healy and his associates showed that delinquents were more likely to have personality disorders than non-delinquents. Although Healy et al introduced and popularized the case-study method, their studies may be criticized because of using too small samples as well as giving too little information on the way of measuring the concepts and characteristics. . (Reid 2006; 102-103) Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) is widely known as the father of psychoanalytic theory. Freud introduced the concept of unconscious, and according to that, humans live with mental conflicts between desires and energies, the most basic instincts, which must be hidden because of societys morality. The natural drivers can often be expressed by some persons in some ways, usually indirect, to avoid reaction of others. Freud saw twofold nature of every human being- assertive and aggressive. Aggression could not be learnt, but rooted deeply inside the mind. That was the reason why Freud stated, that everyone have the criminal tendencies, but during the socialization process, people learnt how to control it effectively.(Myers, 1995; 462-465) According to Halarambos(1991), the psychiatric approach may be criticized for some reasons- the terms were vague, no definitions for most concepts were given and the most of data were subjectively interpreted by the researchers, as well as the research were ba sed on small samples.(Halarambos, 1991; 584-585). In 1985 year publication Crime and Human Nature authors James Q Wilson and Richard J. Herrnstein stated that there is a link between criminal activity and a level of intelligence, especially low. However authors were criticized because of stating that low level of intelligence and crime appear together in the same group, but there were no significant evidence that low level of intelligence causes criminal behavior.(Wilson 1985, 148-164). According to Benson not only people with low level of intelligence commit crime, but there are also very bright criminals, especially white-collar criminals , so when taking intelligence level to consideration, it is important to consider also type of the crime committed. However, those with lower intelligence level are more likely to be arrested, charged and convicted.(Benson 2009, 19-50) 4/4/2011

Perceptions of Time in Great Gatsby Essay -- essays research papers

Time is an idea described in diverse periods and aspects, for example philosophical, psychological, physical and biological. This time flows consistently but is broken into the past, present and future. Since we only live in the present forever in preparation for our futures and dreams, when we try to live in the past it restricts our future. Throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby, Gatsby wasted time and his life for a single dream, and it was his illusion of his idyllic future that made time a key dimension in his life. Fitzgerald sees life in satiric-tragic dimensions, as a contest between romantic illusion and coarse reality. The reality slowly and viciously disintegrates the illusion. Gatsby suffers from past memories of Daisy and tries to revive the relationship and in the process Gatsby was murdered. Nick wonders, "Almost five years! There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams - not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion." (101). Gatsby's impractical view of Daisy was, s...

John Steinbeck The Pearl Essay -- essays research papers

The Pearl John Steinbeck Kino, is a poor Indian fisherman who lives on the Gulf of California with his wife Juana and baby son Coyotito. They are very poor but happy family. When he finds the â€Å"pearl of the world† he believes that wonderful things will come from selling it. As he tries to sell the pearl he realizes that the local businessmen will cheat him and decides to travel to sell it. When it is realized that Kino has murdered the man who tried to steal his prize possession the family is forced to run from their village. Trackers are sent to find them and, in desperation and rage Kino kills the men, not realizing that their gunfire has killed his son. The pearl was supposed to bring him happiness and money but instead it brings death and evil. In spite of being poor, Kino is happy,...

Maximus and Odysseus Essays -- essays research papers

Maximus and Odysseus   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While watching the film Gladiator with my girlfriend I realized the striking similarities that heroes share. However, I always wonder who is more of a hero. The definition or hero is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. So let us compare the two heroes as the dictionary defines them. In the end I hope to be able to define who is a greater hero.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Maximus was a great warrior in the Roman legion under Emperor Marcus Aurelius. His first courageous feat occurs when he defeats the last of the Barbarians of Germaina. Leading his army along a 12 year campaign he brought it to an end. Next he risks his life as he defies the new Emperor Commodus, knowing that this could mean death. Commodus was the only son of Marcus Aurelius. However Commodus killed his father and took the place of Caesar. During his second courageous act, his wife and only son are murdered and he is to be executed. This changing his journey home as I will discuss as we move on. Furthering his acts of heroism he manages to save the lives of many slaves by battling in the arena, saving a senator from execution, and avenging his wife and son by slaying the emperor. His acts of nobility occur when he saves the senator and fulfils the wishes of the dead Marcus Aurelius. He gives Rome back to the senate and returns the power back to the people. Maximus’ continuing acts of selfless heroism and putting his life at stake for those who betrayed him make him great. His first act of selflessness occurred when he agreed to help out Commodus’ sister, who knowingly let his child, wife, and almost himself be slain. He forgives her and agrees to meet with her senator to help give Rome back. His second act of selflessness occurred when he battled in the arena taking on 5 enemies while the other slaves stayed in the back of the entryway. Going to his journey home, he no longer needed to reach the olive fields with stones that warm in the sun as his child plays, and his wife helps with the harvest. His journey has changed to get his vengeance and in the end die so he can reunite with his family. I bring this up because dieing is a change as is the change Odysseus goes through by essentially becoming no one, a regular Joe so to say. This is what I believe... ...live because he believed he wasn’t truly out to get his wife, but more so to the fact that he could sing the tale of the events later when it was all done. Revenge is much simpler than other factors. I believe at first Odysseus was out for glory at first, I think that is the real reason he was in the war. Maximus stated from day one that he only wished to return home so he could be with his family. I think the inner qualities of Maximus make him more of a hero. However, not taking anything away from Odysseus, I believe that many people in his case would have taken the chance to kill all the men that tried to get with their wives if they were away. I believe it took lots of courage to wrestle with Poseidon, leave islands with beautiful women, and his use of intelligence to beat the Cyclops was great. In the end I believe the only real thing that makes Maximus a better character and hero is that he killed for reasons better than Odysseus. Mainly in the end, when Odysseus kills the suitors, I believe I would have probably done the same thing, but that doesn’t make it right. Maximus saved a nation and did what was right. These are the reasons that Maximus has the edge on Odysseus.

Heinrich Isaac; Research Paper

Heinrich Isaac is noted as a central figure in late 15th and early 16th century musical development. He was one of three leading composers of the Franco Flemish or Netherlandish School with Jakob Obrecht and Josquin Des Prez. Although Josquin Des Prez was undoubtedly the major figure of the middle renaissance and is most often mentioned before Heinrich Isaac, Isaac is one of several that also deserve recognition. Heinrich was born around ten years after Josquin in 1450-1455. Historians are somewhat certain he was born in Flemish Brabant, a province of Flanders#.Very little is recorded of Heinrich’s early life. It is believed that he was educated in the same area, the Low Countries, due to its excellent standards in musical education. Isaac is also noted to have been a pupil of the Florentine organist Antonio Squarcialupi. It is supposed that Heinrich had begun composing music by 1470. All of this is very hard to establish; the first documented reference to Heinrich Isaac is da ted September 15, 1484, thirty or so years after his estimated birth.This document comes from Innsbruck, southwest Austria and refers to Heinrich as a hired member of a royal choir owned by Duke Sigismund of the House of Hapsburgs. The following year Heinirch traveled to Florence. Multiple documents show that Isaac acquired a position in 1485 as a designated singer at the church Santa Maria del Fiore, commonly known as the Duomo. Heinrich Isaac was known for his close association with the Medici family. It is suspected that Lorenzo de’ Medici was responsible for Isaac’s move from Innsbruck.Heinrich maintained close ties with the family throughout his entire life. He is said to have worked for the Medicis as an organist and a musical teacher however recent findings of documentation explain that â€Å"the Medici’s organist† was a title held by another Isaac. Isaac did work with the family as a teacher and choir director. While in Florence Isaac composed a g reat deal of music including masses and motets. Some of these linked Heinrich’s association with the Medici family. Lorenzo died in 1492 and Piero inherited everything including his father’s musical groups.Isaac wrote two motets in remembrance of Lorenzo. Piero took these groups to Rome to perform for the coronation of Pope Alexander VI. This was the same time and the same pope by which Michael Angelo was commissioned to reconstruct St. Peter’s Basillica. The Medici family was banished from Florence in 1494. In 1496 Heinrich was employed by Maximilian I the newly Holy Roman emperor. In 1497 Isaac was appointed court composer of the Hapsburg empire. Payment documents impose that Isaac traveled with the court through Augsburg, Wels, and Innsbruck between 1497 and 1501.Around 1502 Heinrich traveled to the Este court in Ferrera, Italy to compete with Josquin des Prez for a position. We do have a letter from the family that reads â€Å"Isaac is a disposition among h is companions, and he will compose new works more often. It is true that Josquin composes better, but he composes when he wants to and not when one wants his to. † Recent scholarship says that Isaac never asked for the job. Heinrich was commissioned by the Constance cathedral in 1508 after traveling though Constance, Augsburg, and Florence for several years to write his outstandingly large Choralis Constatinus.Isaac returned to Florence in 1514 and died in 1517. Though most sources confirm that Isaac fled from Italy, newer historical findings suggest that Isaac actually never left Florence. Not only did Isaac not leave Florence after Lorenzo’s death but Heinrich Isaac later married a native Florentine, settled down, and became an established citizen of Florence. Isaacs’s marriage was supposedly arranged through Lorenzo Medici. Isaac was able to include both German and Italian aspects in his work, something that made him very distinct from his contemporaries.Most contemporary composers, who called themselves Florentines like he did, limited their traveling to France and Italy. Heinrich is described as one of the most prolific composers of his time. He made significant contributions to both secular and church music; of Germanic and Italian influence; of the splendor of the church and the secularism of the renaissance of which he was such a part of. â€Å"His work spanned from Flemish styled polyphony to bright Italian and French love songs, from ceremonial music expressing the pageantry and power of the church and state to rollicking songs in French,Italian and German embodying the popular, secular spirit of the Renaissance, and from rich choral textures for the church to exquisite chamber music for courtly entertainment. †# Isaacs output includes about forty Mass Ordinaries, 100 proper mass cycles (though most were published posthumously in the three- volume Choralis Constantinus), over fifty motets; and close to fifty secular songs m ade of French chansons, Italian Frottole, and a large amount of German Tenorlieder. Isaacs best known work is probably Innsbruch, ich muss dich lassen, a Tenorlieder written on the theme of a Germanic folk song.The same melody was used for the Lutheran chorale O Welt, Ich Muss Dich Lassen. Later both J. S. Bach and J. Brahms used the famed theme. Heinrich Isaac’s significance stands not only in his scope and quality but also in his influence particularly seen in Germany. Heinrich acted as an ambassador of the Netherlandish style to Germany. Heinrich had a great effect on the musical development of Germany, leading it into the mainstream European musical tradition and the further development of contrapuntal music.Heinrich’s music directly influenced German composers like Bach and Brahms who in turn influenced aspects in all of western music. As a professionally successful musician and patroned person of the three most powerful men in Europe, Heinrich Isaac’s musi c was most definitely seen and heard. Sources- The New Oxford History of Music: volume III Wikipedia Encyclopedia Britannica online www. bach-cantatas. com Absorbing Heinrich Isaac by David J Burn, Blake Wilson, And Giovanni Zanovello