Famine, Affluence, and Morality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Famine, Affluence, and Morality - Essay Example From this study it is clear that poverty leads to low standards of living while most civil wars normally lead to increased number of refugees running for safety from the neighboring countries. In the reporter's view, this is problems, which can be prevented if people become morally upright where they put humanity before greed and money. Again, he believes that rich nations are not helping enough to take care of the current situation in helping the affected countries in various parts of the world. Although it is not their responsibility to help the poor and suffering nations, he believes they should take it as their mandate to give guidelines on how various issues and dilemmas should be handled they arise. For instance, in cases of civil wars, representatives from the international humanitarian bodies should take responsibility of calling upon the warring leaders and bring them on board to discuss and get a permanent solution to end the wars.This essay stresses that  the parliament representatives whom we elected to represent our interest to the government are not doing enough to change the current situation. As evident in most developing countries, most of them forgot the needs of people who elected in the first place once they get into the parliament. This is because they are not asking much from the government in terms assistance to help the affected persons.  They are not holding enough demonstrations with the members of the public to make their interests and needs known by the national government.

Whistleblowers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Whistleblowers - Essay Example sible member of the Littlebury community in which I have lived all my life, it is imperative for me to report the health and safety lapses on the part of Wooden to the concerned statutory bodies. 2) In case I choose not to report the situation, it will be because Wooden is a source of livelihood to a majority of the people in Littlebury. Any legal or statutory action leading to the closure of wooden will jeopardize the livelihood of many people at Littlebury, most of who are either known to me or are related to me. Also, I have worked for 10 years at Wooden. Being a senior and loyal employee, I feel that I do enjoy a measure of intimacy with the top management and can convince them to ameliorate the situation at the earliest. 3) My reporting the health and safety lapses at Wooden could perhaps end up saving the lives of many of my friends and colleagues. Besides, once the situation at Wooden is brought to the attention of a statutory body like Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the organization may take the appropriate measures to improve the health and safety scenario at Wooden. This will certainly better the things for all the employees serving at Wooden. 4) My failure to report the health and safety lapses at Wooden could result in debilitating and dangerous consequences in both a long term and short term perspective. The abundance of wood dust at Wooden’s premises could seriously jeopardize the health of many of my co-workers in a long term perspective. Also, as Karen has reported sparks at her work station, going by the fact that wood dust is highly inflammable, this could certainly lead to a serious accident that may put to risk the life and well being of many of the employees serving Wooden and the town residents. 5) In a technical context, a whistleblower is a person serving as an employee at a government organization or at a private agency who chooses to disclose the wrongdoing, mismanagement, corruption, or illegality at one’s

Benefits of Population Control

Benefits of Population Control Population environment is the investigation of how populations -of plants, creatures, and different life forms -change about whether and space and connect with natures turf. Populations are assemblies of creatures of the same species living in the same region in the meantime. They are depicted by aspects that incorporate: population measure is the amount of people in the population, population thickness is what number of people are in a specific zone and population development is the extent of the population is changing about weather. Exponential development works by leveraging expands in population size, and does not oblige builds in population development rates.one of the most testing requisitions of population development examination is to anticipate human population development. The human population surpassed six billion individuals in 1999, and is normal achieving nine billion preceding 2050. It is to some degree astounding to understand that it took all of mankinds history for the human population to achieve one billion individuals — which happened around one thousand eight hundred — then a little over a hundred years to twofold to two million, and only 40 years to twofold from three to six billion. Natural assets are under expanding weight, undermining open health and improvement. Water deficiencies, soil fatigue, misfortune of timberlands, air and water contamination, and debasement of coastlines beset numerous regions. As the worlds population develops, enhancing housing measures without obliterating natures domain is a worldwide challenge. Most created economies right now devour assets much quicker than they can recover. Most creating nations with fast population development confront the pressing necessity to enhance living standards. Environmentalists and economists progressively concur that endeavors to ensure natures domain and to attain better living models could be nearly joined and are commonly fortifying. Moderating the expansion in population, particularly despite climbing for every capita interest for characteristic assets, can take weight off natures turf and purchase time to enhance living models on an economical nuts and bolts. As population and interest for regular assets keep on growwing, natural points of confinement will get to be progressively apparent. Water deficiencies are relied upon to influence almost three billion individuals in 2025, with sub-Saharan Africa most noticeably bad affected. Many nations could maintain a strategic distance from ecological emergencies assuming that they took steps now to preserve and oversee supplies and request better, while abating population development by giving families and people data and administrations required to settle on educated decisions about conception. Present rates of population development cannot proceed. Recently, bargain numerous governments capabilities to give training, social insurance, and nourishment security for individuals, considerably less their capacities to raise living guidelines. This hole between numbers and assets is all the all the more forcing on the grounds that such an extensive amount the population development is packed in low-wage nations, environmentally hindered districts, and poor family units. Notwithstanding, the population issue is not singularly about numbers. Whats more neediness and asset debasement can exist on meagerly populated terrains, for example, the dry lands and the tropical timberlands. Individuals are a definitive asset. Enhancements in training, health, and sustenance permit them to better utilize the assets they order, to extend them further. Moreover, dangers to the manageable utilization of assets come to the extent that favoritisms in individuals right to gain entrance to assets an d from the courses in which they utilize them as from the sheer amounts of individuals. Consequently, concern over the population issue additionally calls forward sympathy toward human advancement and human correspondence. Giving individuals the intends to pick the measure of their families is not only a strategy for keeping population in parity with assets; it is a method for guaranteeing particularly for ladies the fundamental human right of determination toward oneself. The degree to which offices for practicing such decisions are made accessible is itself a measure of a countrys improvement. In the same way. upgrading human potential advertises improvement as well as serves to guarantee the right of all to a full and stately life. Population development and advancement are connected in mind boggling ways. Financial improvement creates assets that could be utilized to enhance training and health. These changes, alongside co-partnered social progressions, diminish both richness and death rates. Then again, high rates of population development that consume into surpluses accessible for budgetary and social advancement can obstruct upgrades in instruction and health. Previously, the escalation of farming and the processing of higher yields helped countries adapt to the expanding population weights on accessible area. Movement and universal exchange nourishment and energizes moved the weight on neighborhood assets. They allowed and helped maintain the high population densities of some industrialized nations. The circumstances are distinctive in a large portion of the creating scene. There, enhancements in pharmaceutical and open health have prompted a sharp drop in death rates and have quickened population development rates to uncommon levels. Be that as it may, richness rates remain high; much human potential remains hidden, and financial advancement is stalled. Rural heightening can go somehow towards restoring a harmony between sustenance processing and population, however there are cutoff points past which strengthening cannot go. The precise plausibility of advancement could be bargained by high population development rates. In addition, most creating nations dont have the assets to sit tight for a couple of eras before population stabilizes. The alternative of relocation to new terrains is practically shut. Whats more low levels of monetary and social advancement joined with changing exchange processing connections limit potential outcomes of utilizing universal exchange to expand access to assets. Consequently, without planned measures, the irregularity between population development and asset improvement will decline. Population weight is now constraining universal agriculturists to work harder, regularly on contracting distinction on minimal area, simply to support family wage. In Africa and Asia, rustic population about multiplied with a comparing decrease in area accessibility. Quick population development additionally makes urban budgetary and social issues that debilitate to make urban communities wholly unmanageable. In this way, numerous governments must deal with a few fronts to utmost population development; to control the effect of such development on assets and, with expanding learning, augment their reach and enhance their profit; to acknowledge human potential so individuals can better spouse and utilization assets; and to furnish individuals with manifestations of government disability other than substantial amounts of youngsters. The method for fulfilling these objectives will differ from nation to nation, however all ought to remember that practical investment development and fair gain access to assets are two of the more certain courses towards easier ripeness rates. In conclusion, increased speculations will be required simply to administer the current deficient levels of access to instruction, health awareness, and different administrations. As a rule, the assets obliged are simply not accessible. Health, lodging conditions, and the nature of instruction and open administrations all break down; unemployment, urban float, and social agitation increment.

Privacy Rights :: essays research papers

Privacy Rights   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The privacy of the individual is the most important right. Without privacy, the democratic system that we know would not exist. Privacy is one of the fundamental values on which our country was founded. There are exceptions to privacy rights that are created by the need for defense and security.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When our country was founded, privacy was not an issue. The villages then were small and close. Most people knew their neighbors and what was going on in the community. They did not have drunk drivers, terrorist, or any other threat of changing the way they lived. The transportation that most people had access to were horses. Today there are autos that can be fatal if not controlled. Speed limits and licenses are two examples. The government we have in place maintains and organizes our society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The elements of control are often viewed as violations of privacy. These elements are meant to protect us from irresponsible people and from hurting themselves. The laws that are in place still give privacy without invading personal lives. Privacy is only violated when people feel they are being violated. Jonathan Franzen writes this example of his feelings about privacy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"One of my neighbors in the apartment building across the street spends a lot of time at her mirror examining her pores, and I can see her doing it, just as she can undoubtedly see me sometimes. But our respective privacies remain intact as long as neither of us feels seen.† If people feel comfortable in their surroundings then privacy is not a concern. At other times, people feel violated when they are subject to random searches; this random factor is what other people consider wrong. People feel intruded on when they see a roadblock ahead or a request to see their driver’s license when writing checks. Others are interrupted at dinner by the phone ringing from telemarketers. This selling of information is what the Europeans call data protection. If the data is not kept private, things such as credit card numbers could be stolen over the phone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The privacy in America will forever be changing as technology changes. Cell phones have been a factor in the way people communicates. Automobiles are equipped with TVs and mobile Internet. Privacy is increased, as people communicate less in person. People can spend an entire day in the car and have complete communication with others. Franzen also has this view about transportation.

International Corporation Essay

Hard Rock Cafe International founded in 1971, as one of the worldwide entertainment and dining brands, internationally- highly praised music. It has a network of 122 signature Hard Rock Cafes in 41 countries and owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia. Founded by two Americans, Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton, they are enterprising and music loving. Peter brought a real understanding of the restaurant business, and Isaac brought many creative attributes and together they made the Hard Rock Cafe (â€Å"The Hard Rock Cafe Story†, 2005). Hard Rock Cafe was an instant classic, entertain and attracting customers with its first-rate, but fairly priced casual American charge, warm service and ever-present rock ‘n’ roll music and sensibility. They offer quality, classic American food in their unique, high-energy, music memorabilia-packed atmosphere. Hard Rock Cafe has finally become the world’s leading collector and exhibitors of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia (â€Å"The Hard Rock Cafe Story†, 2005). Known for its collectible and fashion merchandise, live concerts, Hard Rock Live performance venues, www. hardrock. com and Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. is a totally owned subsidiary of London-based The Rank Group Plc. Hard Rock Cafe International provides visitors around the world with a unique experience that combines food and merchandise with the largest collection of rock memorabilia on the world. Hard Rock Cafe has become a global phenomenon. (Adelstein, 1999) People should keep their eye out as Hard Rock Cafe continues to take music into the next millennium, because at Hard Rock, music is truly the universal language. In latest years, Hard Rock has expanded its cafe limitations by reinforcing its â€Å"music connection† through music-related products and programs such as collectible and fashionable Hard Rock Cafe merchandise, the Hard Rock Records music label, www. hardrock. com, Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, and Hard Rock Live music venues. Not only they can rock hard, they know how to throw a party. Opening celebrations for each new Hard Rock Cafe all around the world are started by live musical performances (â€Å"About Hard Rock cafe†, 2005). Hard Rock Cafe has been governed by a guiding service with law talent and honest philosophy, â€Å"Love All – Serve All. † Means a place where all have always been welcome, in spite of age, sex or class. Hard Rock Cafe remains amazingly faithful to its original intentions. Its rock ‘n’ roll sensibility a Hard Rock Cafe legacy- remains at the very center of all Hard Rock restaurants and every development hard work undertaken by Hard Rock Cafe. Classic American food, served up by a skilled, caring and helpful wait staff, is still the â€Å"order† of the day at Hard Rock Cafe. And a their commitment to widespread humanitarian causes under the banner ‘Save the Planet’- has helped make Hard Rock a legitimate cultural force, from coast to coast, continent to continent (â€Å"The Hard Rock Cafe Story†, 2005). Nowadays, Hard Rock Cafe International, with Hard Rock Cafe at its center, is an entertainment and leisure company that continues to successfully expand the Hard Rock Brand through limitless music-related ventures. Hard Rock Cafe is innovating on a system wide modernization program for the 21st century and adding a new day part, a nightclub with live music. Hard Rock is best known not for its food but for its atmosphere. The cafes ask for donations of music memorabilia and have the world’s largest collection of such. Time after time, their guests have told them that they are looking for an opportunity to make a personal, physical and sometimes even spiritual connection to the music and artists of their time. Then Hard Rock Cafe offer a entertaining, unique and educational look at the evolution of music, that can effects on world events and the emotional appeal and timeless energy as told through priceless memorabilia, interactive displays, educated guides and self-guided tours (â€Å"Hard Rock Cafe Announces Plans†, 2002). For Hard Rock Cafe the biggest challenge facing reputable restaurant chains like theirs is losing their customer. In addition, there have been many new competitors, paying attention by a low cost of livelihood and rising people, offering a comparable dining experience. Moreover, employee turnover has continued to increase. Fighting this situation, Hard Rock Cafe wanted to take improvement of their well-built brand image, combined with excellent customer service and constantly high food quality and to attract more customers from the close region (â€Å"Hard Rock Cafe sets new dining trends†, 2004). At Hard Rock Restaurant, to serves their customer they do not applied manual POS (Point of Sales) systems. The reason why The Hard Rock restaurant is do not make use of manual POS solution because it was based on manual processes, it was inefficient and costly to train new staff— and tracking lost revenue was nearly impossible. Before a new employee was ready to work on the restaurant floor, they have to follow the intensive classroom education for a week. From this activity expected, deliver the new wait-staff and cashiers that enable to memorize extensive information, from standard menu items and services options, to preparation alternatives, pricing details and corporate service policies (â€Å"Hard Rock Cafe sets new dining trends†, 2004). To be confident for the long term, The Hard Rock Cafe management needed to find a way to enhance customer service and reduce the amount of time that customers had to wait for their orders. Moreover, they had to decrease on training costs, as well as organization more-effective profits controls and a process for tracking customer preferences and sales trends to advance productivity. To face a great deal disturbance in the technology industry lately, the restaurant’s major concern in selecting a new POS resolution was dependability. Not just of the restaurant’s new systems, but also of the technology source delivering them. Then they use the new IBM technology-based solution (â€Å"Hard Rock Cafe sets new dining trends†, 2004). Hard Rock Cafe expects a full return on investment (ROI) for the new IBM technology-based solution. ROI expected can reduce the cashier headcount and staff training costs. Hard Rock Cafe wait-staff and cashiers can trust in rapid access to concurrent menu and pricing information to respond quickly to diners, by leveraging new functionality. Besides, human error during the order-entry process has been reduced to nearly nothing, resulting in better consistency, efficiency, and customer satisfaction (â€Å"Hard Rock Cafe sets new dining trends†, 2004). To constrain decision making about promotions, pricing and staffing, Hard Rock Cafe managers can track member of staff and customer activities, enabling the company to collect precious business data. By that method, they can rapidly identify popular items, advantage information to cross-sell extra menu items and track the preferences of common. The customers have seen the new technology and they often comment on the new modern system and Hard Rock Cafe innovative approach to reform the dining experience. This will affect customer faithfulness over the long term by enabling Hard Rock Cafe to leverage unforgettable, first-rate service and the strong brand image to attract a bigger base of both visitor and local customers (â€Å"Hard Rock Cafe sets new dining trends†, 2004). To build financial system work well, strategy for the Hard Rock Cafe are: ? They should fix the infrastructure and the existing corporate systems, ? They must invest in customer-facing programs ? They supposed to provide technologies that will drive traffic to Hard Rock’s website (www. hardrock. com) and from there to the restaurants

Pablo picasso and marcel duchamp

Pablo Picasso & Marcel Decamp Pablo Picasso is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He was born in Spain but worked mainly in France, where he became the most well-known artist of his time. Picasso massive output of paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and ceramics was inspired by many different sources. In the early sass, Picasso developed a movement that signified him, it was known as â€Å"cubism†. This movement marked the beginning of modernism. Marcel Decamp has been known for his rebellious ideas and actions in the 20th century.He was born in France but moved to the USA, and became a US citizen in 1955. His works were known as â€Å"Ready-made†. Duchess's ready-made changed what art meant. He bought elements that would never have been regarded as art. Some people saw it as less art and more â€Å"putting together†. This movement was called â€Å"Dadaism†. This essay will discuss two artworks; â€Å"The Weeping Woman† â⠂¬â€œ by Pablo Picasso, and, â€Å"The Shovel† – by Marcel Decamp. â€Å"The Weeping Woman† is a famous work by Pablo Picasso and holds a lot of meaning.Picasso painted this work in 1937 after a town of Querying was bombed. The artwork holds a lot of symbolic meaning and was inspired by the events of that point in time – the Spanish Civil War. The artwork focuses on the main victims of the attack – the women. The artwork is full of emotions and grief which is expressed through the use of thick lines and different colors. The work is basically the face of a crying woman. The woman was said to be Dora Mar, whom Picasso described as â€Å"always weeping†. She was his close agent when he was most involved with politics.The focus of the structure is the rough area of hard blue and white forms around the out and teeth, clamped violently on a handkerchief; the flesh seems to have been peeled away by acidic tears to reveal hard white bone and the ha ndkerchief she stuffs in her mouth is like a shard of glass. Her eyes are expressed as black holes. As the eye travels up the artwork, we can see that the eyes and forehead are also broken and disordered, and the woman appears literally ‘broken up' with grief. The roughness of the forms is backed-up by the roughness of the colors.The face, neck and hand are painted in an acid, inconsistent yellow and violet and green. These colors may represent decay and decomposition. The yellow and violet however, are opposite colors, as are the blue and orange-red of the woman's hat. Furthermore, the background is painted in strong yellows, contrasting with the blues of the hat and the blues and violets of the hair. The inconsistent color scheme intensifies the impact of the painting. The Weeping Woman is a study of how much pain can be communicated by a human face.The artwork translates the human emotions by paint. Picasso intention was for the viewers to feel the pain when viewing the pai nting. Marcel Duchess's artwork, the shovel, is very different compared to Picasso work. At first sight, it could easily be misinterpreted into being an everyday object kept in almost all homes. A person would not know it as art and would be confused to see it in an art gallery or museum. â€Å"Shovel† was the first Redeemed to be made by Decamp in 1915, after his move to the United States.The Shovel may seem important and artistic to Marcel because no such object existed in France (from where he came). This shows that the shovel was nothing extraordinary to the citizens of the US, who would later be the viewers of the artwork, but something unfamiliar to he artist, therefore, an element of art in his sense. The original shovel was bought from a corner store from where Marcel lived. However, after his move, it was thrown away by his sister. Marcel replicated it and along its lower rim, he wrote the phrase: â€Å"In Advance of the Broken Arm/ (from) Marcel Decamp 1915†. It is stated that the â€Å"from† in the phrase conveys that the object came from the artist, but was not made by him. According to the artist, the phrase written on the shovel is the main color to the artwork. It's a play on words. The phrase refers playfully to the function f a snow shovel which is to remove snow from the ground. Duchess's title shows that without the shovel to remove the snow, one might slip and fall and even break an arm. Marcel Duchess's artworks show that there is no difference between an artwork and an everyday object.The shovel could easily be mistaken for a simple shovel if it were not suspended from the ceiling in a museum. Therefore, the location and position of the artwork stands as a critical part of the piece. Pablo Picasso Weeping Woman can be looked at under the subjective frame as it is basically all bout human emotions and feelings. The main subject of the artwork is the broken face of the woman. By looking at the artwork, one can feel the p ain and sorrow that the subject would have been going through.The work can also be placed under the structural frame as the face is made up of geometric shapes and the colors and their tones play a vital role in conveying the message. The cultural frame can also be a part of the work as it is stated that the Mater Dolorous, the weeping Virgin, is a traditional image in Spanish art, often represented in colorful, elaborate sculptures tit glass tears, Just like in the Weeping Woman. As for the Shovel by Marcel Decamp, it can be categorized under the cultural frame as many scholars have seen sexual suggestions in this Redeemed.Some note that the Shovel â€Å"is an obvious phallic symbol† Another once mentioned that the Sanskrit word for shovel is â€Å"langue,† which is almost equal to the term for phallus (â€Å"langue†). In Status-Asiatic languages the same word meaner both â€Å"phallus† and â€Å"shovel. In conclusion, by examining both artists and thei r artworks, we can see that they are form the same mime period, but hold two opposite views to art. The two artists' distinct differences represent a central logical and visual opening in the history and development of modern art.While Picasso viewed modern art as a visual experiment, Decamp came to believe that art was about ideas and attitudes. Picasso artwork was a traditional artwork of that time whereas Marcella was more about shifting the views engagement of the works of art from pleasing to the eye to the service of the mind, challenging the traditional notion that beauty is a defining characteristic of art. According to Marcel, wings become art by putting them in places where one expects to find art.Where Picasso expresses his feelings through colors and lines, Marcel expresses it through words and phrases. Where Picasso makes his artwork, Marcel â€Å"buys† them and plays around with them. Picasso works are made on a canvas and the painting is the crucial part howeve r, with Marcella artwork, only the placement and position of the artwork is crucial and defines it as a work of art. The Shovel is hung from a ceiling in a museum where The Weeping Woman is simply hung on the wall. In the end, both are known as artworks today and are admired.

Research Paper on Mozart

Research Paper on Mozart On hearing the word genius, no other name springs to mind quicker than that of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. To me, his music reaches a level of perfection unmatched by any other composer. Whereas other great composers excel in a particular aspect of music – Bach with harmonic power and contrapuntal complexity, Handel with melodic virility and textural manipulation, Beethoven with developmental techniques and expression of drama – Mozart reigns supreme in all aspects. He had the harmonic complexity, the melodic grace, the clever developmental techniques, and the emotional content. Furthermore, he was supreme in virtually every musical style of his day – concerto, symphony, sonata, opera, choral music, fugue, canon, et cetera – there was nothing that he could not do. However, Mozart’s mastery of musical qualities is just a mere aspect of his technique, for I believe there is still something else fundamental underlying these qualities. So what is about this little man from Salzburg that is so miraculous? Upon analysis, the techniques of other great composers – Bach, Handel, and Beethoven – have the ability to greatly impress and inspire me. Mozart however simply bewilders me. With great composers such as Bach, Handel, and Beethoven, one can see how they worked out a piece of music logically and systematically. For example, the jagged melodies and unusual intervals in a Bach fugue suggest that his melodies are harmonically conceived. Bach has a harmonic basis in mind, and lays down a melody logically so that it fits the harmony. Conversely, the simple and symmetrical harmonies of Handel suggest that his harmonies are melodically conceived. A melody is composed, and harmonies are logically based on the melody. One can also see the logical structure in Beethoven’s music. A short theme is introduced, and it forms the basis for development in the remainder of the movement. Of course this is an overs implification, but the general principle is that the music of the great composers is worked out logically and systematically. I would even go as far to say that with the right amount of time and musical understanding, one can emulate the logical techniques of these great composers. Their music is attainable. With Mozart however, one encounters a paradox. I have already mentioned that his music excels in all aspects and qualities. I believe however that this does not do him justice. What makes Mozart’s music so special is that it has all these qualities in perfect proportion. Everything just happens to be in exactly the right place, and in such a delicate balance, needing no more or no less. It is almost as if Mozart’s melodies are harmonically conceived and at the same time his harmonies melodically conceived. This paradox reveals that Mozart’s compositional technique is beyond the systematic logic of the other composers. With Mozart everything just seems to fit. It is almost as if he transcends musical logic and sees the music at a higher level that other composers. This is not something that one can emulate by following musical logic or by learning techniques. Upon listening, Mozart’s music has an air of inevitability or rightness. Yet, it also manages to possess an air of unpredictability. This is another paradox of Mozart. It is unpredictable due to its complexity and depth, and familiar due to its subtlety and prefect proportion. It is the perfect proportion which makes Mozart’s music flow so naturally without any strain. For example, in a Bach fugue, the fact that the melodies are logically placed to fit the harmonies or the fugal form can make them sound forced and at times artificial. The melodies don’t come naturally, but are logically placed. With Beethoven, the extremes in dynamics or orchestration can also often sound forced and artificial. One may say that Bach was willing to sacrifice melodic grace for complex harmony and counterpoint, and Beethoven for dynamic power. Mozart however sacrifices nothing, for the music just comes naturally. For example, in the Art of Fugue, Bach manages to logically work out a theme which achieves harmonic coherence when used in several different contrapuntal forms. The angularity and the forced nature of the melodies however do suggest that they are logically worked out so that they fit the harmonies in such contrapuntal forms. In effect, the themes play functional rather than independent melodic roles. However, in the finale of Mozart’s Symphony no.41 in C Major (K.551), Mozart introduces several independent melodies, and then unexpectedly combines all of them together in the coda. All this seems so effortless and natural, that the contrapuntal complexity is lost in us. Unlike Bach, Mozart has not logically forced melodies to fit the harmony or structure, but has simply created several independent melodies that fit together perfectly in what is perhaps the most brilliant show of contrapuntal combination in the history of music. Perhaps Mozart’s subtlety is the reason why many critics pass him off as a ‘composer of catchy tunes’. The perfect proportion of Mozart’s music makes it flow so naturally that the complexities become so subtle that they are unnoticed. The truth however is that Mozart’s music is far more complex than it sounds. Mozart’s powerful harmonic sense is illustrated by his ability to modulate effortlessly and explore a large number of keys in a single movement. This is evident in the first movement of his Violin Sonata in Eb Major (K.481), in which he explores the keys of Ab Major, F Minor, Db Major, C# Minor, A Major, and G# Minor. This amazing harmonic freedom within one movement not only excels that of Bach, but the harmonic structure is so perfectly finished that the modulations appear so effortless. Even on a smaller scale, Mozart’s music is saturated with subtle complexities. A good example is in the first movement of his Viennese Sonatina no.1 in C Major. In bars 5 to 6, a simple melody is exposed, consisting of the notes C, D, F, and E. This simple melody can be harmonised with the diatonic chords of C and G7, the tonic and dominant seventh of the key respectively. However, the simple addition of a short rising chromatic scale in the left hand harmonises the melody in more distant and chromatic chords, including Dm, D, G#dim7, and Am, with rapid chord changes. True art is to conceal art, and Mozart manages this perfectly. Once again, the complexities are so subtle that they are often unnoticed. Mozart’s ability to create complex music in such subtle ways reveals another of his qualities: his ability to achieve what he sets out to achieve using the minimum number of notes. His music is incredibly economical. He seemed to know exactly what to put in, as well as what to leave out. Whereas Beethoven creates a dramatic effect with deviations from harmonic law, extreme dynamics, deliberate dissonances, and a large number of voices, Mozart can create an effect as dramatic without going to extremes in dynamics, dissonances, or number of voices. An example is his Symphony no.40 in G Minor (K.550), in which Mozart creates deep passion and emotion while containing the music within limits – he never breaks the rules of harmony, the dynamics never go below piano or above forte, the dissonances are all contained within tonality, and the orchestra is small. Mozart’s music manages to achieve complexity and drama without going to extremes. The accounts of Mozart’s musical ability are unbelievable. He could write down a piece of music while thinking out another in his head. He would often think out a piece and write down the individual parts before compiling a full score. Already as a very young child he was improvising fugues and composing substantial pieces. The only composer who comes near to Mozart as a child prodigy is Mendelssohn, who composed the overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream as a teenager. However Mendelssohn failed to develop much further, and although his music reveals an excellent sense of proportion, harmony, and passion, he lacks the complexity and subtlety which Mozart has over other composers. Amazingly prolific, Mozart composed over six hundred large-scale pieces, as well as many unknown works and fragments, in his tragically short life. Furthermore, he conquered virtually every medium with his music. And all this seemed effortless: in a letter to his wife, Mozart tells her about ho w he wrote an aria one afternoon out of sheer boredom! To top it all off, his music shows little correction, and he composes at amazing speed. Whereas Beethoven would spend months or years on a piece, Mozart would spend hours, days, or weeks at most. Mozart’s last three symphonies were all completed within a period of six weeks. So what can be concluded about Mozart? From what I have provided, it is difficult not to be amazed by him. To me, his music represents the attainment of musical perfection. It transcends the music of other composers. If I were to make a list of great composers, relatively high on the scale would be the epic greats, such as Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Tchaikovsky. Even higher would be the great masters, such as Bach, Handel, and Beethoven. But way up on a completely different scale of his own would be Mozart, the greatest composer of them all.