Anna Amalia, Princess of Prussia, youngest sister of Frederick the Great, began composing in her mid-30’s.  She hired J.P. Kirnberger, a pupil of J.S. Bach, as her teacher.  Her greatest significance to music is her library collection, which is currently held in the Königliche Bibliothek in Berlin.

Anna Amalia, Duchess of Saxe-Weimer cultivated artistic interest by surrounding herself with professional and amateur musicians, poets, and scholars.  Wilhelm Bode called it, “Court of Muses”. 

Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre was a French harpsichordist and composer.  She gave lessons and concerts in Paris.  She was the first female opera composer in France.

Other featured composers include Antonia Bembo (1640-1720), Venetian composer and singer, who enjoyed the patronage of Louis XIV of France; Maria von Martinez (1744-1812), composer and harpsichordist, who, as a patroness of the arts, encouraged Haydn and Mozart; Maddalena Laura Sirmen (1745-1818), composer and violinist who toured extensively in Europe – her compositions were played extensively during her lifetime; Maria Theresia von Paradis (1759-1824) blind composer, pianist, organist and singer, much admired by Mozart who dedicated one of his piano concertos to her.

The exhibit includes a slide-show with audio of excerpts from the composers’ works.

Please feel free to stop by the Music Library, located in room 108 Sallee Hall, during the month of March to see the display and listen to these women composer-performers.

Adults          Children
102                 20

The Malpass Library hosted a reception to highlight the artwork and the Asian culture.  Tea, imported from China, spring rolls and wontons were served to the enjoyment of those in attendance.  Attendees were surrounded with the ambiance of Asian culture, with authentic lanterns hanging from the ceiling, a screen hung with decorative scrolls, and animals from the Chinese New Year.  Thanks to technology, two countries were represented at the event.  Mr. Yu was able to participate thru video conferencing, allowing attendees an opportunity to express their admiration for his work.

The calligraphy artwork hanging in the area closest to the blue furniture:  What knowledge is:  ”When you know a thing say that you know it; when you do not know a thing, admit that you do not know it.  That is true knowledge.”

The artwork on the south wall closest to the computer round:  Landscape – Impression of Three Gorges

The calligraphy artwork hanging in the area across from the Reference Desk:  “Learning without thought is useless; thought without learning is dangerous.”

The artwork on the south wall outside of LCC2 Classroom:  “Spring”.

The celebration was a success with over 45 people in attendance.

Weems’ presentation, sponsored by University Libraries and the political science department, is part of WIU’s Black History Month celebration and the topic fit perfectly with this year’s University Theme, “Dollars and Sense: Personal Finance to World Poverty.”

Weems, who earned his bachelor’s degree in history (emphasis in teacher education) at Western in 1973, is a professor in the history department at the University of Missouri. He has written three books covering African American business and economic history issues, including “Black Business in the Black Metropolis: The Chicago Metropolitan Assurance Company, 1925-1985″ (1996, Indiana University Press); “Desegregating the Dollar: African American Consumerism in the Twentieth Century” (1998, New York University Press); and “Business in Black and White: American Presidents and Black Entrepreneurs in the Twentieth Century” (2009, New York University Press).

Vision

University Libraries collects, organizes, and preserves access to information resources that, together with allied services, support the University’s commitment to academic excellence, educational opportunity, personal growth and social responsibility.

Mission Statement

WIU Libraries serves as a portal to the information landscape: it inspires and integrates scholarly communication at all levels, enhances collaboration among students, faculty, and staff, and promotes knowledge as a critical resource to advancing the western Illinois region.

Mr. Yu, Chuangao is a visiting artist to Macomb from P.R.China. He is well known in town since many local residents enjoyed and appreciated his artworks.

Mr. Yu has been interested in traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal engraving since his childhood and has won many awards in China. He expresses his understanding and love of the world with his brushes and enjoyed being a messenger of intercultural exchange between China and U.S.A. He has held two successfully exhibitions in Macomb since 2006.

This reception is to honor Mr. Yu’s outstanding artworks to the Leslie Malpass Library of Western Illinois University. Four of his traditional Chinese paintings and calligraphies will be displayed on the east side of the library main floor. These artworks are specially chosen for WIU library to encourage students thinking while reading and to explore the truth of knowledge.

FYI: Chinese traditional painting dates back to the Neolithic Age about 6,000 years ago. It is usually a combination in the same picture of arts of painting, calligraphy, and seal engraving that supplement and enrich one another. Landscapes, the characters and the flowers and birds are the three preferred topics of the Chinese painters. The Uniqueness of Chinese painting comes from the medium and tool to paint – Xuan Paper (a special rice paper), brushes, ink and pigments – painting can hardly be modified after each stroke. This also brings difficulty of Chinese painting since the artist must finish it one time.

Calligraphies usually are based on famous idioms and poems in China, which remind people to study hard, to enjoy reading, and to strengthen spirits. It’s quite common to see the calligraphies in libraries, classrooms or family reading rooms.

For more information about the showcasing, please contact Tammy Sayles at TJ-Sayles@wiu.edu or by calling 309-298-3298.