Star City Blog

Can Abendmusik Handle Messiah?

The Handel scholar, Winton Dean once wrote of Messiah, “There is still plenty for scholars to fight over, and more than ever for conductors to decide for themselves. Indeed if they are not prepared to grapple with the problems presented by the score they ought not to conduct it.”

Lincoln’s own performance company, Abendmusik, is prepared to grapple with those problems as they attempt one of the pantheons of orchestral work, the Mt. Everest of choral performance, this holiday season at First Plymouth Church on 20^th and D St. 

Abendmusik: Lincoln has been dedicated to community outreach in Lincoln since it was founded in 1972. It’s a nonprofit organization that gathers some of the best musical performers of the nation to inspire and promote unity among Lincoln citizens. They’ve hosted some of the world’s finest musical ensembles (The Vienna Boys Choir, Paul Winter Consort, The Estonia Male Choir, Chanticleer) and are well adept to the task of the evoking every aspect of baroque practice that Handel’s Messiah demands. 

Abendchor is Abendmusik’s company of world-class singers who will be joining the chamber players. This is only their second season, but with such a powerhouse team behind them, they’ve already managed to attract a lot of attention. (The Lincoln-Journal Star has called their singing “errorless”.) Under the co-direction of Therees Hibbard and Tom Trenney, the Abendchor and Abendmusik chamber players are going to sweep you into the holiday season with some of the best music in town. 

 

Date: Sunday Nov. 27

Time: 4:00pm  

Tickets are $20 for Adults; $18 for Senior Citizens (age 62 and over) and $10 for Students (grade school through full-time college students.)  Special rates are available for groups of ten or more.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.abendmusik.org or call (402) 476-9933.           

 

Science Odyssey: No Dinosaurs in Heaven?

By Clay Farris Naff

The late Russian biologist Theodosius Dobzhansky famously said, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." Today, virtually all professional biologists agree. Yet, evolution continues to be dissed or downplayed by a majority of high school science teachers in America, and even some college biology professors are closet creationists.

Filmmaker Greta Schiller learned this first hand when she enrolled in a graduate program for science teachers. Her encounter with a creationist biology professor led her to make a documentary called "No Dinosaurs in Heaven".

In Part 1, we hear from Schiller about her experience. Then, in Part 2, Professor Randy Moore of the University of Minnesota, a biologist firmly committed to the teaching of evolution, describes his research into the effects of high-school exposure to creationism in the science classroom.

No dinos, Part 1

No dinos, Part 2

"No Dinosaurs in Heaven" website and movie trailer:

http://www.nodinos.com/

 Clay Farris Naff is (claynaff.com) is a science author and blogger whose weekly radio program, Science Odyssey, airs Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 9 a.m. CST on KZUM, Lincoln's community radio station. You can hear it over the air at 89.3 FM or on the web live at kzum.org. Clay's science and religion blog on the Huffington Post can be seen here.

Op-Ed: Getting Over Evo-Phobia

By Clay Farris Naff

Nebraska takes pride in its world-class schools, and with good reason. Yet, when it comes to one of the most important theories in science, we flunk. A Pew Forum survey suggests that well over half of Nebraskans reject the idea that we share common ancestors with other forms of life.

Why? The answer is simple: old-time religion fears evolution.

In honor of this Saturday’s anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, 131 congregations across the nation will join in celebrating Evolution Weekend 2011. Only three from Nebraska are slated to participate, and all are in the Omaha area.

It’s high time we get over our evo-phobia. A new national study shows that less than a third of teachers follow the guidelines for teaching evolution. Some reject it outright, but another 60 percent soft-pedal the subject. Does this happen in Nebraska? Almost certainly.  

Science Odyssey: A Psychologist Finds Widespread Anger at God

By Clay Farris Naff

Religion has been left largely untouched by science until recently. Now, however, psychology professor Julie Exline and her team of researchers have published a study showing that many people harbor anger at God.

We talk with Exline (at left) about her research, and then hear from Rabbi Brad Hirschfield on what it means for religion.

God, Part 1

God, Part 2

Clay Farris Naff is (claynaff.com) is a science author and blogger whose weekly radio program, Science Odyssey, airs Saturday mornings from 8:30 to 9 a.m. CST on KZUM, Lincoln's community radio station. You can hear it over the air at 89.3 FM or on the web live at kzum.org. Clay's science and religion blog on the Huffington Post can be seen here.

Setting the Record Straight: Albert Weiss, President of the Jewish Federation of Lincoln

Albert Weiss, President,
Jewish Federation of Lincoln

 This year, the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, or Hanukkah, began after sundown on December 1. In the Hebrew calendar, it occurs on 25th day of Kislev. Since the Hebrew calendar is a lunar calendar, Chanukah occurs at different times in the Gregorian calendar, the calendar that is commonly used throughout the world. Also known as the Festival of Lights, the word Chanukah means “dedication” in Hebrew. Visit the Jewish Federation of Lincoln's website here.

By Albert Weiss

Chanukah can be interpreted in several ways. In the broadest sense, it stresses the importance of religious freedom, the desire of a people to pursue their religious beliefs.

Antiochus IV of Syria banned Judaism in 168 B.C.E. and turned the Second Temple into a place for pagan worship with the installation of a statue of Zeus. In 165 B.C.E., a revolt against Antiochus IV was successful. The revolt was first led by the priest Mattathias and then by his son Judah. It was necessary to cleanse and rededicate the Temple after the desecration by the Syrians. In this rededication process, only one container of uncontaminated oil was found. It would take eight days to make new oil acceptable for use in the Temple. Chanukah celebrates the miracle of that one container of oil burning for eight days, rather than the normal one day.

Around Town: Hanukkah 2010

Compiled by Star City Blog staff

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that begins today, Wednesday, Dec. 1 at sunset. Hanukkah, or Chanukah, commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century B.C.E.

According to the Talmud, a rabbinical text, there was only enough oil to keep the temple's "eternal flame" lit for one day, but it miraculously burned for eight -- long enough to prepare more oil.

The menorah, or candelabrum that serves as a main symbol of Hanukkah, represents the eight days the oil lasted, with a new candle being lit each night of the festival.

In Israel and North America, it's common to exchange gifts during the festival.

Here's a list of what's going on around town for Hanukkah 2010:

Congregation Tifereth Israel, 3219 Sheridan Blvd.

Candle lighting: Friday, Dec. 3 at 4:41 p.m. during evening Shabbat, or worship, service

Temple Gift Shop: Featuring candles, Hanukkias, dreidels, Jewish-themed toys and games, latke serving plate, Challah cover, guest towels and other gifts

Hanukkah Hop: On Sunday, Dec. 5, Tifereth Israel will host the second Hanukkah Hop at 12:30 p.m. The menu will include chicken, hot dogs, salad, vegetables and desert. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 years and younger.

Holiday drive: The congregation is collecting socks and stretchy finger gloves in small and large sizes for students at Saratoga Elementary School, 2215 S. 13th St., and Lincoln High School, 2229 J St. Items can be dropped off at the collection box in the Temple Social Hall.

South Street Temple, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, 2061 S. 20th St.

Chanukah meal and activities: On Friday, Dec. 3, South Street Temple will celebrate Hanukkah with a festive meal following the 6:15 Shabbat service. Dinner will include brisket and latkes, and will be followed by Hanukkah activities and fun for all ages -- "Be sure to bring your own special menorah and candles to light!"

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Student Jewish Association Hillel

Discussion and Hanukkah party: Thursday, Dec. 2

Science Odyssey: As Courts Weigh Status of Embryos, Stem Cell Research Comes into Focus

By Clay Farris Naff

After federal courts delivered mixed messages about the legality of embryonic stem cell research, opponents trumpeted their arguments for treating embryos like any other human being, and researchers wondered whether they could proceed with their experiments. In this episode we talk with Dr. Michael Matthay of the University of California--San Francisco School of Medicine, an expert on the state of the field.

In Part 2, we hear from Dr. Jane Maeinschein (at left), Regents Professor and director of the Center for Biology and Society at Arizona State University, on the ethics of embryonic stem cell research.

In Short: CROPS Farm Walk, LUNk Emergency Fundraiser, 2010 World Day

Compiled by Star City Blog staff

Community CROPS hosts 2010 Farm Walk Friday, Sept. 10: Community CROPS' 2010 Farm Walk will run from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept.10 and will feature events like farm tours, chicken petting, sack races, food samples and the opportunity to purchase some fresh vegetables directly from the farmers. The CROPS farm is located at S.W. 40th and W. F streets. For more information, visit the CROPS website.

LUNk House hosts "emergency fundraiser" on Sunday, Sept. 12: The Lincoln Underground Network Collective, housed at 1213 N. 12th St., is in danger of shutting down. They're hosting a fundraising dinner Sunday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. A presentation of George Carlin stand-up will follow the meal: "Hey, we can all use a few laughs under the circumstances!" For more information, visit the LUNk website. 

New church to host first public service in former Box Awesome space: 2 Pillars Church will be turning a former house of rock into a house of worship with its first public worship service on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m., in the space formerly occupied by Box Awesome at 815 O St. Currently, the space is known as The 815, which 2 Pillars said it aims to use to serve the artists and musicians of the city of Lincoln.

PODCAST: Blog Talk Live: Interview with Joe Winston, Filmmaker

By Dennis Kornbluh

Tonight on Blog Talk Live at 6 p.m. I'll interview filmmaker Joe Winston about his film "What's the Matter with Kansas?", which will play at The Ross from Friday, May 28th through Thursday, June 3rd. One of the subjects of the film will be at the Ross on May 28th for a Q&A session following the 7:30pm screening.

The audio for this program is provided below:

Joe Winston, Filmmaker, Part 1 28:41

Joe Winston, Filmmaker, Part 2 26:21

Blog Talk Live airs every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. Central on KZUM 89.3 FM, on KZUM-HD, and on the web at kzum.org.