Create a new word based on a famous person's name (real or fictional). The name should make everyone think of the meaning of your word.
For example, the Australian Consise Oxford Dictionary (1988) lists
quisling = 'person cooperating with an enemy who has occupied his country; traitor'
Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945) was a Norwegian army officer, diplomat and politician who was the 'puppet' Prime Minister of Norway for the Nazies when they occupied Norway in the Second World War. He was executed at the end of the war.
Quixote = 'enthusiastic visionary, pursuer of lofty but impractical ideas...'
Don Quixote was the hero of a novel by Cervantes (1547-1616). Here's two of mine
wallis = 'someone for whom another person gives up something valuable'
Wallis Simpson (1896-1986) was a divorced American woman for who Edward VIII abdicated the British Crown to marry.
beethoven = 'a creator of something that he or she can never experience'
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) became deaf in 1802 but continued composing - writing some of the greatest masterpieces of Westerm music. I look forward to seeing your words with your definition and information about the famous person.
WORDS BASED ON FAMOUS NAMES - click here for other examples
Amadeus
Amadeus- "Elegant classicism, a feeling reminiscent of Vienna"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart- (1756-1791) Composed some of the most enduringly beautiful and elegant music in history.
AMADEUS
Thanks Christopher. I agree that the word 'Amadeus' implied Mozart (ie., the film Amadeus and the Schaeffer play it was based on). However, I think the 'concept' that we (as modern people) have of what Mozart and 'Mozartian' is far deeper than your definition. I also think Mozart did far more than compose beautiful and elegant music.
As all great composers, Mozart explores the full range of emotions always with a sense of balance. We might think of him as Viennese, perhaps along with such composers as Beethoven and Schubert. But I suspect this is something of hindsight and a historical perspective based on big names (along with Hadyn and Brahms). Mozart was not always appreciated in Vienna (the Prague public were very pro-Mozartian though) and I've read that the public tended to prefer a lighter music (such as Johann Strauss operas).
Do you learn music ? Which instrument(s)? Have you tried composing ?
Alexander
Alexander= a person who achieved greatness, but should have quit while he was ahead.
After Alexander the Great(Greek: Μέγας Ἀλέξανδρος, Megas Alexandros; July 20, 356 BC–June 10, 323 BC)
*Evil laugh*
Music
Yes, I play the piano at Grade Three Trinity College London.
I also play the flute and recorder. And I do compose, I have composed 209 pieces of music as since 2005, this includes four piano sonatas, numerous piano sonatinas, overtures, concertinas,etudes, start of a concerto and I have began an opera.
ALEXANDER
A good definition Cale - I like the second half. Maybe it'll stop people calling their children Alexander.
COMPOSTIONS
It'd be great to hear one of your compositions. Do you have a score you could scan and send me. My email address is nickoram [at] ihug [dot] co [dot] nz
Maybe I should set a compositional challenge.
In the 1970s I used to compose using constrained chance and also improvised. I've had a piece on the radio, shared a concert with a fellow univesity student in the Little Maidment Theatre at the Auckland University.
I have improvised a musical accompaniment for Limbs and for several other dances, and for one short film which was shown in the Auckland Film Festival. However, I have few traditional music skills and found the composing too emotionally straining so I gave up in 1983. I think you've seen some of my performances that I do now. They are much more skillful than any music I ever wrote or perfomed.
more
Zuleyka=Beautiful person. after Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Universe 2007.
Blackhead=someone wanting peaceful revenge. General Norman Schwarzkopf was born in Trenton, New Jersey to Herbert Norman Schwarzkopf, then the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police (the elder Schwarzkopf, who was not fond of his first name, passed only the initial letter to his son, getting his "revenge" against both the U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Army when he was called "Herbert" on all of his records) In German, Schwarzkopf means "black head"
*Evil laugh*
Probability
Could you email me some of the concepts you use to create your compositions? It would be interesting to look at your scores too.
My email address is christopher.jury [at] gmail [dot] com
Auf Wiedersehen!
SCHWARZKOPF
Hi Caleb,
I think for the beauty one you need someone who well be famous for a long time & is considered the archetype for that particular label (thats why I like your Alexander ). .
Schawarzkopf I find more interesting but I still think you need a more archetypal person.
There was a German well-known opera and Lieder called Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.
I look forward to seeing your next ideas.
Custer
Custer=someone who suceeded at a young age for the field they worked in
General Custer was the youngest U.S. General, promoted at age 23
*Evil laugh*