Poverty And Ethics Essays - Libertarian Theory, Political Philosophy

Poverty And Ethics Poverty in the United States has long been a social, political, and human rights issue. Few people would say that it is not our moral duty, as social human beings to take care of those less fortunate than ourselves, to the best of our ability. I say few because there are some people out there who believe that we have no moral obligation to do anything outside of ourselves. These types of people have what is called a libertarian viewpoint. There is really no specific definition of libertarian, but it is associates justice with liberty andliberty itself with the absence of interference by other persons. In relation to the matter at hand, specifically poverty in America, libertarians are against taxing the affluent or forcing people to aid the starving and poor. One of the most influential libertarians of our time is Professor Robert Nozik. His theory of justice begins with the premise that all people have Lockean rights, which require that we refrain from interfering with others. Other than this we have no obligation to do anything positive for anyone else, and likewise, they have no obligation towards us. These rights are natural or inalienable because all humans have them and they do not come from any social or political institutions. These rights forbid us from interfering with a persons liberty even if it would promote some general good, or prevent anothers rights from being violated. Overall, the general idea is that people have the liberty to live a life free from intervention of others, and can lead their life however they so choose. In addition, he says that if a person acquired their fortune or possessions without harming, defrauding, or violating the rights of any others, then it is morally permissible to use those things however one wishes. This includes wasting, willing, or endowing the possessions to someone else. Even though many people are dying from starvation and malnutrition, Noziks theory of justice states that one has no obligation to help those people. The previous premise comes to form Noziks entitlement theory. Simply put, this theory states that people are entitled to their belongings and may use them as they wish, as long as they have fairly acquired them and have not violated anothers Lockean rights in the process. His theory is summarized as follows: 1. A person who acquires a holding in accordance with the principle of justice in acquisition is entitled to that holding. 2. A person who acquires a holding in accordance with the principle of justice in transfer, from someone else entitled to the holding, is entitled to the holding. 3. No one is entitled to a holding except by (repeated) applications of 1 and 2. Relating to poverty, libertarians feel that no matter how the actual distribution of economic holdings may look, if all involved are entitled to the holdings they possess, then the distribution is just. In addition, libertarians would be against government intervention in a society to either improve the social situation or economic situation. They feel that to tweak the economy, so to speak, would involve violating someones liberty, and therefore would make it morally unacceptable. By definition, libertarianism requires that market relations are totally unrestricted. This means that interfering with uncoerced and non-fraudulent transactions or exchanges between consenting adults is strictly forbidden. For example, a libertarian would be against government regulation of wages, since the matter of earnings should be decided between an employer and employee. Likewise, a libertarian would be against providing the poor with welfare, food stamps, and subsidized housing, because such programs are in direct contrast with their beliefs about liberty. Why is this? To them, liberty means being free in terms of the aforementioned theory of rights. All forms of public aid by definition are funded by the taxation of a countrys citizens, regardless of whether an individual wishes to support the programs or not. We, as Americans, essentially have no control over what the government funds with our tax dollars. Those supported by such aid have no right to entitlement, since they have not earned the right to the holdings by any means. Personally, I find the libertarians preference for private charity over public welfare quite disheartening.

Effect of Labour Turnover on Organisational Productivity Essay Example

Effect of Labour Turnover on Organisational Productivity Essay Example Effect of Labour Turnover on Organisational Productivity Essay Effect of Labour Turnover on Organisational Productivity Essay EFFECT OF LABOUR TURNOVER ON ORGANISATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY 1 INTRODUCTION The practice of human resource management (HRM) is concerned with all aspects of how people are employed and managed in an organisation (Armstrong, 2009). The strategic business function organ of the organisation sees to the inflow and outflow of employees in the organisaiton. The HRM function of directing the organisation system to ensure that human talents are used effectively to accomplish desired goals is very crucial, thereby not left ignored. Organisations zealous about growth would always intend to develop their respective current human capital and other potentials. But in this world of frequent upgrade and innovations in the business environment and the technological ways of doing things, organisations would commit themselves towards bringing their workforce to the task requiring intellectual and manual growth and development. The idea behind this would be to intensify the additional productivity generated by extra employee hired. All these put together would amount to organisations being cost conscious in making sure that employees with high human capital do not leave their organisations. But in order to be realistic, organizations cannot be everything to all people. No matter how great your company is, it is likely that some of your employees will eventually move on to other opportunities. That may be costing you a lot and affecting your well enjoyed stabilized organization productivity. Labour or worker or employee or staff turnover has it is often referred to, is the number of permanent employees leaving the company within the reported period versus the number of actual Active Permanent employees on the last day of the previous reported period (physical headcount). According to Business Dictionary (2011), the ratio of the number of employees that leave a company through attrition, dismissal, or resignation during a period to the number of employees on payroll during the same period makes up what is referred to as Labour Turnover. An employee leaving the organization either voluntarily or involuntarily is certain to have positive or negative effects on the organization. This as well would reflect on the productivity of the organization concerned. In other words, high turnover can be harmful to a companys productivity if skilled workers are often leaving and the worker population contains a high percentage of novice workers (Open Forum, 2011). This is especially the case if those leaving are either key to its success and continuity or do so because they think you have treated them unfairly, which could result in tribunal claims (Business Link, 2011). This means maintaining the satisfactory level of productivity might be threatened. Therefore curbing turnover to its optimal level for the organization is a major challenge. However, the research on the consequences of labour turnover is inconclusive, and provides little guidance on how much turnover, if any, is optimal (Siebert, 2006). It hereby leaves us wondering what optimal number is needed for the organization’s best productivity. As turnover even poses to be a major and widely studied organizational behavior phenomenon, it fosters why researchers are becoming interested in it more. It is a phenomenon that not just affects a company, occupation or industry, but an issue tackled by organizations all around the world. This is because at one employee’s voluntary or involuntary time they would have to leave the organization. (Abelson 1987; Campion 1991). 1. 2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM Labour turnover as noticed, if not looked into, could eat deep into the profitability and threaten the sustainability of any organization. As a global challenge as well mandatory confrontation of the technological and environmental diversities which organizations have to face, many brows are raised on its persistence. The Nigerian insurance sector has not been left out as labour turnover has been disrupting their services and relatively their organization productivity. The Human Resource Managers and the executives of these organizations have always been on their toes to proffer solutions to labour turnover. The consciousness of hiring, monetary and time cost recorded when highly frequent labour turnover occurs; thereby affecting productivity which makes this a problem that begs for answer. Organizations lose not just financially, or in productivity when they have an employee with huge human capital permanently departing from their organization. This could have been due to avoidable or unavoidable reasons. The technological and business demands of electronic dealings have also affected ways in which operations are carried out in the Nigerian insurance industry. Some new fresh ideas have been witnessed with the opportunities for new transfers and promotions, but those still have to be compared to the contributions or reductions which are now available. This study would look into how the effects of the voluntary or involuntary labour turnover have impacted on the productivity level of the organization observed. As well to what extent, the organizations need to plan in anticipating an optimal level of labour human capital that can yield the needed productivity in the Nigerian insurance sector which is becoming labour shortages. 1. 3 LITERATURE REVIEW Employee turnover has benefits and costs for organizational performance (Ableson Baysinger, 1984). But a study is not just being carried out to have the positive sides analysed. The human resource management literature has traditionally viewed labour turnover in a negative light. Human capital theories of labour turnover point to loss of firm-specific human and social capital (Dess and Shaw 2001). This negative view is supported by the results of several empirical studies. For example, Huselid (1995) finds high labour turnover negatively linked to labour productivity in his sample of 968 U. S. firms. Also Baron, Hannan and Burton (2001) find turnover to be â€Å"disruptive† in their study of hi-tech start-ups in California in the early 1990s. Many studies have concentrated on quits specifically, and have found a negative impact of quits on firm performance, as in Batt (2002) for U. S. call centres, McElroy, Morrow and Rude (2001) for branches of a U. S. financial company, etc. But some have since been reporting the optimistic side of the coin. Job matching theory (Jovanovic, 1979) predicts that workers less suitable for the organisation would result into leaving it earlier; hence, there is room for labour turnover to improve performance (productivity) by clearing the workforce of poor worker-job matches. In the same vain, McEvoy and Cascio’s (1987) meta-analysis of twenty-four reported correlations between performance and turnover concluded that ‘good performers are †¦ less likely to leave †¦ than are poor performers’, which supports the main prediction of job matching theory (p. 758). Williams and Livingstone’s (1994) further meta-study of turnover supported McEvoy and Cascio (1987) and proved an even stronger negative relationship between worker individual performance and voluntary turnover when pay is contingent on the organisation’s productivity. Ilmakunnas, Maliranta and Vainiomaki (2005) report a positive impact of turnover on total factor productivity growth in Finnish manufacturing. However, the Nigerian insurance sector may be faced with such ups and downs as regards to impact of labour turnover on organisation productivity. But relatively unlike most of the research on the topic, Bingley and Westergaard-Nielsen (2004) look at hires and quits simultaneously in their study of personnel policies and profit in a panel of 7,118 Danish organisations over 1992-95. In contrast to the popular result, they conclude that quits increase profit and hires reduce it. They argue, consistently with job matching theory that the least productive workers are more likely to leave. The finding on hires is interpreted in terms of turnover costs, since hires incur recruitment and training costs. Thus, reconciliation of job matching and human capital theories of labour turnover is assisted by distinguishing between quits and hires a path we will follow. Those were observed by W. Stanley Siebert, Nikolay Zubanov, Arnaud Chevalier, Tarja Viitanen (2006). The case of a firm in the Nigerian insurance sector on the impact of labour turnover on productivity may take along the practice of the HRM. Guthrie (2001) found a dichotomy in the impact of turnover on productivity depending on the type of human resource management (HRM) system in the organisation. Glebbeek and Bax (2004) using data from offices of a temporary employment agency in the Netherlands over 1995-98 indeed find an inverted U-shape relationship between worker turnover and productivity. The same relationship between labour turnover and productivity is reported in a study of 2,435 workplaces in Australia over 1995-97, by Harris, Tang and Tseng (2002). However, Shaw, Gupta and Delery (2005: 61) report the opposite result for U. S. and Canadian concrete plants and U. S. transportation companies, where they conclude that the relationship between voluntary turnover and workforce performance is ‘negative but becomes attenuated as turnover increases’. This particular study, however, would look into ups and downs earlier known to rock an organisation’s productivity if it has employee turnover. Particularly, an organisation in the Nigerian insurance industry being studied if the earlier affirmations can be upheld or restructured to show our society’s diversified business environment. 1. 4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to achieve the following: i. To affirm the relationship between labour turnover and organization productivity. ii. To investigate the impact of business diversities requirement like technology amounting to organization productivity on labour turnover. iii. To investigate how organisations can reduce unfavourable labour turnover on productivity. iv. To examine labour turnover impact on MBLA 1. 5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS The following are the research questions developed for the course of this study. They are: i. Does Nigerian insurance sector witness labour turnover? ii. Is labour turnover a challenge to organization? iii. Is organization productivity disrupted when organization labour turnover takes place? iv. Does an organization have any positive productivity advantage when labour turnover occurs? v. Are there measures of curbing labour turnover when organization sees it could halt productivity? 1. 6 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESES The hypotheses to be used in validating this study project are stated as follows: H0: There is no significant relationship between the labour turnover and organization productivity of MBLA. H0: There is a significant relationship between labour turnover and organization productivity of MBLA. H0: There is no impact on labour turnover and organization productivity of MBLA H0 : There is an impact of labour turnover on organization productivity of MBLA. . 7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The significance of this study is tailored towards the evaluation, analysis and addition to the current existing body of knowledge. It would assist the human resource managers in capturing adverse labour turnover effect which could halt their organization’s effectiveness and efficiency. Knowing the costly effect of an unchecked labour turnover on the organization productivity, t his study would help HR managers on other logical steps to militate against employee turnover. The recommendations can be used in helping organizations not just in the Nigerian insurance sector but as well other sectors of the economy. By using this study different organization can reduce the rate of employee turnover and increase their productivity and profitability. 1. 8 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 1. 8. 2 Population of the Study Due to the uneasy access to the entire population of this study, a sample would be drawn up. According to Levin and Rubin, (2002), a population is the whole collection of all elements that a research is studying and from which generalization will be drawn from. The study would make use of a branch of MBLA and a generalisation would be utilized. However the organisation has about 500 staff with about 15 of them taking charge of the executive functions of the company. Also the administrative functions are run by over 60 of their staff. Besides, the other population are either their marketers or ther junior workers. 1. 8. 3 Sampling and Sampling Techniques With application of a stratified sampling, the employees of the organisation would be unbiasedly picked. This would be enforced among both the senior and junior employees of the organisation. All these effort is to have a reasonable conclusion from which generalisation would be ascertained. 1. 8. 4 Strategy for the Collection of Data The primary data generation would be through dissemination of quesstionaires and some other additional interview briefs. The other earlier publications would be added to have a concrete information. These would be used in getting the necessary source of data in generating findings on the impact of labour turnover on organisation productivity in the Nigerian insurance sector. 1. 8. 5 Data Presentation The new advancement in statistical analysis, SPSS, would be utilized in presenting the data generated. The mean, median, mode, frequency and percentiles would be explored for a clearer data presentation 1. 8. 6 Test of the Conjuctural Statement With the use correlation, regression and t-test, the hypotheses of the study would be put to test. 1. 9 SYNOPSIS The outline of this five-study would wear the face of having the first chapter introducing the topic and its subject matter of labour turnover and its corresponding effect on organisation productivity. Also, the second chapter of the study would contain the prior knowledge and study done on this topic. From this some theories and standings of previous scholars would be incorporated into this particular present topic. Besides that, the third chapter would have the methodology to apply in carrying out this study. The instruments and sources of data that would be applied at MBLA in assuring that the right information are gathered within the confinement of the ethical stands, in other to have a good research work in the study. However, the fourth study would look at the data presented and analysed in the format that is generally acceptable. This would enhance the genuineness of this study. Also, the fifth chapter would see to the conclusion and recommendation of the project. This is where the findings and results of the study would be concluded and any recommendation suitable for MBLA and other organisations of its kind would be issued for their discretional adoption. REFERENCES businesslink. gov. uk/bdotg/action/detail? itemId=1074411249=RESOURCES penforum. com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/the-high-cost-of-employee-turnover-scott-allen Batt, R. 2002. Managing customer services: Human resource practices, quit rates, and sales growth. Academy of Management Journal, 45: 587–597. Batt, R. , Colvin, A. J. S. , Keefe, J. 2002. Employee voice, human resource practices, and quit rates: Evidence from the telecommunications industry. Industrial and Labour Relations Review, 55: 573–594. Becker, B. , Huselid, M. 2006. Strategic human resource management: Where do we go from here? Journal of Management, 32: 898–925. GHAURI, P. GRONHAUG, K. (2002),†Research Methods in Business Studies: a practical guide, London, Prentice Hall† GREEN, F. , FELSTEAD, A. , MAYHEW, K. PACK, A. (2000),†The impact of training on labour mobility: individual and firm-level evidence from Britain† British Journal of Industrial Relations, 38, 26 1-275. James K. Harter, Frank L. Schmidt, Theodore L. Hayes (2002),† Business-Unit- Level Relationship between Employee Satisfaction, Employee Engagement, and Business Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis†, Vol. 7, No. 2, 268–279 Judge, T. A. , Thoresen, C. J. , Bono, J. E. , Patton, G. K. (2001),† The job satisfaction–job performance relationship: A qualitative and quantitative review†, Psychological Bulletin, 127,376–407. K. Morrell, J. Loan-Clarke and A. Wilkinson (2001), â€Å"Unweaving Leaving: The Use of Models in the Management of Employee Turnover†, Business School Research Series, Loughborough University. M. Armstrong (2006), Human Resource Management, Kogan Page, United Kingdom

Using the Subjunctive Past in German

Using the Subjunctive Past in German Most of the time, teachers and textbooks manage to make the subjunctive mood (der Konjunktiv) more complicated than it needs to be. The subjunctive can be confusing, but it doesnt have to be. Early on, every beginning student of German learns this common Subjunctive II verb form: mà ¶chte (would like), as in Ich mà ¶chte einen Kaffee. (Id like a [cup of] coffee.) This is an illustration of a subjunctive verb form learned as vocabulary. No complicated rules to learn, just an easily memorized vocabulary phrase. Much of the subjunctive can be handled this way, without worrying about complex rules or formulas. Past Subjunctive Why is it, if you ask a native speaker of German to explain the use of the subjunctive, he or she will most likely (a) not know what the subjunctive is, and/or (b) not be able to explain it to you? This, despite the fact that this same German (or Austrian or Swiss) can and does use the subjunctive all the time - and if you had grown up speaking German, you could, too. What Is the Subjunctive II? The past subjunctive is a verb mood used to express uncertainty, doubt, or a contrary-to-reality condition. It is also frequently utilized to reflect politeness and good manners - an excellent reason to know the subjunctive. The subjunctive is not a verb tense; it is a mood that can be used in various tenses. The past subjunctive (another name for the Subjunctive II) gets its name from the fact that its forms are based on the past tense. The Subjunctive I is called the present subjunctive because it is based on the present tense. But dont let those terms confuse you: the subjunctive is not a verb tense. The opposite of the subjunctive is the indicative. Most sentences that we utter - in English or German - indicate a statement of fact, something that is real, as in Ich habe kein Geld. The subjunctive does the opposite. It tells the listener that something is contrary to reality or conditional, as in Htte ich das Geld, wà ¼rde ich nach Europa fahren. (Had I the money, I would travel to Europe.) The implication is clearly, I dont have the money and Im not going to Europe. (indicative). One problem for English-speakers trying to learn the Konjunktiv is that in English the subjunctive has practically died out - only a few vestiges remain. We still say, If I were you, I wouldnt do that. (But Im not you.) It sounds incorrect to say, If I was you... A statement such as If I had the money (I dont expect to have it) is different from When I have the money (its likely I will have it). Both were and had (past tense) are English subjunctive forms in the two examples above. But in German, despite some setbacks, the subjunctive is very much alive and well. Its use is important for conveying the idea of conditional or uncertain situations. This is usually expressed in German by what is known as the Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II), sometimes called the past or imperfect subjunctive - because it is based on the imperfect tense forms of verbs. Now, lets get down to business. What follows is not an attempt to cover all aspects of the Konjunktiv II but rather a review of the more important aspects. Here are some examples of how the Subjunctive II can be used in German. The Konjunktiv II is used in the following situations: As if, contrary to reality (als ob, als wenn, als, wenn)Er gibt Geld aus, als ob er Millionr wre.He spends money as if he were a millionaire.​Request, obligation (being polite!) - usually with modals (i.e., kà ¶nnen, sollen, etc.)Kà ¶nntest du mir dein Buch borgen?Could you lend me your book?​Doubt or uncertainty (often preceded by ob or dass)Wir glauben nicht, dass man diese Prozedur genehmigen wà ¼rde.We dont believe that they would allow this procedure.​Wishes, wishful thinking (usually with intensifying words like nur or doch - and conditional sentences)Htten Sie mich nur angerufen! (wishful)If you had only called me!Wenn ich Zeit htte, wà ¼rde ich ihn besuchen. (conditional)If I had time, Id visit him.​Replacement for Subjunctive I (when the Subjunctive I form and the indictative form are identical)Sie sagten sie htten ihn gesehen.They said they had seen him. The last two lines in the traditional German song, Mein Hut, are subjunctive (conditional): Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken,Drei Ecken hat mein Hut,Und htt er nicht drei Ecken,dann wr er nicht mein Hut. My hat, it has three corners,Three corners has my hat,And had it not three corners, (if it didnt have...)then were it not my hat. (...wouldnt be my hat)

CIPD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

CIPD - Essay Example Leading HR The remaining eight professional areas in which the HR professional provides specialist support to the organizations are: Resource and aptitude Planning: This area represents delivering efficient manpower service to the organization through effective aptitude planning. Learning and development: This area of professional HRM services provides learning and development programs for enhancement of knowledge and skills of the employees. Performance and incentives: This area provides evaluation and implementation of performance based incentive program in the organization to motivate the employees. Employee commitment: This service delivers effective evaluation of the extent of commitment of each and every employee to the organization. Worker Relations: This service conducts effective both way communication systems in the organization aims to develop good employee relation in the organization. ... It is a broad area that involves evaluation monitory and non monitory motivations required, conflict resolutions, effective organization culture and ethical hr code of conducts. The eight behavioral traits spread across the Band 1 to Band 4 that need to be exhibited by the HR professionals in order to contribute to organizational success are given as follows. Personal credibility: It is one of the most important traits of individual employees and for that reason it needs be appreciated by the organization through effective reward systems. Collaboration: This trait helps to improve group work and collaborative work output. Curious: Curiosity is one of the important traits of employees for enhancement of skills and knowledge. Courage to challenge: This trait helps an employee to take new tasks easily and comfortably. Skilled influencer: This trait is most essential for team lead, project coordinator or a manager to motivate his or her own team members and get the work done easily. Role Model: This trait is most important in any organization using it as inspirational tool for all employees. Band 2: knowledge and activities in Employee engagement The professional area of employee engagement in Band 2 has been considered to be the most essential in the role of an HR professional. The HR professional is also required to provide solutions in order to maintain a productive work environment and sustainable business. The workplace consists of a diversified group of workers with difference in education, background, culture and most importantly future ambitions. The engagement with the employees would provide the knowledge on the existing gaps in the system and the actionable that is required to maintain a healthy work environment. The HR professional should have

The Financial Side of Media Industries Transform Research Paper

The Financial Side of Media Industries Transform - Research Paper Example One can consider the audience as a commodity, similar to a ‘widget’, which is manufactured, traded, circulated and used. The perception of trading ‘eyeballs’ to the promotional team is not a new idea for any person within the business; even though, in its historical perspective, it is remarkable to notice how this case is prepared. However, the thought of unfolding the viewers’ effort is intriguing (Young, 1997, p. 32). During the earlier period, conservative reviewers of interactions concentrate on optimist theories, which concentrate on its consequence or function, however, seldom to content. Earlier political economists - neoclassic, Keynesian and Galbraith - mainly disregard the audience market. Even Marx was unable to deal with it although is accepted for significant explanations. He says marketing was not essential to mass communication before the end of World War 1. Nonetheless, the inclination started during the last part of the 19th century w ithin main metropolitan areas in North America. This issue is a ‘blind spot’ for prominent educationalists as well as philosophers, for instance, Gramsci, the Frankfurt School and some others. In view of the fact that audience control is created, traded, bought and used, it has a cost and it can be taken as a commodity. This is where the argument turns motivating as he states it entails effort â€Å"on the part of the audience† (Ang, 1991, p. 83). The effort is classified, not merely as some activity for which a particular salary is given, but it is an innovative, humanly unique act, where creating something implies some practical purpose is provided and the person’s nature is changed.

Men vs Women at the Pool Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Argument

Men vs Women at the Pool It was a Friday afternoon and the sun was shining off of her freckled nose. She was in a rage because her male counterpart had made plans to go the pool with the rest of his male friends. â€Å"Why can’t I go?† She asked in a whiney voice. â€Å" Because this is man time. Besides, you said you had things to do today.† He replied in a deep voice, as he scratched at his five o’clock shadow. It was funny how she would always have her â€Å"Girls Night Out† and he wouldn’t say a word about it. He actually liked the peace and quiet it afforded him. But if the tables were to ever turn as they did on that beautiful day, she could not understand for the life of her where this sudden urge to be separated came from. They both knew what was going to be going on at the pool that day. Groups of men sitting around their coolers talking about the girl with the big butt or helping their friends strategize on how to get the girl in the string bikini to come closer or at least bend over. That is what men do. The ones that are taken help...

Concert Attendance Paper

MUS 121 Jeffrey Phelps, cello and Lee Jordan-Anders, piano 14 October, 2012 Dr. Ford Tidewater Community College CA#1 The Program Sonata in A Major, Opus 69 (1808)Ludwig van Beethoven Allegro, ma non tanto Scherzo, Allegro molto Adagio cantabile/Allegro vivace Sonata (1915) I. Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto II. Serenade: Moderement anime III. Final: Anime, leger et nerveuxClaude Debussy The Concert On Sunday, 14 October, Jeffrey Phelps, cello and Lee Jordan-Anders, piano, performed Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata in A Major, Opus 69 (1808) and Claude Debussy’s Sonata (1915) at Trinity Methodist Church in Smithfield Virginia.After the introduction of the performers we were asked to hold all applause until the end of each piece. The first Sonata by Beethoven bears the heading of Inter Lacrimas et Luctum, meaning â€Å"Amid Tears and Sorrow. † The first movement, Allegro, ma non tanto, from Beethoven’s Sonata, opened with the cello resting on one no te. The timbre of the cello as it began in a lower register was warm and rich, the tempo starting rather slow. The mood was mournful to me at the beginning and I had no idea what to expect. The texture at the beginning of the first movement was monophonic.As the piano entered the melody for both cello and piano was conjunct with symmetrical phrasing. Here the texture became polyphonic. The tone color of the piano seemed varied to me, alternating throughout the piece between vibrant and subdued. When the mood was not lively it became somber. The dynamics of both instruments changed throughout this movement, from piano to forte and then piano again. The movement of the melody was conjunct at the beginning of the piece and the contour of the melody was wavelike, especially by the piano.This movement began in a major key then abruptly moved into a minor key, where the dynamics were fortissimo. The texture was polyphonic, the counterpoint producing a call and response, as if the cello an d piano were holding a conversation. The melody had a narrow to medium range in the beginning of this movement. Repetition allowed all the themes to reappear throughout the movement, which is a trademark of the sonata. The cello and piano take turns performing small solo passages before veering off to something else. At one point early in the piece I heard a homorhythmic texture when cello and piano played the same notes together.After a descending melody from the piano the movement then becomes disjunct with a wavelike contour. It seemed to me that when the melody in the cello ascended, the melody in the piano descended. It had a lyrical mood to it and it was beautiful. The harmony, at this point, was still in a major key as the cello took over, characterized by a timbre that was dark. The mood was one of melancholy and I could feel sorrow. It was interesting to watch Phelps and Jordan-Anders subtly cue one another as the dynamics became pianissimo and the tempo adagio. In the lowe r registers both cello and piano had a timbre that was warm.In the upper registers it sounded fiery. The texture of the cello here was monophonic with no piano. I was not expecting the explosive part that followed. At about four minutes into the movement the dynamics became fortissimo and I could hear the harmony in a minor key. The contour of the melody descended and was conjunct. There was a return to a major key and the dynamics became piano for both instruments. The mood of this movement reminded me of yearning. The tone color for the piano became brighter here as the cello returned to the warm, rich sound like in the beginning.The contour of the melody was ascending and conjunct. This movement remained in duple meter throughout the piece. There was a return to counterpoint as both cello and piano played, using a polyphonic texture, the dynamics piano before returning to forte. As the tempo became allegro the cello strings were plucked creating a timbre that was bright and a moo d that was lively. There was a return to a monophonic texture for the cello and the dynamics became pianissimo. Since this movement’s form was ostinato, I heard short melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns repeated.This piece was long, at twelve minutes, and at one point I stopped taking notes, in awe of what I was hearing. The entire piece felt symmetrical to me and was sing able throughout. Beethoven’s Sonata 3, Opus 69 nears a close with a texture that was heterophonic, dynamics that go from forte to piano and a bright tone color for cello and piano. The melody remained conjunct with a contour that was wavelike, by ascending and descending, especially for the piano. The tempo returned to allegro throughout this piece and ended with the dynamics returning to forte and the final cadence as the harmony resolved in consonance.The second movement of Beethoven’s Sonata in A Major, Opus 69 was Scherzo: Allegro molto and began with Jordan-Anders playing the opening notes of the melody in a narrow range with a melodic movement that was conjunct. The texture here was monophonic for only a few measures. The timbre of the piano was bright and the harmony was minor. I heard the second movement in triple meter, and by the time the cello began to play there seemed to be a return to the polyphonic texture which was common in the first movement. The movement of the melody was disjunct with a medium range, the dynamics of the piano soft (piano) and the tempo allegro.Phelps began playing in a dynamic that was piano which mirrored the opening measures of the piano part, with a very interesting rhythm I’m not sure how to describe. The rhythm was syncopated with a constant emphasis on beat three of every measure with the second beat marked by silence. The timbre of the cello felt bright, even in its lower register. There was an ostinato form in this piece and again, the cello and piano seemed to talk to each other, with a call and response pattern f amiliar in the first movement of this sonata.Movement two seemed to reach a dynamic climax halfway through which was forte, only to return to piano. The melody in the piano alternated between conjunct and disjunct and as the dynamics became louder the contour of the melody was ascending. The exchanges between the cello and piano created a lively mood throughout the movement and the texture once again became homorhythmic with a return to a polyphonic texture. I heard these textures throughout the Scherzo. The timbre of the piano and cello became quite broad with very loud dynamics. The theme was repeated and again, ostinato was at play.The movement ended with dynamics of the piano forte, the cello and piano using a texture that was heterophonic, because both instruments were playing in unison. The cello was plucked near the very end which created a dull timbre. The piano again employed a dynamic that was piano. This piece was full of manic energy that left me wanting to hear more. Th e word scherzo means â€Å"joke† but this lively little piece was anything but a joke! The third movement of Beethoven’s Sonata in A Major, Opus 69, began with a short Adagio cantabile which started with the piano.The dynamics were soft. The texture of the piano at the very beginning was monophonic until the cello joined in, and I heard a mixture of textures, but couldn’t quite tell for sure what they were. At one point, early on, I heard both piano and cello playing in unison which made the mixed texture heterophonic as well as heterorhythmic. The melody for both cello and piano was conjunct with a movement that I heard as having a narrow range for the piano and a medium range for the cello. The meter was duple. The dynamic used is piano and the tempo was adagio.Even though the harmony was major, the mood of the first part felt quite melancholy to me. Remaining in duple meter, the movement shifted from the Adagio cantabile to the final Allegro vivace, the title a clue of what was to come! The harmony remained in a major key however the tempo became lively (vivace) and the mood felt playful to me. The tone color of the cello was once again warm, as I am finding the cello to be. The timbre of the piano was bright and crisp as both instruments seemed to veer apart, trying to find a way to come back together. I felt excited when hearing this movement.The contour of the melody felt wavelike for both instruments, especially when scales were used, sometimes ascending, sometimes descending. The dynamics changed throughout this movement from soft to loud then back to soft again. I heard the movement of the piano as conjunct but wasn’t sure about the cello. Again, ostinato is at play halfway through the movement and I thought I heard dissonance, as the piano and cello seemed to battle it out. The harmony sounded like it was in a minor key at this point, like the cello and piano were trying to find resolution. The timbre of the piano was pier cing here.The tempo for both instruments became fast and the dynamics loud. Finally, the harmony reached consonance, after the cello repeats the first bar of the theme over and over again while the piano pounds out the accompaniment. The dynamics alternated between soft and loud, cello and piano ending on the final note in unison, the dynamics a startling forte. The first movement of Claude Debussy’s Sonata, Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto, began with Lee Jordan-Anders’ lone piano part that was homophonic in texture with a harmony that was minor. The tone color here was very dark, the mood quite somber.The program notes for this performance note this Sonata as the first of six projected sonatas for various instrumental combinations that Debussy was unable to complete due to the cancer that made his final years a misery. This sonata was the first composition. I could feel his pain and misery as I listened to this work. The phrasing of the melody was symmetric al with a movement that was conjunct. This movement began with a dynamic that was forte. The texture of the piano was homophonic. The cello entered, with an ostinato form which repeated the part just heard by the piano, giving it a tone color that I heard as a bit subdued and dull.The melody ascended, then descended, only to ascend again creating a wavelike contour with a conjunct movement. The dynamics continued to be forte. The cello then played alone, giving a monophonic texture. I felt the mood to be sad here, the movement of the melody more conjunct with a medium range. The harmony was minor. The tone color was muted. The melody of the cello began to ascend, the dynamics piano. Here, the piano joined the cello and the mood started to feel agitated. I heard the harmony to be dissonant here as the dynamics became forte.The texture was homophonic here and the timbre of the cello broad. The melody in the cello descended and was conjunct. The dynamics were piano at this point in the sonata and the tempo andante. The movement came to an end with a shift in harmony from major to minor with an obvious slowing of tempo. The dynamics remained piano. The second movement of Claude Debussy’s Sonata, Serenade: Moderement anime, began with the cello that had a tone color that was dull, almost muffled as Phelps plucked the strings with his fingers, which is pizzicato. The melody was not sing able and I heard the harmony as dissonant.I’m not sure about the meter, but I heard it as nonmetric because it felt weak to me. The dynamics at the beginning of this movement were pianissimo and the mood was one of distraction or agitation. The phrasing was not symmetrical and as the cello continued in the lower register the piano can be heard, also playing in dissonance above the cello. I had a difficult time with this piece because technically it seemed all over the place. The timbre remained dark and gloomy. The melody became conjunct with a narrow range of three not es with the dynamics moving from soft to loud.The tempo was vivace at one point, even though this movement’s tempo was rather slow. The tone color of the cello became brighter, as a lone part played in a higher register, making the texture homophonic. This movement closed with a cello part that seemed to be looking for resolution, still with a minor harmony and it seemed to repeat the first part of the piece. The third movement, Final: Anime, leger et nerveux, began in duple meter with the melody of the cello sounding sustained, then alternating between an ascending then descending movement, with a wavelike contour.The piano became very noticeable as Jordan-Anders began playing in a higher range that had a bright tone color. The melody was conjunct and wavelike, the phrasing symmetrical, for a short while. As the piano descended, the timbre of the cello once again became dull, as Phelps plucked the instrument. The mood turned dark and stormy once again as dissonance became pr evalent. I’m sure there were all kinds of technical things going on in this movement that my ear is not trained to detect.I could clearly hear the return to the earlier theme as both instruments reached a loud dynamic, the final note of the movement struck by both cello and piano. Even though this movement was played with mostly piano dynamics, I could hear a contrast between the changing moods, brought about mostly by frequently changing keys. It was a wonderful performance by Jeffrey Phelps and Lee Jordan-Anders and I am very glad I attended. I left the church remembering why I have a soft spot for classical music, something I’ve not listened to very much in recent years, until I signed up for this music appreciation class.