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Graun, Carl Heinrich

(Encyclopedia)Graun, Carl Heinrich kärl hīnˈrĭkh groun [key], 1704–59, German composer, best known for his oratorio Der Tod Jesu (1755), for many years performed annually in Germany. As musical director to Fr...

Graham, Susan

(Encyclopedia)Graham, Susan, 1960–, American mezzo-soprano, b. Roswell, N. Mex. Known for her vibrant, expressive voice and her superb acting ability, she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in ...

Droysen, Johann Gustav

(Encyclopedia)Droysen, Johann Gustav yōhänˈ go͝osˈtäf droiˈzən [key], 1808–84, German historian. A member of the Frankfurt Parliament, he was a leading proponent of German unification under the leadership...

Penck, Albrecht

(Encyclopedia)Penck, Albrecht älˈbrĕkht pĕngk [key], 1858–1945, German geographer and geologist. He was professor at the Univ. of Vienna (1885–1906) and at the Univ. of Berlin (1906–26) and was director (...

Wickram, Jörg

(Encyclopedia)Wickram, Jörg yörk vĭkˈräm [key], c.1505–62, German writer. Wickram wrote Meisterlieder, farces such as Der treue Eckart [faithful Eckart] (1538), biblical drama such as Tobias (1550), and the ...

Weill, Kurt

(Encyclopedia)Weill, Kurt ko͝ortˈ vīl [key], 1900–1950, German-American composer, b. Dessau, studied with Humperdinck and Busoni in Berlin. He first became known with the production of two short satirical surr...

Saroyan, William

(Encyclopedia)Saroyan, William səroiˈən [key], 1908–81, American author, b. Fresno, Calif. Of Armenian background and extremely prolific, he created works that combine optimism, sentimentality, and a rhapsodic...

riddle

(Encyclopedia)riddle, puzzling question, specifically one that consists of a fanciful description or definition of something to be guessed. A famous riddle was asked by the Sphinx: “What goes on four legs in the ...

Patchett, Ann

(Encyclopedia)Patchett, Ann, 1963–, American author, b. Los Angeles, B.A. Sarah Lawrence College, 1984, M.F.A Univ. of Iowa, 1987. In her twenties she was a writer at Seventeen magazine, wrote freelance essays fo...

Emery, Walter Ralph

(Encyclopedia) Emery, Walter Ralph, 1933-2022, American country music broadcaster, b. McEwen, Tn. Commonly recognized as the "Dick Clark" of country radio, Emery helped legitimatize and popularize the genre over ...