Beethoven’s 10th Symphony

How a team of musicologists and computer scientists completed Beethoven’s unfinished 10th Symphony Ahmed Elgammal, Rutgers University When Ludwig von Beethoven died in 1827, he was three years removed from the completion of his Ninth Symphony, a work heralded by many as his magnum opus. He had started work on his 10th Symphony but, due to deteriorating health, wasn’t able to make much headway: All he left behind were some musical sketches. Ever since then, Beethoven fans and musicologists have puzzled and lamented over what could have been. His notes teased at some magnificent reward, albeit one that seemed forever out … Continue reading Beethoven’s 10th Symphony

America’s Quest to Win Over Muslim Youth With Rap

  The U.S. has spent the past decade conducting hip-hop diplomacy. Is it working? HISHAM AIDI A rapper performs at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2012. (U.S. Embassy Kabul/Flickr) For several years now, American and German officials have struggled with how best to respond to Deso Dogg. The Ghanaian-German artist, whose legal name is Denis Cuspert, gained popularity during the mid-2000s as a pioneer in Germany’s gangsta-rap scene, performing with DMX and recording tracks like “Gangxtaboggy,” “Daz Iz Ein Drive By,” and “Meine Ambition Als Ridah.” In 2010, following a car crash, he embraced Islam and began documenting his Malcolm … Continue reading America’s Quest to Win Over Muslim Youth With Rap