An acrostic () is a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message. As a form of constrained writing, an acrostic can be used as a mnemonic device to aid memory retrieval. A famous acrostic was made in Greek for the acclamation ''JESUS CHRIST, GOD'S SON, SAVIOUR'' (; I''esous'' CH''ristos'', TH''eou'' Y''ios'', S''oter'' — ''ch'' and ''th'' being each one letter in Greek). The initials spell ''ICHTHYS (ΙΧΘΥΣ)'', Greek for ''fish'' – hence the frequent use of the fish as a symbol for Jesus Christ from the early days of Christianity to the present time.

Overview

Relatively simple acrostics may merely spell out the letters of the alphabet in order; such an acrostic may be called an 'alphabetical acrostic' or Abecedarius. These acrostics occur in the Lamentations of Jeremiah, Proverbs 31, 10-31, and in Psalms 9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119 and 145 of the Hebrew Bible. Notable among the acrostic Psalms are the long Psalm 119, which typically is printed in subsections named after the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each of which is featured in that section; and Psalm 145, which is recited three times a day in the Jewish services.

Acrostics are common in medieval literature, where they most commonly serve to highlight the name of the poet or his patron, or to make a prayer to a saint. They are most common in verse works but can also appear in prose.

Often the ease of detectability of an acrostic can depend on the intention of its creator. In some cases an author may desire an acrostic to have a better chance of being perceived by an observant reader, such as the acrostic contained in the ''Hypnerotomachia Poliphili'' (where the key capital letters are decorated with ornate embellishments), or as in the poem ''To Doctor Empiric'' (by Ben Jonson) which is a verse outlined after the word ''W-O-L-F'' giving emphasis to, and capitalizing the key letters so such acrostic is relatively easier to discern. However, acrostics may also be used as a form of steganography, where the author seeks to conceal the message rather than proclaim it. This might be achieved by making the key letters uniform in appearance with the surrounding text, or by aligning the words in such a way that the relationship between the key letters is less obvious. This is referred to as ''null ciphers'' in steganography, using the first letter of each word to form a hidden message in an otherwise innocuous text. Using letters to hide a message, as in acrostic ciphers, was popular during the Renaissance, and could employ various different methods of enciphering, such as selecting other letters than initials based on a repeating pattern (equidistant letter sequences), or even concealing the message by starting at the end of the text and working backwards.

Examples

In October 2010 a college Computer Science student combined an acrostic with the popular Rick Roll by writing a paper titled "The Disadvantages and Advantages of Networks" and including the lyrics to the entire song "Never Gonna Give You Up"

Secreted in the Dutch national anthem Het Wilhelmus(''The William'') is also an acrostic: the first letters of its fifteen stanzas spell WILLEM VAN NASSOV. This was one of the hereditary titles of William of Orange (William the Silent), who introduces himself in the poem to the Dutch people. This title also returned in 2010 in the Troonrede, the Dutch State of the Union. The first 15 lines formed also WILLEM VAN NASSOV.

The classic mnemonic device for remembering planets is a well known example. Take the first letters of each planet in order and make a sentence with them as the first letters of each word. Although slightly modified of late it still works.

My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nachos

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

There is a classic example of acrostic poem in English written by Edgar Allan Poe is entitled simply "An Acrostic":

Elizabeth it is in vain you say "Love not" — thou sayest it in so sweet a way: In vain those words from thee or L.E.L. Zantippe's talents had enforced so well: Ah! if that language from thy heart arise, Breath it less gently forth — and veil thine eyes. Endymion, recollect, when Luna tried To cure his love — was cured of all beside — His follie — pride — and passion — for he died. In Lewis Carroll's ''Through the Looking-Glass'', the final chapter "A Boat, Beneath A Sunny Sky" is an acrostic of the real Alice's name: Alice Pleasance Liddell. A boat, beneath a sunny sky Lingering onward dreamily In an evening of July -

Children three that nestle near, Eager eye and willing ear, Pleased a simple tale to hear -

Long has paled that sunny sky: Echoes fade and memories die: Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise, Alice moving under skies Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear, Eager eye and willing ear, Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream - Lingering in the golden gleam - Life, what is it but a dream?

Contained in ''A Calendar Acrostic'' is another example where the initial letters spell out the months of the year:

JANet was quite ill one day. FEBrile trouble came her way. MARtyr-like, she lay in bed; APRoned nurses softly sped. MAYbe, said the leech judicial JUNket would be beneficial. JULeps, too, though freely tried, AUGured ill, for Janet died. SEPulchre was sadly made. OCTaves pealed and prayers were said. NOVices with ma'y a tear DECorated Janet's bier.

In October 2009, a letter from the office of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, to the State Assembly was found to contain an acrostic. In this case, the initial letters of each ''line'' in the letter spelled the words "Fuck you". A spokesman for the Governor called the incident coincidental. Similar tactics were used in 2001 by Stephen Pollard to conceal the message "Fuck you, Desmond" in a ''Daily Express'' article.

In January 2010, Jonathan I. Schwartz, the CEO of Sun Microsystems, sent an email to Sun employees on the completion of the acquisition of Sun by Oracle Corporation. The initial letters of the first seven paragraphs spelled "Beat IBM".

James May, presenter on the BBC program ''Top Gear'', was fired from the publication ''Autocar'' for spelling out a message using the large red initial at the beginning of each review in the publication's ''Road Test Yearbook Issue'' for 1992. Properly punctuated, the message reads: "So you think it's really good? Yeah, you should try making the bloody thing up. It's a real pain in the arse."

Multiple acrostics

Acrostics can be more complex than just by making words from initials. A double acrostic, for example, may have words at the beginning and end of its lines, as this example, on the name of Stroud, by Paul Hansford - Set among hills in the midst of five valleyS, This peaceful little market town we inhabiT Refuses (vociferously!) to be a conformeR. Once home of the cloth it gave its name tO, Uphill and down again its streets lead yoU. Despite its faults it leaves us all charmeD.

right|200px This example can be considered a more complex form of acrostic. This classical poetry is titled ''Behold, O God!'' written by William Browne published in 1815 in his book "Original Poems By William Browne." The poem has highlighted letters inside its verses such that when they are grouped together, printed as red letters in the manuscript, the letters depict three crosses and the topmost middle cross reads "INRI", in Latin means "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum" translated as "Jesus of Nazareth King of Jews." The crosses contain verses from the New Testament. The left cross contains Luke 23:42 "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." The middle cross contains Matthew 27:46 "O God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" The right cross contains Luke 23:39 "If thou art the Christ, save thyself and us." The three being representations of what each of the three spake as they were capitally punished that evening.

BEHOLD, O God! IN RIvers of my tears I come to thee! bow down thy blessed ears To hear me, wretch, and let thine eyes (which sleep Did never close) behold a sinner weep: Let not, O GOD, MY GOD, my faults through great, And numberless, betWeen thy mercy's seat And my poor soul be tHrown! since we are taught, Thou, LORD, REMEMBER'st thYne, IF THOU [ART] be sought. I coME not, Lord, witH any oTHEr merit Than WHat I by my SAviour CHrist inherit: Be thEN his woundS my balm; his stRIpes my bliss; My crown his THorns; my deaTh be loST in his. And thOU, my blesT Redeemer, SAviour, God, Quit my acCOunts, withHold the VEngeful rod! O beg for ME! my hOpes on Thee are set; And ChriST forgiVe, as well as pay tHe debt The livINg fount, the liFe, the waY, I know, And but TO thee, O whither Should I go? All oTHer helps aRe vain: grant thinE to me, For in thY cross my Saving heaLth must be. O hearKen then whAt I with Faith implore, Lest SIN and Death sinK me for evermore.

See also

Acronym and initialism

Backronym

Gordon Macdonald, 1st Baron Macdonald of Gwaenysgor

Mesostic

O Antiphons

Word square

References

External links

An unflattering gravestone acrostic poem in a Montreal cemetery

Acrostic epitaph of Gustavus Conyngham

California's governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's reply to Assembly Bill 1176

Category:Graphic poetry Category:Word games

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David Del Tredici, born March 16, 1937 in Cloverdale, California, is an American composer. According to Del Tredici's website, Aaron Copland said David Del Tredici "is that rare find among composers — a creator with a truly original gift. I venture to say that his music is certain to make a lasting impression on the American musical scene."

After making his piano debut with the San Francisco Symphony at 17, he went on to receive a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.F.A. in 1964 from Princeton University, studying with composers Earl Kim, Seymour Shifrin, and Roger Sessions.

Much of his early work consisted of elaborate vocal settings of James Joyce, ''I Hear an Army''; ''Night Conjure-Verse''; ''Syzygy'' and a decade long obsession with the work Lewis Carroll (''Pop-Pourri'', ''An Alice Symphony'', ''Vintage Alice'' and ''Adventures Underground'', ''Final Alice'' to name just a few of these works). He was awarded a Pulitzer prize in 1980 for ''In Memory of a Summer Day,'' the first part of ''Child Alice,'' recorded by Phyllis Bryn-Julson and the Saint Louis Symphony conducted by Leonard Slatkin for the Nonesuch label. Sir Georg Solti made the first recording of his epic ''Final Alice''"" with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His later works have included many vocal settings of contemporary poets such as Allen Ginsberg, Thom Gunn, Paul Monette, James Broughton, Colette Inez, and Alfred Corn -- often celebrating a gay sensibility (three examples: ''Gay Life'', ''Love Addiction'' and ''Wondrous the Merge'' "" ''). OUT Magazine has twice named Del Tredici one of its people of the year. While trained in serial technique, Del Tredici now writes in a tonal style; he is one of the clearest exemplars of neoromanticism.

In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, he has also received a Guggenheim Fellowship and Woodrow Wilson fellowship, a Brandeis Creative Arts Award, a Friedheim Award, grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and election to the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. His works are regularly commissioned by major orchestras in America and abroad. His ''On Wings of Song'' was premiered in New York City in 2004 as part of the Riverside Opera Ensemble's 20th Anniversary Concert.

Distinguished Professor of Music at The City College of New York, Del Tredici makes his home in Greenwich Village.

Notable Students

John Adams

Richard St. Clair

Tison Street

Randall Woolf

Notable works

''Soliloquy'' for piano solo (1958)

''Six Songs'' for voice and piano (text by James Joyce) (1959)

''Scherzo'' for piano, four hands (1960)

''I Hear An Army'' (text by James Joyce) (1964)

''Pot-Pourri'' for amplified soprano, rock group, chorus, and orchestra (1968)

''Syzygy'' for soprano, horn, and orchestra (1966)

''An Alice Symphony'' for amplified soprano, folk group, and orchestra. Texts from ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' by Lewis Carroll; ''Speak Gently'' attributed to David Bates (1969)

''Adventures Underground'' soprano and orchestra. Texts from ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' by Lewis Carroll (1971)

''Final Alice'', an opera in concert form for soprano, folk ensemble, and orchestra (1976)

''Child Alice'' ("In Memory of a Summer Day", "Happy Voices", "In the Golden Afternoon", "Quaint Events") for soprano and orchestra (1980–81)

''Haddock's Eyes'' for soprano and 10 instruments (1985)

''Tattoo'' for orchestra (1986)

''Steps'' for orchestra (1990)

''Lament for the Death of a Bullfighter'' for soprano and piano - poems of Joshua Beckman (1998)

''My Favorite Penis Poems'' (1998)

''Dracula'' (1999) - on a poem of Alfred Corn

''Three Baritone Songs'' (1999)

''Miz Inez Sez'' for soprano and piano - poems of Colette Inez (1998)

''Gay Life'' (1996–2000)

''The Spider and The Fly'' for high soprano, high baritone, and orchestra (1998)

''Wonderous The Merge'' (2001)

''Grand Trio'' (2001)

''Paul Revere's Ride'' for Amplified Soprano Solo, SATB Chorus, and Orchestra (2004)

''In Wartime'' for Wind Ensemble (2003)

''String Quartet No. 1'' (2003)

''Gotham Glory'' for solo piano (2004)

''Rip Van Winkle'' for narrator and orchestra (2005)

''S/M Ballade'' for piano (2006)

''Magyar Madness'' for clarinet and string quartet (2006)

''Aeolian Ballad'' for harp (2008)

'' A Field Manual'' Overture and Five Songs on the poetry of Edward Field (poet) (2008)

''Facts of Life'' for guitar (2010)

''String Quartet No. 2'' (2010)

''Belgian Bliss'' for wind quintet (2010)

Footnotes

External links

Official Website

Boosey & Hawkes biography

American Mavericks interview

NewMusicBox: David Del Tredici in conversation with Frank J. Oteri, 2003

''Final Alice'' program notes, from The Kennedy Center

All Music Del Tredici page

Interview with David Del Tredici by Bruce Duffie, January 8, 1990

Category:1937 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century classical composers Category:21st-century classical composers Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni Category:Princeton University alumni Category:American composers Category:Guggenheim Fellows Category:Pulitzer Prize for Music winners Category:Members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters Category:LGBT musicians from the United States Category:American musicians of Italian descent Category:LGBT composers Category:Rome Prize winners

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Dream Team in sport, often only as a nickname, may refer to:

The roster of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team in Barcelona

Brazil men's national volleyball team under coach Bernardo Rezende since 2002

FIFA Dream Team, an all-time all-star football team published by FIFA in 2004

The Puerto Rico national baseball team in the 1995 Caribbean Series

An era (1991–1994), in the history of FC Barcelona, a Spanish football club

Philippines Dream Team, the Philippines men basketball team at the 1990 Asian Games

The Dream Team (professional wrestling), professional wrestling tag-team in the World Wrestling Federation 1985–1987

Dramatic Dream Team, Japanese professional wrestling promotion

Super League Dream Team, award for players in the European rugby Super League

Dream Team Australian rules football team, that represented the States and territories of Australia other than Victoria in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match

AFL Dream Team, a notable online competition for supporters run by the Australian Football League

Dream Team in television and film may refer to:

Dream Team (TV series), a British television series

The Dream Team (film), a 1989 American comedy film

Dream Team (The Office) an episode of the American television series ''The Office''

The Dream Team (Entourage Episode), an episode of ''Entourage''

Dream Team may also refer to:

Dream Team (theater), a Stage Management Team located in Terre Haute, IN that worked on shows including Real Girls Can't Win, 1,001 Arabian Nights, and Bad Dates

Dream Team (comics), a fictional group of Marvel Comics superheroes

The Dream Team (warez), a cracking/releasing warez group for the IBM PC active 1989–1996

LA Dream Team, American hip-hop act

Nickname for the defense legal team in the O. J. Simpson murder case

Category:Nicknamed groups of sportspeople

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