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Eclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories in particular cases.

Eclecticism in architecture

It can sometimes seem inelegant or lacking in simplicity, and eclectics are sometimes criticized for lack of consistency in their thinking. It is, however, common in many fields of study. For example, most psychologists accept certain aspects of behaviorism, but do not attempt to use the theory to explain all aspects of human behavior. A statistician may use frequentist techniques on one occasion and Bayesian ones on another.

Origin[link]

Eclecticism was first recorded to have been practiced by a group of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers who attached themselves to no real system, but selected from existing philosophical beliefs those doctrines that seemed most reasonable to them. Out of this collected material they constructed their new system of philosophy. The term comes from the Greek "ἐκλεκτικός" (eklektikos), literally "choosing the best"^[1][2] and that from "ἐκλεκτός" (eklektos), "picked out, select".^[3] Well known eclectics in Greek philosophy were the Stoics Panaetius and Posidonius, and the New Academics Carneades and Philo of Larissa. Among the Romans, Cicero was thoroughly eclectic, as he united the Peripatetic, Stoic, and New Academic doctrines. Further eclectics were Varro and Seneca.

Architecture and art[link]

New York Palace, Budapest (Hungary)

The term eclecticism is used to describe the combination in a single work of elements from different historical styles, chiefly in architecture and, by implication, in the fine and decorative arts. The term is sometimes also loosely applied to the general stylistic variety of 19th century architecture after Neo-classicism (c. 1820),^[4] although the revivals of styles in that period have, since the 1970s, generally been referred to as aspects of historicism.

Eclecticism plays an important role in critical discussions and evaluations but is somehow distant from the actual forms of the artefacts to which it is applied, and its meaning is thus rather indistinct. The simplest definition of the term—that every work of art represents the combination of a variety of influences—is so basic as to be of little use. In some ways Eclecticism is reminiscent of Mannerism in that the term was used pejoratively for much of the period of its currency, although, unlike Mannerism, Eclecticism never amounted to a movement or constituted a specific style: it is characterized precisely by the fact that it was not a particular style.

Madrid, Spain.

Psychology[link]

Eclecticism is recognized in approaches to psychology that see many factors influencing behavior and the psyche, and among those who consider all perspectives in identifying, changing, explaining, and determining behavior.

Martial arts[link]

Some martial arts can be described as eclectic in the sense that they borrow techniques from a wide variety of other martial arts. The martial art system developed by Bruce Lee, called Jeet Kune Do, is classified as an eclectic system.^{[citation needed]} It favors borrowing freely from other systems within a free floating framework. As with other disciplines that incorporate eclecticism, Jeet Kune Do's philosophy does not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions or conclusions, but encourages students to learn what is useful for themselves. There is also Hapkido, a Korean martial art composed of throws, pressure points, and kicks, many taken from Chinese Chin Na, Shaolin (or more generally, Chinese) Eagle Claw kung fu, Japanese Judo, and Korean Taekwondo, as well as Kajukenbo, a martial art which draws from Kempo Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, Escrima, Boxing, Tang Soo Do, and Jujutsu.^{[citation needed]}

In philology[link]

In textual criticism, eclecticism is the practice of examining a wide number of text witnesses and selecting the variant that seems best. The result of the process is a text with readings drawn from many witnesses. In a purely eclectic approach, no single witness is theoretically favored. Instead, the critic forms opinions about individual witnesses, relying on both external and internal evidence.

Since the mid-19th century, eclecticism, in which there is no a priori bias to a single manuscript, has been the dominant method of editing the Greek text of the New Testament (currently, the United Bible Society, 4th ed. and Nestle-Aland, 27th ed.). Even so, the oldest manuscripts, being of the Alexandrian text-type, are the most favored, and the critical text has an Alexandrian disposition.^[5]

Philosophy[link]

In philosophy, Eclectics use elements from multiple philosophies, texts and life experiences own philosophical ideas. These ideas include life as connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.

Religion[link]

In religion, Eclectics use elements from multiple religions, applied philosophies, personal experiences or other texts and dogma to form their own beliefs and ideas, noting the similarities between existing systems and practices, and recognizing them as valid. These ideas include life, karma, the afterlife, God and Goddess, the Earth, and other spiritual ideas. Some use a mix of Abrahamic, Dharmic, Neopagan, Shamanism, Daoic doctrines, New Age, religious pluralism and Syncretism. Eclectics are most interested in what really works, personally and communially.

See also[link]

• Eclecticism in art
• Eclecticism in music
• Eclecticism in architecture
• Eclectic medicine
• Freeform (radio format)
• Perspectivism

References[link]

Nico Muhly /ˈniːkoʊ ˈmjuːli/ (born August 26, 1981, in Vermont) is a contemporary classical music composer,^[1] who has worked and recorded with classical and pop/rock musicians. He currently lives in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan in New York City.

Biography[link]

Early years[link]

Muhly was born in Vermont and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. His mother, Bunny Harvey, is a painter and teacher at Wellesley College, and his father, Frank Muhly, is a documentary filmmaker.^[2]

As a child, Muhly sang in the choir at Grace Episcopal Church in Providence,^[3] and he started to study piano at 10.^[2]

Muhly went on to study at The Wheeler School in Providence, then moved on to Columbia University where he got his undergraduate degree in English and to the Juilliard School where he graduated with his Master's degree in Music and studied composition with John Corigliano and Christopher Rouse.

Musical works[link]

In 2005, Muhly was commissioned by Colorado Academy, a private school in Colorado, to write a song for the opening of their new Fine Arts building.

Muhly worked in collaboration with Björk on the DVD single "Oceania" in 2004,^[4] and he worked with Philip Glass as an editor, conductor, and keyboardist.^[4]

In 2006, he released his first album of works, titled Speaks Volumes. In 2008, he released his second album, titled Mothertongue.

In 2009, Muhly worked on various classical compositions with the Brooklyn-based indie-folk rock band Grizzly Bear on their third album, Veckatimest,^[5] and he worked with Antony and the Johnsons on the albums The Crying Light and Swanlights.

Muhly recently worked on two commissions for UK-based Britten Sinfonia, performed in January and February 2010.

The Gilmore International Keyboard Festival commissioned "Drones & Piano" for pianist Bruce Brubaker. The piece premiered in May 2010.^[6]

Muhly's opera Two Boys, a collaboration with librettist Craig Lucas and directed by Bartlett Sher, premiered in June 2011 at the English National Opera and will make its Metropolitan Opera debut during the 2013/2014 season.^[7][8][9] According to a New York Times article, the opera is based on a late-1990s British case involving a 14-year-old boy taking on the online identity of women to try to get someone to kill him, without success.^[10] However, in an interview with The Advocate, Muhly stated that the opera is based on the story of an online friendship between two male teenagers, one of whom kills the other.^[2]

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Commissioning Club, Cantus, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Alfred P. and Ann M. Moore commissioned "Luminous Body", also a collaboration with librettist Craig Lucas. The piece premiered on September 9, 2011.^[11]

Upcoming projects[link]

Six of Muhly's choral works are featured on a CD recorded by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, A Good Understanding, released by the Decca classics label.^[12]

Projects[link]

Arrangements and orchestrations[link]

• 2006 Letting Go by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
• 2007 Miserere Mei (orchestration of William Byrd's Miserere Mei)
• 2007 Deus and Bow Thine Ear (orchestration of William Byrd's Deus and Bow Thine Ear)
• 2008 All Is Well by Sam Amidon
• 2008 "Með þér" and "Á meðan vatnið velgist" on Bestu kveðjur by Sprengjuhöllin
• 2009 Confessions, a multimedia collaboration with Teitur Lassen.^[15]
• 2009 Various songs on Antony and the Johnsons' album The Crying Light^[16]
• 2009 Various songs on Grizzly Bear's album Veckatimest
• 2009 Tricks of the Trade on Mew's album No More Stories...
• 2009 Year of the Dragon on Run Rabbit Run^[17]
• 2010 Various songs on Antony and the Johnsons' album Swanlights
• 2010 Go by Jónsi
• 2010 I See the Sign by Sam Amidon

Recordings[link]

• 2007 – Speaks Volumes (Bedroom Community HVALUR1CD) (Includes Clear Music; It Goes without Saying; Honest Music; Quiet Music; Pillaging Music; A Hudson Cycle and Keep in Touch)
• 2008 – Joshua (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by various artists (Moviescore Media)
• 2008 – Mothertongue (Bedroom Community HVALUR5CD) (Includes Mothertongue I: Archive; Mothertongue II: Shower; Mothertongue III: Hress; Mothertongue IV: Monster; Wonders: I. New Things & New Tidings; Wonders: II. The Devil Appear’d in the Shape of a Man; Wonders: III. A Complaint against Thomas Weelkes; The Only Tune: I. The Two Sisters; The Only Tune: II. The Old Mill Pond; and The Only Tune: III. The Only Tune)
• 2009 – The Reader (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by various artists (Lakeshore Records)
• 2009 – So Far Around the Bend by the National
• 2010 – I Drink the Air Before Me (Bedroom Community HVALUR10, Decca/Universal Classics 478 257)
• 2010 – A Good Understanding by Los Angeles Master Chorale (Includes many choral works) (Decca/Universal Classics 478 250)
• 2011 – Seeing is Believing by the Aurora Orchestra (Decca/Universal Classics 478 273. Released 10th June 2011.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Tim Page, "High Scorer," Smithsonian Magazine, October 2007. Retrieved on 2 March 2008.
• Andy Beta, "Of Transgendered Violas and Transatlanic Collaborators," City Pages, Issue: September 26, 2007, retrieved on 2 March 2008.
• Rebecca Mead, "Eerily Composed: Nico Muhly’s sonic magic," The New Yorker, February 11, 2008, retrieved on 2 March 2008.
• Molly Sheridan, "Composer on Fire: Defining Nico Muhly" (includes video), NewMusicBox, March 1, 2007, retrieved on 2 March 2008.
• Nico Muhly, 'Walls come tumbling down," The Guardian, October 5, 2007. Retrieved from Guardian.co.uk on 2 March 2008.
• List of published scores, Chester Music and Novello & Company, retrieved on 2 March 2008.
• Michaels, Sean (October 2008), "Nico Muhly [interview]", The Believer 6 (8): 72–77. 
• Official Web Site
• Myspace Page
• Nico Muhly on Brassland Records
• Nico Muhly at Now magazine
• Nico Muhly Bio

Casey Spooner

Casey Spooner (born February 2, 1970) is an American artist and musician. He was born in Athens, Georgia and resides in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Spooner is openly gay.^[1] While attending the Art Institute of Chicago he met Warren Fischer. The two went on to cofound Fischerspooner in New York in 1998.

Spooner has submitted works for Deitch Projects and an album by R.E.M. A promotion for Fischerspooner's second album included an art Salon/Art Exhibition of all the images used in making of the album, this has since been linked to Warhol.^[2]

Spooner has contributed and worked on shows with Doorika, a performance arts collective based in Chicago and New York City.

Casey joined experimental New York performance ensemble The Wooster Group in 2007, taking on the role of Ophelia's brother Laertes in their production of Hamlet (which featured two Fischerspooner songs that were composed for the show). During this time, he also began work on a third Fischerspooner album (with Warren Fischer).^[3] Entertainment was released in North America via the band's own label FS Studios on May 4, 2009, produced by Jeff Saltzman (The Killers, The Black Keys, The Sounds). An American and European Tour, known as Between Worlds, continued all through 2009. Like in other Fischerspooner's performances, Spooner was the main figure of the show.

In January 2010, Spooner distributed online his first solo work, the song Faye Dunaway, as a preview of a 2010 solo album. The album, according to words by Spooner on Twitter, was recorded directly after finishing Entertainment, and was scheduled for release in 2010. The song can still be downloaded for free from his website.^[4]

He served as the opening act for Scissor Sisters on their North American tour. This was possible thanks to the funding provided by his fans through Kickstarter, the crowdfunding online platform.^[5] Currently, he is at home in NY after releasing his solo album, Adult Contemporary.

References[link]

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