December 16 is the birthday of the Boss ... LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770-1827).

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy"

Beethoven "is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire and span the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic era in classical music. His early period, during which he forged his craft, is typically considered to have lasted until 1802. From 1802 to around 1812, his middle period showed an individual development from the styles of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and is sometimes characterised as heroic. During this time, Beethoven began to grow increasingly deaf. In his late period, from 1812 to 1827, he extended his innovations in musical form and expression." (Wikipedia)

December 16 is the birthday of Russian painter WASSILY KANDINSKY (1866-1944).

“The nightmare of materialism, which has turned the life of the universe into an evil, useless game, is not yet past; it holds the awakening soul still in its grip."

Kandinsky's "creation of abstract work followed a long period of development and maturation of intense thought based on his artistic experiences. He called this devotion to inner beauty, fervor of spirit, and spiritual desire inner necessity; it was a central aspect of his art.

To see samples of his art, CLICK HERE.

December 16 is the birthday of Spanish-Mexican surrealist painter and actress REMEDIOS VARO (1908-1963).

“On second thought, I think I am more crazy than my goat."

The characters pictured in Varo's artwork resemble herself, with heart-shaped faces, long noses, and almond-shaped eyes. According to art historian Janet Kaplan, much of her work is autobiographical in nature; her 1960–1961 triptych reflects her time as a student in a restrictive convent school. Her paintings, often depicting journeys and encounters with strange people, also reflect the frequent travel of her childhood and her traumatic experience of exile and war.

To see samples of her work, CLICK HERE.

December 16 is the birthday of Hungarian composer and musicologist ZOLTÁN KODÁLY (1882-1967).

Kodály "was a Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, music pedagogue, linguist, and philosopher. He is well known internationally as the creator of the Kodály method of music education ... In 1905 he visited remote villages to collect songs, recording them on phonograph cylinders. In 1906 he wrote a thesis on Hungarian folk song, 'Strophic Construction in Hungarian Folksong.' At around this time Kodály met fellow composer and compatriot Béla Bartók, whom he took under his wing and introduced to some of the methods involved in folk song collecting. The two became lifelong friends and champions of each other's music." (Wikipedia)

December 16 is the birthday of the Latvian-born artist and illustrator NICOLAS SIDJAKOV (1924-1993).

"In 1954 he moved to the United States and continued to work in advertising. He also began to illustrate children's books, mainly picture books, beginning with The Friendly Beasts by Laura Nelson Baker, adapted from 'The Friendly Beasts,' an English Christmas carol. It was published in 1957 by Parnassus Press of Berkeley, California." (Wikipedia)

To see samples of his work, CLICK HERE.

December 16 is the birthday of Science Fiction author and Gnostic PHILIP K. DICK (1928-1982).

"I am systematically undermining the philosophers and philosophy on which is based, and going back to a hermetic, Gnostic, neoplatonism. And a vitalism replacing mechanism - I deal a lethal blow to anglo-saxon thought, to its vaunted pragmatism."

Dick "wrote 44 published novels and approximately 121 short stories, most of which appeared in science fiction magazines during his lifetime. His fiction explored varied philosophical and social themes, and featured recurrent elements such as alternate realities, simulacra, monopolistic corporations, drug abuse, authoritarian governments, and altered states of consciousness. His work was concerned with questions surrounding the nature of reality, perception, human nature, and identity." (Wikipedia)