Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 November 4

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From today's featured article
Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th-century composers. His music has been described as linking the end of Romanticism with the modernism of the second quarter of the 20th century. He trained as an organist and choirmaster in Paris, where his teachers included Camille Saint-Saëns, who became a lifelong friend. In later life, when he was organist of the Église de la Madeleine and director of the Paris Conservatoire, he retreated to the countryside in his summer holidays to concentrate on composing. By his last years, Fauré was recognised in France as the leading French composer of his day. Outside France, his music took decades to become widely accepted, except in Britain, where he had many admirers during his lifetime. His best-known works include Pavane, Requiem, nocturnes for piano, and the songs "Après un rêve" and "Clair de lune". Although his best-known and most accessible compositions are generally his earlier ones, Fauré composed many of his greatest works in his later years, in a harmonically and melodically much more complex style. (Full article...) Recently featured: Kingdom of Mysore – Singapore strategy – Folding@home Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that painter Franciszek Ksawery Lampi specialized in Romantic depictions of attractive women (example pictured)? ... that a fire broke out in Southwold lighthouse just six days after it opened in 1890? ... that May Byron wrote a series of biographies of which critics could not decide whether they were first-hand experiences or fiction based on research? ... that 1968's La morte ha fatto l'uovo has been compared to the works of Michelangelo Antonioni, David Lynch and Luis Buñuel? ... that 1933 Japanese Wimbledon doubles finalist Jiro Sato couldn't take the pressure put on him by his country and its Tennis Federation, and committed suicide en route to a 1934 Davis Cup match? ... that sightings of the Ghost Ship of Northumberland Strait are most common between September and November? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
In baseball, the Yomiuri Giants defeat the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to win the Japan Series. The Walt Disney Company announces an agreement to purchase Lucasfilm for US$4.05 billion and produce additional Star Wars films. After striking the Caribbean, Hurricane Sandy (satellite image pictured) causes widespread damage on the East Coast of the United States, including flooding in parts of New York City. The Social Democratic Party wins a plurality of seats in the Lithuanian parliamentary election. In baseball, the San Francisco Giants defeat the Detroit Tigers to win the World Series. Syrian civil war – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
November 4: Unity Day in Russia 1864 – American Civil War: Nathan Bedford Forrest led a cavalry division in an attack on a Union Army supply base at Johnsonville, Tennessee, capturing 150 prisoners. 1890 – London's City and South London Railway, the first deep-level underground railway in the world, opened, running a distance of 5.1 km (3.2 mi) between the City of London and Stockwell. 1912 – Construction on USS Nevada, the first "super-dreadnought" of the United States Navy, began as the keel was laid down. 1921 – The remains of an unknown soldier were buried with an eternal flame at the Altare della Patria (pictured) in Rome. 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir while at a peace rally at the Kings of Israel Square in Tel Aviv. More anniversaries: November 3 – November 4 – November 5 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now November 4, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Alexz Johnson (b. 1986) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress, best known for roles as Jude Harrison in the CTV series Instant Star (character shown here), Annie Thelan in the Disney Channel series So Weird, and as Erin Ulmer in the 2006 horror film Final Destination 3. Her album Voodoo was released in 2010.

Photo: Epitome Pictures

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