Babbitt

Babbitt, Irving, 1865-1933, American scholar, b. Dayton, Ohio. At Harvard as professor of French literature from 1912 until his death, he was a vigorous critic of romanticism, deprecating especially the influence of Rousseau on modern thought and art. He and Paul Elmer More initiated a movement, called New Humanism, that advocated a forceful doctrine of moderation and restraint, looking to classical traditions and literature for inspiration. His works include Literature and the American College (1908), The New Laokoön (1910), The Masters of Modern French Criticism (1912), and On Being Creative (1932).

Babbitt, Milton, 1916-, American composer, b. Philadelphia. Babbitt turned to music after studying mathematics. He was a composition pupil of Roger Sessions at Princeton. Babbitt has attempted to apply twelve-tone principles to all the elements of composition: dynamics, timbre, and rhythm, as well as melody and harmony. He calls this "total serialization" (see serial music). In 1959, Babbitt became one of the directors of the new Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center in New York City. His works include Three Compositions for Piano (1947), three string quartets (1942, 1954, 1969-70), Composition for Synthesizer (1961), Philomel (1964) for soprano, taped soprano, and synthesizer, A Solo Requiem for soprano and piano, and Dual (1980) for cello and piano. In 1982 he received a special Pulitzer citation for the body of his work.

(born May 10, 1916, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.) U.S. composer. At Princeton University he studied with composer Roger Sessions and later joined the faculty. He became one of the first U.S. 12-tone composers, and he was (with his Three Compositions for Piano, 1947) perhaps the first composer to write totally serialized music based on ordered structures not only of pitch but of elements such as rhythm and dynamics. Working with RCA's Mark II synthesizer from 1957 to 1975, he became one of the first Americans to write electronically synthesized music. His music was considered difficult to perform but also good-humoured and playful.

Learn more about Babbitt, Milton (Byron) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born May 10, 1916, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.) U.S. composer. At Princeton University he studied with composer Roger Sessions and later joined the faculty. He became one of the first U.S. 12-tone composers, and he was (with his Three Compositions for Piano, 1947) perhaps the first composer to write totally serialized music based on ordered structures not only of pitch but of elements such as rhythm and dynamics. Working with RCA's Mark II synthesizer from 1957 to 1975, he became one of the first Americans to write electronically synthesized music. His music was considered difficult to perform but also good-humoured and playful.

Learn more about Babbitt, Milton (Byron) with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Babbitt is a city in St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,670.

County Highway 21 serves as a main arterial route in the community.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 106.7 square miles (276.4 km²), of which, 105.7 square miles (273.6 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.7 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.99% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,670 people, 735 households, and 530 families residing in the city. The population density was 15.8 people per square mile (6.1/km²). There were 801 housing units at an average density of 7.6/sq mi (2.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.86% White, 0.12% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.12% Asian, and 0.60% from two or more races.

There were 735 households out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.67.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,229, and the median income for a family was $37,137. Males had a median income of $38,214 versus $24,531 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,853. About 3.6% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under the age of 18 and 1.9% of those 65 and older.

References

Notes

Babbitt is surrounded by the Superior National Forest and often has wild animals like deer and wolves within the city limits. In the summer black bears are often sighted.

Babbitt enjoys being the hometown to a few celebrities both local (Dale Kasten) and national (Buzz Schneider). Schneider's claim to fame was being on the 1976 Olympic hockey team and the 1980 Olympic gold medal hockey team. He scored the first goal against the Russians in possibly the most renowned game of hockey ever played; the semi-finals of the 1980 Olympics (Miracle on Ice).

2004 saw the loss of a well known local landmark, the Babbitt Junction Dining and Sports lounge. Many a resident was deeply effected by this tragic loss.

2006 saw the closing of Kasson Pool Table Company leaving Babbitt with many fewer jobs. The city of Babbitt was left with the buildings due to the default of loans given to the company.