1. 50. Can you think of a day without music?

Read the text and find out how many types of music are described in it.

There is music everywhere: at home, in a concert hall, in parks, at the seaside and even in the forest. People cannot live without music. They listen to music, they dance to music, they learn to play musical instruments. But what is music? Specialists explain it very well. Music isn't combination of pleasant sounds only. It is an art which reflects life. Music reflects people's ideas and emotions. Music is also a weapon. It fights for light against darkness, for freedom against tyranny, for humanism against barbarity ("Seventh symphony" by Shostakovich, "Sixth symphony" by Tchaikovsky and so on). When speaking of different forms of music I'd like to mention first and foremost classical music. I prefer different musical genres; symphony, concerto, chamber music, vocal music, opera, ballet. Classical music gives me delight, pleasure, partly sensual, partly intellectual. Classical music is always a complex of emotions, excitement and at the same time, love for others and a desire to do something for them. When listening to classical music I have to combine all my feelings into one and to give it name it will be happiness. Classical music contains the powerful appeal for listeners. It addresses both our senses and intellect. We are lucky to have such a famous orchestra in Petersburg which executes music by Bethoven and Mozart, Britten and Gershvin. It is famous all over the world of its original interpretations of classical music. As for me I prefer such musical pieces which are based on the theme of struggle of good against evil. Also I like quiet lyrical piano pieces by Chopin and Prokofiev which are full of enchanting melodies.

Many young people today are gravitating towards new rhythms probably as a result of changing times. This explains why new pop groups are profilirating. Pop has permeated all the mass media. Pop may be said to have emerged in the mid 1950's with the arrival of rock'n'roll. About 99% of pop songs are about love. Nowadays many listeners are rejecting second-rate products which are nothing but a reharshing of the old numbers. This explains the success achieved by such groups as .... ... and some other bands of the new generation which are free of false sentiments. They are genuine. The voice of the new groups is pure and clear and they sing about the things that are important in life. A readiness to experiment, favour and sincerity are their hallmark. A simple message conveyed with a good melody has, I believe, been found by the "Beatles". Some of their old songs still enjoy popularity today.

Pop music has always been influenced by other forms of music: by jazz, the blues, classical music, etc. Another important influence is folk music. Folk songs are the songs composed and sung by country people. They may be hundreds of years old. Nobody knows who originally composed them. Folk music is often music for dancing. Russian folk songs are very melodious. I like to listen to Russian folk songs sung by outstanding singers.

Exercise

Match the beginnings on the left with the endings on the right.

1.The voice of the new groups 2. Many young people today 3. Pop may be said 4. Classical music is always

A)a complex of emotions, excitement and at the same time, love for others. B) to have emerged in the mid 1950's with the arrival of rock'n'roll. C) are gravitating towards new rhythms probably as a result of changing times. D) is pure and clear and they sing about the things that are important in life.