Unit 17 Musicians
Andy: Jane, what music do you like?
Jane: I like different music, classical, jazz, rock ... My favorite classical composer is Handel.
Andy: I think he lived long ago. Can you tell me a few words about him?
Jane: Sure. He was born in the small German town of Halle. From childhood he showed a decided taste for music. In the nursery his only toys were trumpets, drums, flutes and anything out of which he could get musical sounds. At that time musicians were very poorly played, and his father wanted the boy to get on well in the world. So he tried to turn the child's mind away from music by sending every instrument out of the house. But in spite of so much care and trouble taken, it was impossible to destroy the strongest desire of the boy's nature. Then the Duke of Saxe Weissenfels heard the boy play, and was struck by his genius that he persuaded to have him properly trained. Today his famous oratorios and symphony pieces are played everywhere, and people delight and marvel at them. What music do you like?
Andy: I like rock and especially Kurt Cobain.
Jane: Did he have anything to do with the group Nirvana?
Andy: Yes, Kurt Cobain was a rock star and a member of the group Nirvana. Their album 'Never mind' made them famous in 1991. It sold 10,000,000 copies. He was sad and worried about the problems in the world. This is why he wanted to die. He died in April 1994 when he was only 27 years old. When he died he was famous as the man who spoke for young people - the Generation X.
Jane: But the greatest musician of all times was Orpheus, in Greek mythology, poet and musician, the son of the muse Calliope and Apollo, god of music. He was given the lyre by Apollo and became such an excellent musician that he had no rival among mortals. When Orpheus played and sang, he moved everything animate and inanimate. His music enchanted the trees and rocks and tamed wild beasts, and even the rivers turned in their course and followed him.
Say if the statement is right or wrong
Handel was born in Gemany.
At that time musicians were very well payed.
Kurt Cobain played with the group Nirvana.
Orpheus was god of music.
Music in the USA
Different kinds of music come from different parts of the United States.
The Deep South is the home of Blues music. Blues comes from the songs of the black slaves they sang about their hard life.
New Orleans is famous for traditional jazz. Nashville, Tennessee is the capital of country music.
Country music comes from the folk songs of Britain and Ireland. The first white settlers took these songs to America.
Detroit is the home of another kind of black music - Motown. Detroit has a big car industry and a lot if black people work there. Motown means 'Motor Town'. Soul music comes from Motown.
In the 60-s and 70-s West Coast music started in California. This is bright happy music. There are lots of songs about surfing. The Beach Boys were a famous West Coast band.
New York is famous for modern jazz. There are lots of jazz clubs in Greenwich Village. New York is also the centre of musical theatre. Broadway has a lot of famous theatres.
Where is the home of Blues music?
What is Greenwich Village famous for?
What does Motown mean?
What music comes from Motown?
Where songs about surfing are popular?
What is Broadway famous for?
What city is the centre of musical theatre?