It's difficult to speak about music in general, because it will either take a lot of time or just one sentence to explain our attitude. Music is an integral part of our life. It is varied because it

Music in Our Life

It's difficult to speak about music in general, because it will either take a lot of time or just one sentence to explain our attitude. Music is an integral part of our life. It is varied because it reflects different human emotions. If we ask several people what kind of music they like, all of themwill give different answers. Tastes differ. But the world of music is boundless and everybody can find there something that satisfies his tastes and demands. And all the people will agree that our world will be dull without music. We enjoy music because it influences our mood and imagination, reflects our inner state and character, arouses deep emotions and makes us think. It helps us to remove from tiredness and tension or find new strength, get new energy and optimism.

That's why we can say that all kinds of music are popular with public: classical and pop music, folk music and jazz, operas, musicals, orchestral performances, chamber music, rock and roll, heavy metal, rap, rock, hard rock, raveand so on. For this reason music festivals which are held annually gather large audience.

As for me, I enjoy both classical music and variety show. Some people say it is difficult to understand classical music. But I've never been scared by the fact. I enjoy music if it appeals to me. I'm fond of P.I.Chaikovsky, Bach, Mozart. Among contemporary composers I appreciate A.Lloyd Webber and his musicals and rock operas.

If you want to know my preferences, in pop music, among singers or pop groups, I won't be able to name any. For variety is variety, I like to listen to different songs, to watch different singers, to hear something new. But I prefer tuneful melodies, easy to remember, light and sometimes haunting.

• 1. Mark the sentences corresponding Russian equivalents.

1. Трудно говорить о музыке вообще, так как объяснение нашего отношения или займёт много времени, или будет выражено в одном предложении.

2. Мир музыки безграничен, и каждый может найти в нём то, что удовлетворяет его вкусы и требования.

3. Вот почему музыкальные фестивали, которые проводятся ежегодно, собирают огромные аудитории.

4. Я предпочитаю мелодичную музыку, легко за­поминающуюся, лёгкую и иногда навязчивую.

• 2. Complete the sentences with necessary words

1. It is... because it reflects different human emotions.

2. We enjoy music because it... our mood and imagination,.. our... state and character,... deep emotions and makes us think.

3. As for me I enjoy both... music and... show.

4. I enjoy music if it... to me.

5. Among... composers I... A.Lloyd Webber and his musicals and... operas.

• 3. Complete the sentences according to the text 1. Music is a) a complicated art difficult to understand. b) an integral part of our life. c) one of the fine arts. 2. All the people will agree that our world will be a) more interesting without music. b) dull without music. c) dull without cinema. 3. Music helps us to remove from a) tiredness and tension. b) friends and other people. c) noise of the city. 4. I enjoy music if a) I am in good mood. b) I'm tired and ill. c) it appeals to me.

• 4. Answer the questions. 1. Is it easy for you to speak about music in general? 2. Why do you think music is varied? 3. Can people live without music? What's your opinion? 4. Why do people enjoy music? 5. What music is popular? 6. What music do you enjoy? 7. What composers are you fond of? 8. What are your favourite groups, singers and musicians? 9. What melodies are you fond of?

• 5. Tell about

1. The role of music in our life.

2. Your preferences in music.

Wind of Change

It's for people aged 14-50. It's not a love song between a man and a woman. It's a love song for all nations. Indeed it is, for "it" is "Wind of Change" by the Scorpions, a record which has sold more than four million copies world-wide.

"Wind of Change" is a 1990 power ballad written by Klaus Meine, vocalist of the German heavy metal band The Scorpions. It appeared on their 1990 album Crazy World. The song, dealing with growing global conflict, was written after a visit to Russia. The Scorpions were inspired to write the song on a visit to Moscow in 1989, and the opening lines refer to the city's landmarks. The lyrics celebrate the Perestroyka in the USSR and the end of the Cold War.

“When we played there we decided that rock music was an international language that brings us all together. We've now made a version of "Wind of Change" in Russian and that is our gift to them. It's our hope for the future.”

The band also recorded a Russian-language version of the song, under the title Ветер перемен and a Spanish version called Vientos de Cambio.

Great Music

The opening chords of Rachmaninov's second piano concert are well kown to music lovers. But anyone who can read a score would be quick to spot that the chords Rachmaninov wrote are completely unplayable to anyone with normal-sized hands.

Why did Rachmaninov write such unplayable music? The answer is that for Rachmaninov it wasn't unplayable. The distinguished pianist Cyril Smith, who knew the composer, described the Rachmaninov's hands as being the largest he had ever seen, "covering the keyboard like octopus tentacles". According to Cyril Smith, Rachmaninov could play, with his right hand, a chord of С with an extra E at the top. This is hard enough for most people, but Rachmaninov could do it using his thumb to play the middle E. He could twist his thumb between his fingers in a way impossible for normal people.

Medical researchers think Rachmaninov may have suffered from a hereditary disease, now called Marian's syndrome. It is a rare disease of connective tissue which can affect the skeleton, eyes, heart and blood vessels. The most marked syndrome is excessive bone growth leading to long limbs and fingers. The composer was known to suffer from back pain and stiff joints, other symptoms of this disease.

Rachmaninov's appearance was characteristic of a sufferer from Marfan's syndrome. He was tall and slender and had a long thin nose and prominent ears. Recorded in Rachmaninov's scores is the evidence of a man with extraordinary manual dexterity. But Rachmaninov's genius doesn't seem to lose much, if anything, when interpreted by pianists with normal-sized hands.

Now it's your turn to speak.

1. Which of the texts have you found more interesting? Why?

2. What kind of music is more important for mankind? Support your arguments with examples.

3. What musical instruments do you play or would like to play? Why?

4. What do you think the main purpose of music is?

5. How important is music in bringing up children? In a family life? (If you agree with it at all.)

6. Would you say anything about some strange connection between genius and corporal or mental diseases?

Do you know anything about the outstanding composers of Great Britain and America? Read the texts about one of them and discuss them with your classmates.

I

BENJAMIN BRITTEN

B. Britten was an outstanding English composer of our time. He was born in England in 1913. He was, in fact, a remarkable child. At the age of five he began to compose. Soon it became evident enough that his musical gifts would have to be taken very seriously indeed.

His earliest compositions were inspired by his daily adventures. Everything from a storm as sea to a storm in the family teacup, was grist to his mill. For the youthful Britten it was a normal thing to express himself in music as in ordinary everyday speech. By the time he was 14 he had written ten sonatas, six string quartets, and oratoria, and a number of songs and piano pieces. His "Simple Symphony," though written in 1934, is based on ideas from the music of his childhood.

His career as a professional composer began in earnest in t934. He began to produce the works that were to bring him the first taste of fame. The set of choral variations "A Boy Was Born," which received its first performance in a BBC broadcast early in 1934, advanced his reputation as a composer of serious intent. There was a special feature of Britten's genius: the capacity to write charming and effective music that is within the reach of amateur performers.

He loved children and wrote many works for them. A book of songs "Friday Afternoon," his children's opera "Let's Make an Opera" are simple and very nice.

Britten followed the musical traditions at realism. Two of his most important compositions are the opera "Peter Grimes" and the "War Requiem."

Benjamin Britten often appeared as conductor and pianist in England and abroad. He was a good friend of our country and often came to Russia.

II

SCHOTT JOPLIN

Ever since it was the musical theme in the film 'The Sting', there are few people who have not tapped their feet to the hit piano tune, 'The Entertainer'—the most famous composition of the American musician, Scott Joplin. Scott was born in Texas in 1868, into a poor but musical black family. His father, who was a freed slave, played the violin, and his mother played the banjo and sang. Scott played the violin and bugle but his favourite instrument was his neighbour's piano. His father worked extra hours to buy him a battered old grand piano, and soon Scott was playing by ear negro tunes, blues, and spirituals. Music flowed naturally from his fingers, and he quickly became the talk of the town. Scott didn't learn to read music until he was 11, when an old German music teacher spotted his talent and gave him free, formal piano lessons. He learned to play the works of such composers as Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart as well as his improvised music. Thus when he started to write music, his tunes were a wonderful mixture of classical European and African beat. This unique style was known as Ragtime, and was played everywhere in the USA in the early 1900s by both black and white musicians.

In 1882, when Scott was 14, his mother died and he left home to seek his fortune in St. Louis. In the 1880s, St. Louis was noisy and bustling with life. The waterfront of the Mississippi River was full of gangsters, gamblers, and sailors. The sound of music was everywhere—black, white and mixed. The hot steamy nights were filled with blues, working songs, banjos, and honky ton pianos. Scott was" soon playing Ragtime piano in cheap bars on the waterfront. This was a rough, tough area of the city where arguments over girls, whisky, and money were settled with fists and guns. Scott grew up very fast and his musical talent continued to develop. All in all he wrote about 50 piano rags.

Scott Joplin died in 1917. Today he is the undisputed King of Ragtime, thanks to his natural ability, his unusual musical education, and the popularity of the film, The Sting.

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