Arts and Entertainment

Until the early part of this century there was certainly a distinction between popular music, the songs and dance (1)……. of the masses, and what we have come to call (2) ……. music. Up to that point, however, there were at least some points of contact (3) ……. the two, and perhaps general recognition of what made a good voice, or a good song. With the development of (4) ……. entertainment, popular music split away and and has gradually (5) ……. a stronger life of its (6) ……., to the point where it has become incompatible with (7) ……. classics. In some respects, it is now dominated by the (8) ……. of youth culture, so that a concert by Elton John is just as much a fashion (9) ……., and other artists may be promoting dance styles, or social (10) ……. For this reason, it is impossible to talk about popular music as if it were a unified art. The kind of music you like may (11) …….on what kind of person you are. Curiously, there are now classical musicians and operatic singers who have (12) ……. the status of rock stars, and have been marketed in the same way. This seems to suggest that many young people enjoy classical music but do not wish to be associated with the (13) ……. of those who are traditionally supposed to enjoy it. Or it may simply be that recording companies have discovered that there is an insatiable (14) ……. for 'sounds', and that classical music is beginning to sound exciting to a generation (15) ……. on rock

but now settling into affluent middle-age.

1. a) halls b) tunes c) musicians d) artists
2. a) rock b) modern c) underground d) classical
3. a) with b) between c) by d) of
4. a) mass b) live c) recorded d) the
5. a) founded b) lived c) developed d) suggested
6. a) supporters b) self c) fans d) own
7. a) other b) the c) some d) further
8. a) promotion b) discovery c) tendency d) survival
9. a) as b) however c)event d) design
10. a) service b) grace c) protest d) science
11. a) depend b) identify c) suppose d) be
12. a) lost b) admired c) penetrated d) achieved
13. a) number b) dislike c) lifestyle d) meaning
14. a) desire b) sale c) interest d) outlet
15. a) raised b)carrying c) dependent d) listening

 

Ex. 7. In this short quiz, answer each of the questions.

1 Which of these is not normally religious?

a) a hymn b) а рsalm с) a carol d) ballad

2 Which of these would normally make the least noise?

a) a round b) a lullaby с) an anthem d) the refrain of a madrigal

3 Which of these is the odd one out?

a) a duet b) а triplet c) a quartet d) a quintet

4 Which order should these be in, starting from the top,

a) baritone b) bass с) tenor d) contralto (alto) e) soprano (treble)

Ex. 8. In what order, chronologically, did these names become popular?

a) a jukebox

b) a record deck

c) a phonograph

d) a gramophone

e) a record-player

f) a musical box

Ex. 9. Learn the types of music.

CLASSICAL MUSIC. There is a tendency to use classical music with particular reference to the music of the past, up to and including the 19th cen­tury. However, the term also includes music being written now, and we may speak of modem classical music. Classical here refers to genre, not period.

LIGHT CLASSICAL is used of short classical works which are easy to listen to, either because the composer's aim was simply to entertain.

SERIOUS MUSIC. It is sometimes used as a synonym of classical music. Serious music is a wider concept than classical music. It includes classical music, folk music and jazz.

LIGHT MUSIC. It includes light classical music, popular tunes and songs from different sources, both traditional and new, dance music, film music and so on.

JAZZ. Popular music first played by Negro groups in the Southern USA in the early 20th century characterized by improvisation and strong rhythms, called traditional jazz; similar music played by large bands for dancing, a later variation much influenced by the blues to produce an unhurried emotive style called modern jazz.

POP MUSIC is modern music of an uncomplicate character, played mainly on electric guitars and drums often with a singer.

DANCE MUSIC is music used for dancing including jazz and pop music.

BACKGROUND MUSIC is any music played softly as a background for conversation, etc. Some people put on records as background music when friends come to see them and such music is increasingly heard in public places in Britain: hotel foyers, airports, supermarkets, etc.

CHAMBER MUSIC is orchestral, written for a chamber orchestra, but the category also includes works for smaller groups of instrumentalists or vocalists or soloists.