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Your Daily English Programme #10 - Two Events in Classical & Rock Music (Reading B2) |
Would you have heard of 'Mozart' or 'Bach' if most of their music had somehow been lost through history?
What would happen if bands such as 'Maroon 5' or 'Red Hot Chili Peppers' were not around today?
Today's post is neither about Mozart/Bach nor about Maroon 5/RHCP. But it is about a disaster in the history of Classical Music and a breakthrough in the development of modern band music.
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Think Before You Read |
Do you recognize the people in these photos? Who are they and what's special about them?
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Scan the two texts below: Which passage belongs to which of the photos above? Which specific words in the passage helped you find the connections?
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Time to Read |
o
mentions a tragedy in the history of modern music
o discusses
achievements in the history of modern music
[Passage 1]
On July 12, 1962, at London's Marquee Jazz Club, vocalist Mick Jagger, Guitarists Brian Jones and Keith Richards, pianist Ian Stewart, bassist Dick Taylor, and drummer Mick Avory played their first gig. The Rolling Stones, as they named their band, along with contemporaries such as The Beatles, set the tone for the rock music that followed for decades to come.
On July 12, 1962, at London's Marquee Jazz Club, vocalist Mick Jagger, Guitarists Brian Jones and Keith Richards, pianist Ian Stewart, bassist Dick Taylor, and drummer Mick Avory played their first gig. The Rolling Stones, as they named their band, along with contemporaries such as The Beatles, set the tone for the rock music that followed for decades to come.
But it was not just their unique music style that created so much enthusiasm for their work. There were at least two other significant aspects that contributed to their huge success and popularity:
1) Their looks: at a time when society was extremely oppressive and conservative, watching five casually-dressed, long-haired insolent young adults who paid little respect to their elders was a real shock. They were often perceived as a threat to civilized values and were condemned by the more conservative parts of society.
2) Their attitude: They were the radicals of the time, arrogant, rebellious, and not concerned with society's restrictions. They were some of the pioneers of the cultural revolution that took place in the 60s and 70s. Their lyrics were open, direct, satirical, surreal and, of course, moving. Here is an example from their song 'No Expectations': “Our love was like the water, that splashes on a stone. Our love is like our music; It’s here and then it’s gone”.
To this day, the band continues to attract hundreds of thousands of fans to their many concerts around the world. In fact, four of their music tours are among the top fifteen highest-grossing concert tours of all time.
[Passage 2]
Geirr Tveitt was born on October 19, 1908 in Bergen, Norway. His music draws from many styles and traditions, most notably from Stravinsky's early ballets, the rhythms Bartók's music, and the mystic moods of Debussy and Ravel's style. Nevertheless, it seems as if his music always bears the aesthetic imprint of Norwegian folk music.
Geirr Tveitt was born on October 19, 1908 in Bergen, Norway. His music draws from many styles and traditions, most notably from Stravinsky's early ballets, the rhythms Bartók's music, and the mystic moods of Debussy and Ravel's style. Nevertheless, it seems as if his music always bears the aesthetic imprint of Norwegian folk music.
Tveitt has composed operas, ballet music, a series of concertos for piano and other instruments. His most prominent work is 'A Hundred Hardanger Tunes' (1954-1963)
– a series of short, elegantly arranged Norwegian folk songs. However, unfortunately, on July 12, 1970, a devastating fire burned his house to the ground and destroyed about 90 percent of his musical output.
Geirr
Tveitt was a central figure of the national movement in Norwegian cultural life during the 1930s and remains one of Norway’s most prominent composers.
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Let's Practice |
According to the two passages:
1) Which 3 factors contributed to The Rolling Stones' success and popularity?
1) Which 3 factors contributed to The Rolling Stones' success and popularity?
2) What is unique to Geirr Tveitt's music style?
(see the answers in the first comment)
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Your Turn |
- Are you a fan of any particular pop, rock or jazz band? What is special about their music?
- Are you interested in Classical music? Who is your favorite composer?
(write your responses in the comments section below)
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1. Their style of music, their looks, and their attitude
ReplyDelete2. The incorporation of Norwegian folk music in his works