MUSIC IN OUR LIFE

Can you imagine your life without music? Of course, not. We turn to music in joy and sorrow, and it always helps us understand ourselves better and make our lives brighter. Besides, there is music-to-work-to.

There is no accounting for tastes. Some people are keen on classical music, others are crazy about pop music; some like operas whereas others are fond of a good musical comedy. If you live in a big city, you have no difficulty whatever in finding a place where you are sure to spend an enjoyable evening. You can go to the Opera House, see a ballet, listen to a concert of classical music or scream with delight at the concert of a famous pop star. In addition, there are numerous revues, musical comedies or variety shows. Bigger restaurants provide floorshows which feature pop singers, dancers and are generally of good quality.

But even if you live in a small village far from a big city, there is no problem concerning music. All you have to do is switch on your TV or radio set - and there you are enjoying Mozart's magnificent "Fortieth" or listening to Beethoven's glorious "Fifth". Sometimes whole families arrange to spend the evening together if there is something interesting on. A lot of people all over the world will agree that ballet is a complex and fascinating art. It attracts ballet fans every day to theatres throughout the world, and many more to cinemas and on television. It is a form of theatre that combines music, literature, painting and dancing to create visual dramas, which are the result of centuries of endeavour. Quite a few are great lovers of jazz, but the reasons for its magnetism remain somewhat elusive Perhaps the answer lies in the combined appeal of the primitive and the sophisticated, the cultivated and the vernacular and the intense rhythms of the West African jungle coupled with melodic invention may be the envy of classical composers.

However, nothing has been so far-reaching in its effect on people as pop music. The sound of jazz and rock and, more recently, country music can be heard on records, tapes, radio and television. The term itself refers to the kind of music enjoyed by a broad public and stands in contrast to the classical music of the European tradition. US novelist John Updike said that popular music is always there, flavouring our lives. In his words, "it bathes us in echoes of emotion and beckons us toward a fullness of which our lives are shadows."

A lot of music festivals are annually held in different parts of the world. Music-lovers from various countries attend concerts of the "Russian Winter", "White Nights" in Russia, "Belarusian Autumn" in Belarus, the Bach and Handel festivals in Germany, the Edinburgh, Glyndenbourne and Purcell festivals in the UK, the Avignon festival in France. They cater for different categories of listeners. The world's greatest musicians, conductors, singers and first-rate orchestras, ballet and opera companies take part in them.

Of the world's music centres London, Paris, Moscow, New York and St. Petersburg are probably the greatest. In New York you can hear the best of classical music at Lincoln Center. Never mind that since 1960s its white form covered 14 acres at Manhattan, it has been criticized, even hated, by both architecture and music critics. Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall remain the obvious and best places to hear a wide range of classical music. Avery Fisher, home to the New York Philharmonic, was overhauled in 1976 to provide the acoustical perfection demanded by a city where only reviewers outnumber musicians. The more modest but equally splendid Alice Tully Hall houses Lincoln Center's celebrated Chamber Music Society whose concerts are broadcast all over the world. Lincoln Center also incorporates the Metropolitan Opera and the New York State Theater.

London is undoubtedly the centre of music making in the U. K. In order to understand what impossible moral dilemmas it offers you have to come to London during seasonal celebrations. Are you going to do the right thing and dress smart for "The Nutcracker" at Sadler's Wells, or will you do the really wrong thing, zip on those knee-length silver platform boots and clatter off to Wembley Arena for a big" night out with Gary Glitter and the Village People? This is the time of the year when tradition and modernity meet under the mistletoe and the entric city turns out to applaud.

As always, music is at the heart of this midwinter madness, and Tchaikovsky and glam rock are just two in a whole calendar of events.

If you are in Paris, get in a cab and take yourself north to Pigalle where hidden behind the bars and the tourist coaches is the Cafe Noctambules and Pierre Carre. M Carre might be 60 or he might be 100. His wardrobe is straight out of the 50s. Accompanied by two colleagues of similar vintage on Hammond and drums, M Carre sings the greats. And when he sings, "non, je ne regrette rien" you believe him. Then he launches into "Les Feuilles Mortes" and all the rest and there's not a dry eye in the house.

As you can see, music fulfils important social functions. It is connected with people's work and has a great influence on them. It appeals to the people's hearts and minds, to their feelings and ideals. Good music arouses a warm response in the souls of listeners.

WORD STUDY

I. Match the word from the first column with its definition from the second column:

Floorshow (n) - every year Endeavour (n) - an informal entertainment programme presented in the midst of the Elusive (adj) - to examine thoroughly, as for repair Vernacular(adj) - evasive Flavour (v) - a large carriage with four or more wheels for long-distance travel

Annually (adv) - native, savage, local Overhaul (v) - to add a new particular quality - .. Coach (n) - an exertion toward attainment of an object, attempt

II. Fill in the gaps with the correct prepositions and postpositions:

1. We turn......... music .......joy and sorrow.2. There is no accounting...........tastes.3. The reasons ...........its magnetism remain elusive.4. Country music can be heard............ records and tapes.5. It refers ........ different kinds of music.6. Music lovers attend...........concerts of the "Russian Winter".7. Tradition and modernity meet .... the mistletoe and the entire city turns ... to applaud.8. Music is connected .........people's work and has a great influence ... them

III. COMPREHENSION

1. Explain the meaning of the following:

a city where musicians are outnumbered only by reviewers;to clatter off to Wembley arena;tradition and modernity meet under the mistletoe;colleagues of similar vintage;to sing the greats;music-to-work-toMozart's magnificent "Fortieth"Bach's glorious "Fifth"centuries of endeavour.

П. Answer the following questions:

1. What types of music are mentioned in the article? Can you add to this list?2. Where can music lovers go to listen to live music?3. Why is ballet called a complex and fascinating art?4. How would you explain the dual nature of jazz?