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Unit 3
Language points
1 For lack of a better terminology, one might name these: (1) the sensuous plane, (2) the expressive plane, (3) the sheerly musical plane. (Para 1) for lack of a better terminology is used to introduce rather The expression
inexact terms. It means since we don't have any exact terms, I'm going to use these rather rough terms. sensuous suggests physical pleasure which relates to your physical The word senses rather than to your emotions and thoughts. plane is a level of thought, development or existence. A sheer The
is used to emphasize the amount or degree of something. The word sheerly musical plane refers to the level of the musical material, melodies, sheer pleasure (Para 2, Line 2) means great or rhythms, harmonies etc. The
pure pleasure.
2 The only advantage to be gained from mechanically splitting up the listening process into these hypothetical planes is … (Para 1) hypothetical means to be based on situations or events that seem The word
possible rather than on actual ones. Here, the planes are not real, they are just part of a model for analysis and discussion.
3 One turns on the radio while doing something else and absent-mindedly bathes in the sound. A kind of brainless but attractive state of mind is engendered by the mere sound appeal of the music. (Para 2) bathe bathe
means to swim or wash yourself in a bath, river or lake. To To in the sound means to immerse yourself in the sound, like in water. engender means to cause a feeling or attitude to exist. The expression To engendered by the mere sound appeal means to be created only by the appeal
or attraction of the sound.
4 Music allows them to leave it ... dreaming because of and apropos of the music yet never quite listening to it. (Para 3) apropos of means relating to; it is used to introduce The expression
something else about the subject you are talking about. The expression is -s is silent in pronunciation.
derived from French, and the final
5 ... but you must not allow it to usurp a disproportionate share of your interest. The sensuous plane is an important one in music ... but it does not constitute the whole story. (Para 4) usurp means to take a job or position that belongs to someone else
To
without having the right to do this. you must not allow it to usurp a disproportionate share of
The sentence your interest means don't let it take up a wrong amount of your interest. it does not constitute the whole story means there is more The expression
to it than this.
6 Here, immediately, we tread on controversial ground. (Para 5) we tread on controversial ground contains a metaphor: These The expression
are ideas that some people will probably disagree about or not approve of. 7 Composers have a way of shying away from any discussion of music's expressive side. (Para 5) shy away from something means to avoid someone or be unwilling to do To
something because you are nervous, afraid or not confident.
8 Is it pessimistically sad or resignedly sad; is it fatefully sad or smilingly sad? (Para 6) resignedly means with resignation, accepting that something The word
unpleasant must happen or that you cannot change it. The whole sentence gives nuances – shades of meaning – of different kinds of sadness: sadness which has a feeling of pessimism (things are bad and we can't change them easily), sadness to which we may feel resigned – we accept it, sadness that we feel is part of our fate – we can't avoid it and it is part of our life, and sadness that also has humour, so we smile even though we feel sad.
9 It is very important for all of us to become more alive to music on its sheerly musical plane. (Para 9) become / be alive to something means to know that something is happening To
and realize how important it is.
10 After all, an actual musical material is being used ... He must hear the melodies, the rhythms, the harmonies, the tone colors in a more conscious fashion. (Para 9) musical materials refer to the elements of music, usually discussed The melody rhythm (the effects of time or under the headings of (the tune), harmony (how the notes of music duration of the beats of music, the pulse), tone color (how combine with each other in chords or sequences of notes),
the precise sound of notes can vary), and form (how the music is organized with all the elements and patterns of repetition and variation). 11 Perhaps an analogy with what happens to us when we visit the theater will make this instinctive correlation clearer. (Para 11) analogy is a comparison between two situations, processes etc, that is
An
intended to show that the two are similar. That the two things are analogous means the same things are true of or relevant to both of them.
Dealing with unfamiliar words
4 Match the words in the box with their definitions. 1 to make up or form something (constitute)
2 happening or done at the same time (simultaneously)
3 able to do something because you have the knowledge, skill, or experience that is needed (qualified)
4 a regular pattern of sounds in music that you can show by moving, hitting your hands together, or hitting a drum or other surface (rhythm) 5 to receive or obtain something from something else (derive) 6 someone who writes music, especially classical music (composer) 7 as much as is needed (sufficiently)
5 Complete the paragraph with the correct form of the words in Activity 4. Johann Sebastian Bach is possibly the greatest (1) composer the world has WellTempered Clavichord (2) constitutes -ever known. His one of the most
complete works for keyboard ever written. It is (3) simultaneously both a series of technical exercises which explore the possibilities of the keyboard, and a masterpiece of expressive feeling. Although he was a highly (4) qualified musician (as an organist and a choirmaster), he was not considered to be (5) sufficiently “modern” by the generation which followed him, and he was soon forgotten. But his music was rediscovered in the 19th century, for its perfect sense of (6) rhythm and harmony. Indeed, many of the great composers of the 20th century, such as Stravinsky, (7) derived a lot of their musical ideas from him.
6 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words and expressions in the box. You may need to make other changes.
1 Shh! They're about to announce the winner of this year's International Piano Competition. (proclaim)
2 It's quite easy to make a comparison between poetry and music. (analogy) It's quite easy to make an analogy between poetry and music.
3 We are amazed by her ability to express herself with great clearness and simplicity. (clarity)
4 How many artists have given up everything for the cause of their art? (for the sake of)
5 Internet emerges as a powerful and effective force in advertising new products. (potent)
6 I enjoyed the performance, but I thought the clothes the actors were wearing were a bit silly. (costumes)
7 Answer the questions about the words and expressions. split something up, do you (a) divide it into parts1 If you , or (b) put the parts together? absent-mindedly, are you (a) thinking about what you 2 If you do something are doing, or (b) thinking about something else? consolation (a) after a piece of bad news3 Do you look for , or (b) after a piece of good news? treading on controversial ground, are you (a) taking a risk, 4 If you are or (b) making everybody happy? shy away from something, do you (a) keep close to it, or (b) keep 5 If you your distance from it? pin something down, are you (a) able to examine it carefully6 If you , or (b) unable to examine it carefully? melody of a piece of music, are you familiar with 7 If you know the (a) the tune, or (b) the meaning of the music? instinctive reaction to something (a) automatic, or (b) one which 8 Is an
follows a lot of thought?
Reading and interpreting
8 Work in pairs and choose the best answer to the questions. 1 Which is the writer's main purpose?
(a) To show how complex listening to music is. (b) To get people to listen to music more.
(c) To discourage some people from listening to music. (d) To get people to think about how they listen to music. you? 2 Who does the writer address as
(a) Musicians. (b) Theatregoers. (c) Composers.
(d) Intelligent music lovers.
9 Check (?) the statements you agree with.
1 The analysis the writer makes is a fair and accurate one. √
Yes, I think this is a reasonable analysis of listening to music. sensuous listener in negative terms.
2 He describes the
He does mention some negative aspects of sensuous listening but he says several times that we listen in all three ways, so I don't think he is actually negative about this way. expressive.
3 He thinks all great music is √
He doesn't actually say this, but this seems to be his point of view. 4 He thinks most listeners are not intelligent enough.
No, he doesn't say this. He says most listeners are not conscious enough of the third plane, but that doesn't mean they aren't intelligent. 5 He is probably a professional musician. √
I guess this is true because of his knowledge of Stravinsky and Bach, and his insights into the effective way of listening to music. 6 He is probably a good teacher. √
I think so because of his way of explaining the three planes and because of the way he uses the analogy of the theatre, which non-musician might appreciate.
Active reading (2)
Language points
1 We know his work includes paintings of religious and mythological themes, domestic interiors and landscapes. (Para 2) Domestic interiors are the inside of households with the rooms, furniture and decorations. Landscapes are paintings of an area of land, showing the scenery sometimes
with people but the focus mostly on nature.
2 While Griet goes about her duties, she attracts the attention not only of a butcher's boy, Pieter, but also of the painter himself. (Para 6) go about her duties means to do the work that she is supposed to do. To Being on duty being off duty means to be
means to be working at the moment; not working at the moment.
3 Despite their different backgrounds and class, he invites her into his studio and engages her in his world. (Para 6) engage her in his world means to help her to take an interest, To
understand or take part in what he does.
4 Vermeer recognizes Griet as having visual talent and artistic promise, and takes her on as his studio assistant. (Para 7) she has artistic promise means she shows the sign that she The expression
is likely to be successful as an artist in the future.
5 Her role is to grind paints and develop the colours which Vermeer will use for his paintings ...(Para 7) grind paints means to break something into very small pieces or powder To
by crushing it between two surfaces or using a machine. In Vermeer's time, artists made their own paints by grinding up different colours and mixing the powder with water or other substances. This task was often done by an apprentice or assistant.
6 Catharina has long been forbidden to enter the studio, so the apprenticeship takes place in secret. (Para 7) apprenticeship refers to employment as an apprentice to work for The