Module 4 Music

Introduction

What kinds of musical instruments do you know about? Discuss with your partner and list some of them.

musical instruments guitar piano bass violin drums saxophone keyboard erhu viola double-bass flute pipa

violin

flute

guitar

erhu

saxophone

The konghou is an instrument with strings. It came to China from the West during the Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago.

The guzheng has been used for more than 2,300 years. It looks like a table harp.

The pipa is a lute with four strings and is a relative of the European lute. It came to China from Central Asia in the fourth century.

The yueqin is a round instrument like a mandolin. It was called qinpipa during the Han Dynasty.

Discussion How many of the Chinese instruments have you heard of? Do you like the sound of traditional Chinese music? Give reasons for your answers.

Reading and vocabulary

Watch and guess Who is she?

Liu Fang

Liu Fang's mastery of the pipa and the guzheng has established her international reputation as a highly talented young interpreter of traditional Chinese music. She aspires to combine her knowledge and practice of Eastern traditions with Western classical music, contemporary music and improvisation, thereby creating new musical forms, uniting different cultures and discovering new audiences.

Suppose you have an interview with her, what questions will you ask?

Read the passage carefully and find the main idea of each part. Part 1 Introduce Liu Fang as well as her musical training and background.

Part 2 Part 3 It’s about Liu Fang’s love for performing live and her goals as an artist. Tell about Liu Fang’s musical influences and characteristics of Chinese classical music.

Read part 1 of the passage and explain the references. 1. …during her visit to China. Who visited China? The Queen of England.

2. …she taught me to play the yueqin. Who taught her to play? 3. I have been living there since then. Where has she been living? Her mother. Canada.

4. …each one has its special way of interpreting the classical pieces. Each what? 5. The same is true of my second instrument. What is true about the second instrument? Pipa school. To respect traditions but add her own style when playing.

Read Part 2 of the passage and choose the correct answers. 1. Traditional singing is _______. A. the most important influence on Liu Fang’s style B. not such an important influence A

2. When people listen to her playing, _____. A. They also hear her singing B. They think they can hear singing 3. Liu Fang things that _____. A. Chinese music is like the Chinese language B. Chinese music and language use the same tones B A

4. Chinese classical pieces often have poetic titles, _____. A. which is understandable B. which is very surprising 5. Empty spaces in Chinese paintings ______. A. are like the silent parts of Chinese music B. mean the pictures have no life A A

1. What does Liu Fang enjoy about performing? 2. What makes her feel depressed or lonely? The atmosphere in a concert hall. When she has no concert for a long time. Read part 3 of the passage and answer the questions.

3. What does she want to do with other musicians? 4. What is her ambitions regarding Chinese music? Work with them. She wants to compose her own music, and introduce classical pipa/guzheng music everywhere.

Fill in the table. Career Year of birth Hometown the place she is living now the school she went to the training she received the person who taught her to play musical instruments the musical instruments she plays international music star 1974 Kunming Canada Shanghai Conservatory of Music pipa and guzheng her mother pipa and guzheng