北师大版高中英语必修2Unit5课文听力音频

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Unit 5  Lesson 1  Performance

         Alanis-A true performer

Canadian singer and song writer, Alanis Morissette, is used to being in the public eye. Her most famous album Jagged Little Pill, came out in 1995 when she was only twenty-one years old. It sold 15 million copies and made several more albums and she has continued giving great performances on stage.

Last Thursday night, hundreds of fans went to the Corn Exchange in Cambridge, England to see Alanis Morissette performing in concert. It was Morissett’s first performance in England since her song “Uninvited” won this year’s Grammy Award for the best rock song. The 30-year-old singer has a strong fan base in England. There was not an empty seat anywhere in the concert hall at last Thursday’s event, although it was an extremely cold night. “Sure it’s cold outside, but hope we’ll warm it up in here for you,” Mirussette said to the large crowd before she started to play. 

During the 3-hour concert, Morisstte used a lot of material from her award-wining album “Jagged Little Pill”. She also played a few songs from her new album, such as “Everything But …” which tells the story of someone looking for love in the wrong places. Morissette gave a creative and powerful performance in another song “Utopia”. Her singing was full of feeling; the first part of the some was filled with anger, while the last part expressed love and joy. 

Although the concert hall was cold and the sound system caused a few problems, the audience could still enjoy the concert. Many people in the crowd were obviously long-time fans and they knew the words and sang along to nearly every song. Inside the concert hall was extremely exciting. Everyone agreed that they were greatly impressed by Morissette’s brilliant music and singing.

At the end of the three hours, Morissette showed that she was a true performer, singing a well-known song “Heartache”. She finished the evening with a new song about the life of a superstar. While I watched and listened, I knew that I was seeing the performance of a real superstar.

Lesson 3    Experiment in Folk

Kong goes for folk!

The famous classical pianist, Kong Xiangdong, surprised his fans last week by giving a concert combining classical music with Chinese folk music. Kong explained that he tried this because he wanted to create something new. “As a musician, playing the same music in different cities of the world is very boring,” say Kong. He also feels that playing Chinese folk music on the piano can help bring it the rest of the world.

Music has always been part of Kong’s world. As his mother was a great music lover, he lived with music from birth. But it wasn’t always easy for the young Kong Xiangdong. His mother couldn’t buy him a piano until he was seven. She had to draw piano keys on a piece of paper so that he could learn to play as early as possible. The 5-years old Kong would practise on the paper piano as his mother clapped the rhythm. He was made to practise the piano so much that, at times, he thought about giving up. However, he didn’t quit, and he became a great pianist. In 1986, at the age of 18, he become the youngest prize winner in Moscow’s Tchaikovsky International Competition. He went on to win awards in competition across the world. 

Because of Kong’s talent and hard work, he became famous worldwide. But after years of performing, he became that in some ways he had lost his identity. This is why he went back to his roots and rediscovered the beauty in Chinese folk music. He began experimenting with different styles and his Dream Tour Concert is the result.

Kong’s new experiment in Chinese folk music is so important to him that he even changed his appearance. When he arrived at his concert last week, he had shaved off all his hair! Since his music style was new, he decided his hairstyle had to be new too!

Whether Kong is changing his appearance or transforming his music, he is a pioneer in music today. The concert last week was such a success that Kong’s Dream Tour Concert is expected to run for the next two years in Beijing, Shanghai, and other main cities before going to Paris and New york.

Lesson 4 Let’s Dance

Ballet

Ballet began in Italy and France during the 15th century and is still an important   art   form  in   Western culture. Ballet tells a story with music and actions but no words. Another famous Russian ballet is called “Sleeping Beauty”. Many countries have produced ballets, including China. One well-known Chinese ballet is called “The White-haired Girl”.

Folk Dance

Folk dances are traditional style of dancing that come from ordinary people. They are usually group dances that are taught from one generation to another. Chain is famous for many different types of folk dances, including the dragon dance and lion dance, which are performed during the Spring Festival. 

  Another well-known folk dance is the Yangge, which is often performed on special occasions. In many parts of the country, you can see people of all ages dancing in the street during festivals. They are dressed in beautiful costumes, skipping back and forth to the rhythm of loud drums. People like watch performances of this unique folk dance.

Popular Dance

Popular or social dances often come from folk dances, although they are usually popular for only a short time. Until the eighteenth century, social dances were only held in palaces or the homes of noble families. However, in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, social dancing became more popular. Ballroom dancing, which was a formal dance in a large room, became popular in Europe and North America. Central European folk dances, such as the waltz, changed and became the most popular examples of ballroom dances.

In the United States, the mixing of immigrant cultures produced new forms of dances, such as tap dancing. Before the First World War, new ballroom dances came to Europe and America for example, the Tango and the Cha-Cha. The Argentine Tango was made internationally popular by Carlos Gardel through his songs and films.

After the Second World War, African-American rhythm and movements became part of popular social dance. Rock’n’rool dances were popular during the 1950s.  Dancing in couples returned in the 1970s and 1980s with “disco” music. This from of dancing is almost like acrobatics. It began in the poorer part of large American cities.

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