节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-09-07
难易度:Medium
关键字:vibrate, scrape, cigar, preserve, kazoo, wax paper
OK, friends, welcome back from the break.
Sometimes called "the poor man's tuba," the glass or a stoneware whiskey jug is
the must-have instrument in any jug band.
Well, now that you know the secret to making music with a jug,
the next time you and your friends are out drinking bottles of soda or tea, you
can use those bottles to play a song.
Hmm. OK.
Let's return to the reading now down on line 9.
Jug Bands.
Early jug band musicians used whatever they had available to make musical
instruments.
Some of them even made guitars out of cigar boxes.
You really have to hear the sound of a jug band to appreciate this fascinating
style of music.
Find some video clips online, or if you like, attend a jug band festival.
The National Jug Band Jubilee in Louisville, Kentucky,
is just one of the festivals devoted to preserving "America's happiest music."
Soon you'll be clapping along with all the other fans of this delightful music.
Maybe you'll want to make your own instrument and join in the fun.
Jug bands are a fascinating style of music.
You can make all the instruments in your home and add some traditional
instruments like the guitar or violin to it.
Now we've discussed how to make some of these homemade instruments by just using
things from around your house.
Now what more can we learn about jug bands?
OK.
Early jug band musicians used whatever they had available to make musical
instruments.
That's right, which makes sense, whatever they had available.
They would have a washboard to clean their clothes.
They would have spoons to serve their food.
And of course, they needed a comb to brush their hair.
So they used things from around their home that they already had.
OK. Friends, maybe you don't have a musical instrument at home.
Don't have a guitar?
Well, some of these early musicians didn't either, so they made them out of
cigar boxes.
Now a "cigar" is a long piece... a long tube shape that is made out of tobacco.
And it's something we would smoke.
It's made by wrapping the dry tobacco together, and people smoke it.
You can imagine a famous person, maybe a rich mobster who's got a large cigar in
his mouth.
OK. And usually when people bought cigars, they buy them in boxes.
And so it's a very specially designed box made of wood.
That's right. And so it was resistant enough that they can make it into a
guitar.
Well, we have some more information about that.
So let's jump on over to the Information Station.
Bill, I really like jug band music.
It's amazing how creative they can be with common items.
Jug bands play music that we call "bluegrass." It's a mixture of country and
western music and mountain music.
And today we happen to have a real bluegrass musician with us over at...
Information Station.
This is so exciting, Bryan.
Here with us in... in our Information Station studio is Rita Mae Biscuit, the
world-famous bluegrass musician.
Welcome, Rita Mae.
Well, howdy, boys.
It's great to be here on Information Station.
You boys are just so smart.
I love your show.
Well, thank you, Rita Mae.
And we just love your music.
Now you have two instruments that you always play, the banjo and the ukulele.
That's right.
These two string instruments are, well, instrumental to bluegrass music.
I see that you have a banjo right now, Rita Mae.
Can you play one of your songs for us?
Well, I can try.
This is a banjo ukulele.
Here we go.
Rocky Top, you'll always be home sweet home to me.
Dear old Rocky Top, Rocky Top, Tennessee.
Rocky Top, Tennessee.
Wow! That song is one of my favorites, Rita Mae.
I understand that you also have your ukulele with you.
I sure do.
Why, it's right here.
It looks like a tiny guitar, doesn't it?
And I know that in your hands, that ukulele makes some beautiful music.
Well, it sure does.
Oh, here's my song I wrote just for you.
(Music).
My horse ran away.
And now I'm sad.
Oh, my horse ran away, and I feel so bad.
Yes, my horse... Well, my horse.
Wow! You are fabulous, Rita Mae.
Did you know that Bill and I are also musicians?
Really! I didn't know that.
What instruments do you boys play?
Well, we have some special instruments that we play here.
Rita Mae, we're going to show you how good we are. Aren't we, Bryan?
That's right, Bill.
(Music).
Well, well, well, that's real special, just like my music.
Maybe we can play together sometime.
Yeah! I think we do need a little more practice, though.
Well, yeah, maybe you do. But so do I.
Well, hey, thanks for joining us, Rita Mae.
Bryan and I will work on our song.
And we'll see everybody next time here at...
Information Station.
OK, friends. So if you want to create some unique music but you don't own any
traditional instruments,
we see here you can make your own out of, well, almost anything in your home.
But what does jug band music actually sound like?
Well, you really have to hear the sound of a jug band to appreciate this
fascinating style of music.
You might be sitting there thinking: So what? They make their own instruments.
They probably sound very strange.
It probably just sounds like noise.
But really, it doesn't.
You need to listen so you can understand just how fascinating it is.
Now friends, if something is fascinating, that means it is incredible or
amazing.
Usually it's more interesting than you think it would be.
And jug bands are going to do that for you.
So find some video clips online.
Go ahead, check the Internet after your Studio Classroom lesson to hear what a
jug band might actually sound like.
That's right.
You might be surprised, friends.
You can listen to these online or attend a jug band festival.
Now I think this would be a fun way to enjoy jug band music.
The National Jug Band Jubilee in Louisville, Kentucky, is just one of the
festivals devoted to this kind of music.
Now to understand, we need to know what a jubilee is, Ryan.
What is a jubilee?
Well, a jubilee is like a large celebration, many people coming together playing
this kind of music and enjoying it.
That's right.
It's a party.
It's a celebration.
And it's kind of that down-home, really fun feeling, casual,
we're-all-together-enjoying-our-celebration kind of party.
It's not going to be very formal.
Right. And they are devoted, or they promise, to preserve America's happiest
music.
Now to "preserve" something means you are saving it, you're protecting it from
being damaged or destroyed.
And in this case, being lost.
We want this music to continue.
And we call it "America's happiest music." Friends, soon you too will be
clapping along with all the other fans of this delightful or enjoyable music.
Maybe you'll want to make your own instrument and even join in the fun.
So take the time to check out this style of music online, and possibly join a
festival.
Well, it's time for us to go visit the Chat Room.
You know, that was a great seminar last night.
I really learned a lot.
Well, I'm glad you came, Ken.
But I wish you could have participated more.
What do you mean?
I did participate.
I was there from the beginning to the end.
No, Ken.
You attended the seminar, but you didn't participate in the discussion.
Wait, wait, wait.
Attend, participate, there's a difference?
There sure is.
In school, when teachers evaluate a student, they distinguish between attendance
and participation.
Attendance is the fact that he or she is not missing classes.
And participation is how actively the student takes part in the class
activities.
Oh, so a student may have perfect attendance but no participation?
Exactly.
You got it.
What about join?
Can I say I should join the discussion?
Join "in" the discussion.
Hey, why don't we go to Doris for an explanation about the difference between
join and join in.
OK.
To join usually means to become a part or member of a group.
For example, you can join a health club or join a political party.
Join in, on the other hand, means to take part in an activity with others.
If you're playing football, but you don't have enough players, you can ask
people to join in.
OK, I get it.
So what else can I join besides an organization?
You can join a person in something.
And that means to participate with that person in an activity.
The next time the library holds a seminar, I'd like you to join us.
OK. I will join you and participate.
There you go.
(Chinese).
(Chinese).
And we're running out of time.
I'll see you next time.
Bye-bye.
Thank you again, Michelle.
We appreciate that.
Jug band music is an authentic American style of music that was created at the
beginning of the 20th century along the banks of the Ohio River.
Jug music draws influences from a handful of other musical styles, such as
blues, ragtime and jazz.
And though jug band musicians often use real instruments like banjos and
mandolins,
they've also been known to create and use homemade instruments like a guitar
made from a cigar box or a drum made from a cooking pan.
Friends, make the rest of your Friday great.
And then join Studio Classroom tomorrow for a new lesson.
Take care.