节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-09-13
难易度:Low
关键字:settlement, characteristic, reference, accuse, harmony, prejudice
Hi, everybody.
Welcome to Studio Classroom Worldwide.
My name is Steve.
We are expanding our understanding of the often misunderstood people group, the
Roma.
The Roma, sometimes called "gypsies," are a people with the reputation of being
nomadic.
Now to be sure, since their exodus from India 1,000 years ago,
many have moved west into North Africa, Europe, North America, and even down
into South America.
But as we learned yesterday, that's not the complete picture.
The Roma also have a reputation for being musical people.
Is that reputation deserved?
Let's start today's lesson on page 29 and find out.
The Roma People.
Music.
Each Roma settlement developed its own musical style, combining local music with
Roma traditions.
These styles often sound similar to the music of the surrounding culture.
However, most Roma music shares some characteristics, including the timing of
the notes and the harmonies.
Roma music has also affected the music of other cultures.
Roma influences have shaped European folk and classical music and even some
American styles.
Hello, friends.
Thank you so much for joining us right here in the studio.
My name is Kaylah.
My name is Ryan.
And friends, we're back talking about the Roma people, a group of people who
began in India and traveled west to Europe.
That's right.
Yesterday we said you might recognize the Roma people by their other name, their
European name,
which is "gypsy." But we learned that they are not like our general idea of
gypsies.
They are very musical, and some do move around.
But there is much more to their culture than just fortune telling and dancing.
That's right.
For many years, they practiced traditional trades of bringing up horses and
making things out of wood and out of metal and selling them.
But we learned that they can be in any profession.
As we said, we do recognize gypsies as being very musical.
And the Roma people, one of their traditional trades is a musician.
So they do have wonderful music to offer.
OK.
Each Roma settlement developed its own musical style over time, combining local
music with Roma traditions.
Now a "settlement" refers to the area of people, the people that are living in
that specific place.
So these different settlements, these different groups, maybe you could call
them like a town because they live in the same area.
They developed their own style depending on where they were.
So Ryan, they would take not just their own Romany style but mix it with what is
local to create special music.
Yeah, to create or develop, like we see here, their own unique music.
Now friends, we see that these now have some Roma traditions in the music, but
it also is combined to make something completely new.
That's right.
And to comebine means to add or to mix them together.
Well, these styles often sound similar to the music of the surrounding culture.
So even though it is a Romany style of music, it is familiar to the people from
that area that are not of the Roma people.
Yeah, people who are surrounding, or the culture that surrounds the Roma people.
And that means to be around or nearby.
So even though they do sound like the local area, however, most Roma music
shares some characteristics.
So even though they are all different, they do have matching characteristics.
That's right.
A "characteristic" is simply something that is typical or noticeable of
something.
That's right. So maybe a special characteristic about you could be your eyes or
your nose.
You have a special thing that... everyone has eyes and noses, but you have a
special one.
That is a unique characteristic of you.
Exactly.
So some unique characteristics of the Roma music that you can see they all share
includes the timing of the notes and the harmonies.
OK. So the timing means the way the notes are played, what rhythm they are
using.
OK. And the harmonies, or the word "harmony" refers to music where different
notes are played at the same time to make a beautiful sound.
That's right.
Now Roma music has not only been a part of the Roma culture, but it has also
affected the music of other cultures.
OK. So they've affected other music around the world, and it continues to
spread.
That's right.
So as they travel and spread their culture around the world, as they are
settling in different places, their music is also having an effect on the people
around them.
All right. So Kaylah, let's take a look now at the different cultures that it's
affecting.
OK. Well, Roma influences have shaped European folk and classical music and even
some American styles.
OK, so they have their own unique style.
When mixed with other culture's music, it allows it to spread.
And it began, of course, in Europe where they moved to.
OK. We see this word it helped "shape." Now to shape something means it helps
create the way it will be - sound or look.
So it is helping mold or create this new style.
And we said they helped with European folk music.
Can you explain what folk music is?
Yeah. Folk music uses a certain set of instruments and has a certain beat to it
that kind of goes up and down, makes you want to dance.
That's right.
Most folk music is music that was created before they were really writing the
music down.
It's kind of the sound of each culture.
And that is a weird word and kind of hard to say.
So friends, you can practice that word because all music from all over the
world, each culture has their own style of folk music.
That's right.
So here they were shaping European folk music.
And we see here they even had an influence on some American styles.
That's right, some American styles.
Mainly, American styles refer to swing and jazz.
So probably some of the rhythms of the gypsy Roma people's music has made its
way into American music.
So Ryan, just as they traveled and affected the people around them, so their
music has done the same thing.
OK. Yeah. We're seeing how they are spreading their influence, or their effect,
around the world with their music.
But we want to see a little bit more of what they are spreading in a little bit.
That's right.
We're going to talk about some of their stories after we watch today's skit.
(Music).
So, is that traditional Roma music?
No. Each Roma settlement has developed its own musical style.
Different styles?
Yes. We combined local music with our Roma traditions.
So the music shares the characteristics of both cultures.
Yes, including timing and harmonies.
So local music has changed your Roma music.
Yes. And Roma music has affected the music of other cultures too.
Oh, like...
Like European folk music and classical music.
What about American styles?
Oh, yes! It has even shaped some American styles.
So you really enjoy playing music.
Yes. We love to sing and dance and tell stories too.
Stories? Many cultures love stories.
Yes. We reference tales that everybody knows and share new stories too.
I love stories, especially funny ones.
Yes. Some of our stories are funny; and other stories pass down our traditions.
Gypsies... I mean the Roma people live happy lives.
Yes... and no. We have faced many challenges as well.
What challenges?
Often our neighbors don't accept us.
Oh, no.
We face prejudice, poverty and other problems.
Yes. Now I'm beginning to understand.
Nevertheless, we are proud of our history and rich culture.
So let's have some music and dance.