Chan ges in pop m u sic

四川 蔣建平（特級教師）

體裁文章詞數 建議用時384 7分鐘說明文

難詞探意

1.blast /blɑ?st/ v.發出刺耳的高音

2.upbeat /'?pbi?t/ adj.樂觀的；快樂的

3.intertwine /,?nt?'twa?n/ v.糾纏；纏繞

4.ambiguous /?m'b?ɡju?s/ adj.不明確的

Weblasttheupbeattunes for parties and workouts at the gym, and we save the low-key ballads for romantic or pensive moments.It's hardly a new idea that music isintertwinedwith our emotions.But how have our favorites changed over the decades, and what do these changes say about America's shifting emotional landscape?

Music is a form of naturalistic data that, much like popular television, literature, and sales of consumer goods, scientists can sample for insight into our minds and values.Researchers E.Glenn Schellenberg and Christian von Scheve set out to examine songs popular in America during the last five decades, using a selection selected from Billboard Hot 100 charts.Schellenberg and von Scheve wanted to learn how emotional signals in music, such as tempo (slow or fast) and mode (major or minor key), have changed since 1960.

The most striking finding is the change in key.Songs written in a major key tend to sound warm and high-spirited, while songs in a minor key can sound darker and more sad.Over the last few decades, popular songs have switched from major keys to minor keys.Broadly speaking, the sound has shifted from bright and happy to something more complex.The study also finds America's popular songs have become slower and longer.Even more interesting, our current favorites are more likely to be emotionallyambiguous, such as sad-sounding songs being fast or happy-sounding songs being slow.

Another possible explanation for the changes in popular music is that contemporary music reflects the hardships and tragedies that our society has endured.However, Schellenberg and von Scheve believe that the steady increase in duration and decrease in tempo doesn't support the idea of growing difficulties fully because it would mean our problems have increased steadily over the last fifty years.Perhaps popular songs have become more complex over time because Americans are becoming more diverse and individualized in their musical tastes.

Though we can only guess about the specific causes of this evolution in music, Schellenberg's initial observations have helped to open the door to research on the link between emotions and music consumption.Perhaps someday we'll learn more of the secrets behind the music we love and the times we live in.

Reading Check

1.Why did Schellenberg start the study?

A.To select America's favorite music.

B.To examine the creation of music.

C.To explore changes in music.

D.To change music styles.

2.What can we learn from the findings?

A.Older songs are often more sad-sounding.

B.Popular songs have become warmer and shorter.

C.Current favorites tend to be composed in a major key.

D.Recent hits are likely to be longer and more complex.

3.What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A.The influences of the study.B.The diversity of musical tastes.

C.The features of America's society.D.The causes of the music changes.

4.What is the author's attitude to the study?

A.Positive.B.Doubtful.C.Ambiguous.D.Disapproving.

Language Study

Useful expressions

set out to do 開始做；著手做

switch from...to...從……轉換到……

tend to do sth 傾向于……

broadly speaking 大致地說

Cultural Background

美國音樂

美國音樂起源于印第安人的音樂。 美國音樂經過長期發展，到20世紀初才具備獨特的美國風格，并取得了與西方各國音樂文化同樣重要的地位。在此之前，美國境內存在著生活在這塊土地上的各個民族或種族的音樂，也存在著歐洲音樂家從歐洲各國帶來的音樂。

主題應用·語庫構建

Ⅰ.熱詞積累

album 專輯

genius 天才

tour 巡回演出

band 樂隊

catchy 悅耳易記的

tune 曲調

audience 聽眾

musician 音樂家

director 指揮

compose 作曲；創作（音樂）

composer 作曲家

lyrics 歌詞

beat 節拍

composition （音樂、藝術、詩歌的）作品

melody 旋律

rhyme 韻律

tempo 拍子；（樂曲的）速度

melodious 悅耳的

pleasant 悅耳的；吸引人的

relaxing 令人放松的

soulful 深情的

jazz 爵士樂

rock and roll 搖滾樂

blues 布魯斯音樂；藍調

traditional music 傳統音樂

classical music 古典音樂

light music 輕音樂

dancing music 舞曲

pop music 流行音樂

folk music 民間音樂；民謠

country music 鄉村音樂

national music 民族音樂

folk songs 民歌

art ballad 藝術民謠

Ⅱ.話題佳句

1．He is a famous musician, whose music has influenced his audience.他是一位著名的音樂家，其音樂影響了他的聽眾。

2．He has a talent for music and has recorded many albums.他具有音樂天賦，錄制了很多專輯。

3．It was music that made him full of confidence and courage for life.是音樂使他對生活充滿信心和勇氣。

4．People are impressed with his catchy music and optimistic attitude to life.人們對他悅耳的音樂和樂觀的人生態度印象深刻。

5.I have fallen in love with music, so my aim is to form a band with my friends.我已經愛上了音樂， 所以我打算和我的朋友組建一個樂隊。

6.Our band is made up of four students altogether, one being the singer and the rest playing the guitar, the keyboard and the drums.我們的樂隊總共由四個學生組成，一個唱歌，其余的彈吉他、電子琴和打鼓。

7.In addition, what we are also fond of is rock music, some of which I'd like to make on my own.此外，我們還喜歡搖滾音樂，并且我想自己創作一些搖滾音樂。

8.We are wondering how we keep a balance between study and the band and what we can do to make it a successful band.我們想知道如何保持學習和樂隊之間的平衡,以及我們能做些什么來讓它成為一個成功的樂隊。

Ⅲ.讀后創寫

假定你是李華，想與來自本校不同班級的同學組建一支樂隊。但是你們仍有許多問題沒有解決，請你就這些問題給知名音樂人Mr Cousins寫一封電子郵件，尋求幫助。內容如下：

1．你們遇到的問題；

2．希望他能為樂隊取個名字。

注意：

1.詞數100左右；

2.開頭和結尾已給出,不計入總詞數；

3.可以適當增加細節,以使行文連貫。

Dear Mr Cousins,

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua