Lesson
Saturday,
the eighth
of May
Theme: Contemporary British music
Task
Follow the link
Watch the video Top 10 Modern British Bands to Crack the US
and write about the group you like the most
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku0s7CB1GQc
Before the 16th
century, musical life was centred on the church, especially the cathedrals and
the royal chapels. The choral works of John Taverner, William Byrd and Thomas
Tallis are still performed today, most notably by the choirs of King's College,
Cambridge and Christ Church in Oxford. Secular music in the 16th century
included the instrumental work of William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons and the
madrigals of Gibbons and Thomas Morley.
Henry Purcell,
famous for his opera Dido and Aeneaf (1689), has been described as the last
great English composer before the 20th century. John Gay's The Beggar's Opera
(1728), is still occasionally performed, and the comic operas of Gilbert and
Sullivan are among the few 19th century British works that are still part of
the repertoire.
The 20th century
saw a renaissance in British
music with the work of composers such as Delius, Hoist, Elgar, Vaughan
Williams, Walton, Tippett, Maxwell Davies and Britten. Britten in particular
came to be regarded as a specially "English" composer, partly through
the English themes of several of his operas but also through the folk songs and
church music that provided the inspiration for many of his other works.
There is now a
flourishing musical life in Britain with
more people going to concerts than ever before. The BBC plays an important part
in the development of music both by commissioning new work and by supporting
orchestras. The BBC Radio 3 programme, which is broadcast throughout the day
and evening, is devoted mainly to music. Many British orchestras and musical
groups have an international reputation. They include the London Philharmonic
Orchestra (LPO), the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), the BBC Symphony
Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and others.
Famous choirs include the Bach Choir and the Royal Choral Society. Music
festivals held annually include those at Bath and Aldeburgh, and the Three
Choirs Festival, held at Gloucester, Hereford and Worcester in turn. The
popular series of Promenade Concerts held every summer in the Royal Albert
Hall, London, are broadcast by the BBC.
At a more modest
level, almost all schools and colleges have an orchestra, and many towns have a
choral society. Music in the home is more likely to be listened to than played,
but many homes have a piano.
Questions:
1. What was musical life centred on before the
16th century?
2. Were there many British composers of
international renown before the 20th century?
3. What is Britten famous for?
4. What happened with British music in 20th
century?
5. What famous British orchestras and choirs do
you know?
6. What role does the BBC play in the development
of music?
Homework:
Write about your favorite British singer (you can
make a presentation). Tell us about the beginning of his/her musical
career, about the honors, awards and achievements in his/her career,
and your own impression of the energy of this person.
Send a photo to my email till 17:00
You are free to ask questions
