大学英语（3）教学：教参3第9课Final.docVIP

Unit 9 Music Useful Information Music is a universal language. It influences people from all cultures, educational levels, and socioeconomic background. It relates to our work, our play, and our relationships with one another. It can make us dance, it can even help us fall in love. The oldest music is probably vocal music. Almost every culture has work songs, lullabies, love songs, and ballads in its folk music. Singing and dancing have always gone together for people of all ages. Eventually instrumental music emerged. Some instruments, such as the drum, are very old. Other instruments, such as the electronic keyboard, are very new. Even the piano is quite new compared to the flute or the lute. Music can be performed individually or in groups. Individual vocalists are called soloists. Groups are called duets, trios, quartets, choruses, choirs, etc. Instrumental groups are called ensembles, bands, or orchestras. Vocalists can perform with instrumental accompaniment, or they may perform a capella（无器乐伴奏地）. The main components of music are melody, harmony, and rhythm. The melody is sometimes called the tune. It consists of the notes that the lead musicians would perform in a group. Harmony is provided by the supporting musicians, or by the extra notes on a keyboard. Rhythm is provided by percussion instruments（打击乐器）, by counting the notes in each measure, or by such simple methods as clapping or tapping one’s feet. Until the invention of recordings, music was usually performed live to small audiences. But now we have tapes and CDs of all sorts, and recorded music is one of the most popular radio formats. With modern technology, live concerts can now be performed with huge audiences in auditoriums or stadiums. All of these technical innovations have tended to increase the role of music in modern life, and to diversify the nature of music itself. Today we still have opera, classical music and folk music, which are just as influential as ever. Every student of mu