VOA标准英语2013--夏威夷四弦琴奏出欢快旋律

 

Happy Sounds Abound¹ as Ukulele Gains Popularity

BETHESDA, MARYLAND — The unexpected versatility² of the small Hawaiian guitar known as the ukulele was on display this month at the annual UkeFest, at the Strathmore arts center in Bethesda, Maryland. For five days, both new and advanced ukulele musicians enjoyed classes, workshops and concerts.

Gary Carter and his son Matthew are taking an advanced ukulele class. Over the past four years, they have bonded³ over playing the ukulele.  

“The ukulele’s a fun instrument, and it’s very joyful⁴ for me,” said Matthew Carter.

“And it really gives me an opportunity to share time with Matthew and something I’ll treasure for the rest of my life,” said his father.

The Carters were among the hundreds of people drawn⁵ to the workshops and performances at the Strathmore arts center, and to the UkeFests held each year across the United States and internationally.

Fourteen-year-old Jonathan Malks picked up the instrument a year ago and is already writing his own songs. “It’s very happy, the tone, and you can start playing some pretty intermediate to advanced songs in a short while.”

The ukulele is a popular instrument because it’s small, portable and considered easy to learn. Julie Siegel is just starting out. “You can play a one-chord song, and you can learn that in two minutes probably, so that’s the cool thing about the ukulele, four strings⁶, not so hard.”

Five-year-old Alice Bradley started playing the instrument when she was only three. “I love playing the ukulele because I play fun songs.”

Eight-year-old Yoko Kona, who came all the way from Hawaii for the event, picked up the instrument for the first time just a few days ago. “It’s like a small guitar and it sounds very cool.”

She wanted to learn the ukulele after hearing it back home where it’s a part of traditional Hawaiian music. During Ukefest, The Hula Honeys from Hawaii provided a taste of that music.

The ukulele evolved from guitars brought to Hawaii in the late 1800’s by Portuguese⁷ immigrants. It made its way to the U.S. mainland where it's been seen largely as a novelty instrument, though its popularity has varied⁸ over the years. UkeFest organizer Cathy Fink said that in the last 10 years, the instrument has experienced another revival¹⁰.

“There’s been sprouts¹¹ all over the county, and really all over the world, of people who have started adapting ukulele to different styles of music,” said Fink.

Among them is Marc Revenson, also known as Lil' Rev⁹, who travels around the US and Canada teaching people about the wide variety of music that can be played on the ukulele. “You can’t play a sad song on the ukulele. It tends to bring a lot of light and happiness into this world and that’s why I play the ukulele.”

Kevin Rank is pleased to be learning from top musicians at UkeFest. He said people who don’t play ukulele are surprised it can create a big sound. “I think a lot of them might think it might be a toy, or a novelty, but then when they hear it they realize it’s a serious instrument.”

A serious instrument that makes people smile and want to join in the fun. 

1 abound   

vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于

参考例句：

• Oranges abound here all the year round.这里一年到头都有很多橙子。
• But problems abound in the management of State-owned companies.但是在国有企业的管理中仍然存在不少问题。

2 versatility   

n.多才多艺，多样性，多功能

参考例句：

• Versatility is another of your strong points,but don't overdo it by having too many irons in the fire.你还有一个长处是多才多艺，但不要揽事太多而太露锋芒。
• This versatility comes from a dual weather influence.这种多样性是由于双重的气候影响而形成的。

3 bonded   

n.有担保的，保税的，粘合的

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee.威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• This adhesive must be applied to both surfaces which are to be bonded together.要粘接的两个面都必须涂上这种黏合剂。

4 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

5 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

6 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

7 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

8 varied   

adj.多样的，多变化的

参考例句：

• The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
• The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。

9 rev   

v.发动机旋转，加快速度

参考例句：

• It's his job to rev up the audience before the show starts.他要负责在表演开始前鼓动观众的热情。
• Don't rev the engine so hard.别让发动机转得太快。

10 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

11 sprouts   

n.新芽，嫩枝( sprout的名词复数 )v.发芽( sprout的第三人称单数 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出

参考例句：

• The wheat sprouts grew perceptibly after the rain. 下了一场雨，麦苗立刻见长。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The sprouts have pushed up the earth. 嫩芽把土顶起来了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》