VOA标准英语2014--好莱坞作曲家理查德·谢尔曼

 

Hollywood Composer Richard Sherman Inspires with Music 好莱坞作曲家理查德·谢尔曼

LOS ANGELES — Composer Richard Sherman and his brother, Robert, wrote the score for the 1964 Disney musical Mary Poppins and dozens of other hit films and television shows, capturing the spirit of an optimistic age.

The two won an Oscar for their song Chim Chim Cher-ee and wrote the theme for the Disneyland attraction “It's a Small World.”

Robert Sherman died two years ago, but the Hollywood Arts Council, which runs inner-city arts programs, recently paid tribute to Richard Sherman.

He gave much of the credit for his famous repertoire¹ to the man behind the Disney movies.

“It's very rewarding, it's thrilling, and just one of those things that I don't take for granted. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to write these things because we worked for some great, great people like Walt Disney, who was a genius,” Sherman said.

Much of the Sherman brothers' music is catchy² and, like other music lovers, Sherman said he often can't get it out of his head.

“Oh, sure, a lot of the things I've written, and a lot of things I didn't write, that Cole Porter wrote, that Irving Berlin wrote, that the Gershwins wrote. I mean, there are so many great songs. I love them,” he said.

The Hollywood Arts Council also honored film critic Leonard Maltin, who understands the continuing appeal of the Sherman brothers' music.

“They've always been positive thinkers and optimists³ and that comes through in all those songs. I think that's one reason they've endured all these many years,” Maltin said.

1 repertoire   

n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表

参考例句：

• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。
• He has added considerably to his piano repertoire.他的钢琴演奏曲目大大增加了。

2 catchy   

adj.易记住的，诡诈的，易使人上当的

参考例句：

• We need a new slogan.The old one's not catchy enough.我们需要新的口号，旧的不够吸引人。
• The chorus is very catchy to say the least.副歌部分很容易上口。

3 optimists   

n.乐观主义者( optimist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Even optimists admit the outlook to be poor. 甚至乐观的人都认为前景不好。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Optimists reckon house prices will move up with inflation this year. 乐观人士认为今年的房价将会随通货膨胀而上涨。 来自辞典例句