VOA标准英语2015--犹太人与阿拉伯人因古典音乐成为朋友

Jews, Arabs Becoming Friends Through Classical Music 犹太人与阿拉伯人因古典音乐成为朋友

NEW YORK—

A project based in the Israeli cities of Nazareth and Jaffa is helping¹ to bring together Jews and Arabs – and at the same time, offering classical music education and training to Palestinian children.  Some of the project's musicians came to New York recently to perform.

These young musicians – two Israeli Jews, two Israeli Arabs – are in New York to perform as the Polyphony Quartet – an ensemble² created by the Israel-based Polyphony Foundation.

Revital Bendersky and Shir Chyat are violinists and Jewish.  Feras Machour, a violinist and violist, is a Palestinian Christian³, and Mahdi Saadi, a cellist⁴, is Muslim.

Polyphony began in 2006 at a small school in Nazareth to bring classical music to Arab children, says founder⁵ and music director Nabeel Abboud-Ashkar.

“There was never a real proper opportunity for young Arab children to learn classical music. And this is what we were able to change. We showed everyone that there’s no reason why an Arab kid shouldn’t be able to play classical music on a high standard," said Abboud-Ashkar.

The school flourished as teachers -  most of them Israeli Jews - drove two hours from Tel Aviv to teach the children. Out of that, Polyphony was formed, to further music education - and to bring together young Palestinian classical music students to perform with their Jewish peers. Friendships developed among people who would otherwise have no reason to meet.

"It changed all my thinking and how I see people, how to accept them and how to be accepted. I never had Jewish friends before, and I never thought I will have," said Mahdi Saadi.

“I started looking at things a bit differently. And like Mahdi said, I never had Arab friends before, it started only with Polyphony," said Revital Bendersky.

"We do rehearsals⁶, we start to know each other more, we start to trust each other in the concerts, in case somebody makes a mistake, we always need somebody to help us, to support. So, we are more as a family team - a family music team," said Saadi.

At one of their New York performances, at the Unitarian Church of All Souls, a piece by Mozart was on the program.

Among those listening were Polyphony co-founders Craig and Deborah Cogut, whose financial support has expanded the program to train 130 teachers. And this year, Polyphony's music education programs in elementary schools and kindergartens are projected to reach 10,000 other young, Israeli Arabs.

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 ensemble   

n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果

参考例句：

• We should consider the buildings as an ensemble.我们应把那些建筑物视作一个整体。
• It is ensemble music for up to about ten players,with one player to a part.它是最多十人演奏的合奏音乐，每人担任一部分。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 cellist   

n.大提琴手

参考例句：

• The cellist's bowing was very sensitive . 那位大提琴手的弓法十分细腻。 来自辞典例句
• World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma founded The Silk Road Project in 1998. 世界闻名的大提琴家马友友于1998年创建了丝路工程。 来自互联网

5 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

6 rehearsals   

n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复

参考例句：

• The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
• She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》