环球英语 — 400：The Musician’s Village

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight¹ program, I’m Ruby² Jones.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Jazz
Blues³
Funk
R&B
Voice 1
These are all popular kinds of music in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans. This very strong storm damaged or destroyed many buildings. It affected⁴ many of the city’s musicians - the people who play music. They had to leave their damaged houses. Something special was missing from the city after these musicians left.
Voice 1
Many people believe that music is a very important part of New Orleans culture. They believe that New Orleans will not be the same until all of the musicians can return to their homes. So, these people are doing something about it! A group of popular musicians is working with the organisation⁵ “Habitat for Humanity⁶”. Together, they are building a very special place in the Ninth Ward⁷ of New Orleans.
Voice 2
Habitat for Humanity is an organization that works all over the world. Its workers build houses for people who do not have very much money. And they also re-build houses that have been damaged by storms, like Hurricane Katrina. Habitat for Humanity does not just give people homes for free. The people who live there pay for the homes just like other homeowners. But Habitat for Humanity helps people who are having trouble finding or building houses on their own.
Voice 1
In 2005, two musicians started working with Habitat for Humanity. Harry⁸ Connick Jr. and Brandford Marsalis are both famous musicians from New Orleans. They love the city very much. And they wanted to help re-build homes for the musician’s who left because of Hurricane Katrina. They made plans with Habitat for Humanity to build "The Musician’s Village".
Voice 2
The Musician’s Village will have seventy-two [72] homes in it. Anyone could live there. But Habitat for Humanity hopes that many of the musicians who lost their homes will come back to live in the Musician’s Village. And many already have! Habitat also hopes to build hundreds more homes in the areas around the Musician’s Village.
Voice 1
Each home in the Musician’s Village will have two, three or four bedrooms. And they will all be built 2 metres above the ground. This will protect these homes from floods or other strong storms that could happen in the future. The houses are designed like traditional homes in New Orleans. They are usually long and narrow and painted bright, happy colors.
Voice 2
One of the first musicians to move in to the Musician’s Village is Jerome Hill. Jerome is fifty-one [51] years old, and he plays the harmonica. Jerome was one of many musicians that had to leave the Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina. He is very happy to be back home. He said,
Voice 3
“Everyone is starting to move in around here and that is good. Some of them are good friends of mine. Now I will not have to go too far if I am looking for a musician to play with. I will not have to use the telephone. I can just knock on the door!”
Voice 1
But the Musician’s Village will contain more than just homes! In the center of the village there will be a very special building. It will be called the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. It will celebrate all of the music and musicians that have come from New Orleans. The building will have a large performance room in it for live music. It will also be a place where anyone can go to learn more about the music and culture of New Orleans. People will even be able go there to learn how to play musical instruments!
Voice 2
The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music is named after a famous jazz piano player from New Orleans. Marsalis plays modern jazz music that sounds like this. He is well loved in New Orleans and around the world for his individual sound.
Voice 1
Jim Pate⁹ is one of the leaders in the Habitat for Humanity Musician’s Village project. He says that the village will be a place for musicians from all kinds of musical traditions to come together. He even thinks that having all of these musicians in one place may help create new kinds of music! He says,
Voice 4
“It will be a place that is completely vibrant¹⁰ and alive, and it will expand to the other rebuilding areas in New Orleans, too.”
Voice 2
People like Jim Pate, Ellis and Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr. believe that music is an important part of culture. They felt that something was missing from New Orleans when so many musicians had to leave their homes. So they are giving much of their time, energy and money to making sure that New Orleans is a place where musicians can live and play and grow.
Voice 1
Music is a wonderful tool to help people communicate with each other. Music can bring all kinds of different people together. And music has been part of human culture for thousands of years. The Bible contains very old songs -some as old as three and a half thousand years [3,500]. People in the Bible used music to praise God. They used music to tell stories and teach. They used music to express sadness and joy. And the Bible says that all people have a song to sing or music to play. Christians¹¹ believe that God gave people the gift of music.
Voice 2
New Orleans contains a mix of people with different cultures and races and religions. Sometimes it is hard for so many different people to work together and agree. But many different kinds of people are agreeing that music is an important and special part of New Orleans. They are using music to rebuild a city. And they are also helping¹² to rebuild a community.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

3 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

6 humanity   

n.人类，[总称]人(性)，人道[pl.]人文学科

参考例句：

• Such an act is a disgrace to humanity.这种行为是人类的耻辱。
• We should treat animals with humanity.我们应该以仁慈之心对待动物。

7 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

8 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

9 pate   

n.头顶；光顶

参考例句：

• The few strands of white hair at the back of his gourd-like pate also quivered.他那长在半个葫芦样的头上的白发，也随着笑声一齐抖动着。
• He removed his hat to reveal a glowing bald pate.他脱下帽子，露出了发亮的光头。

10 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

11 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

12 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。