英语听力—环球英语 1262 Kinshasa Symphony

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Liz Waid.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And I’m Marina Santee. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　It is evening in Kinshasa, in the Democratic² Republic of Congo. Noise fills Armand Diangienda’s house. There are people in every room in the house. Even the small spaces have people in them. They are playing beautiful music. People stand and sit to play instruments. Other people are singing. These are the members of Central Africa’s only symphony³ orchestra⁴. How did they learn to play so well in a country full of conflict⁵?  Today’s Spotlight is on the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra of Kinshasa.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The Democratic Republic of Congo, or DRC, has had a very difficult history. There has been conflict here for more than sixty years. In the 1990s, that conflict became a civil war. It killed millions of people, and damaged the roads and buildings. It left the DRC with very few resources⁶. It is now the poorest country in the world. The war is officially over, but conflict continues in many parts of the DRC.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But even in destructive⁷ situations people can create hope. Armand Diangienda from Kinshasa worked as a pilot. When that job ended, he decided⁸ to try something new. He wanted to gather people who played different musical instruments into one group. He wanted them to play music together. He wanted to create a symphony orchestra in the DRC.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Diangienda had many problems. He had no teachers and no instruments. He did not know anyone who knew how to read music. Classical⁹ music and the instruments played by an orchestra are not traditional to Central Africa. For example: the violin. The violin looks like a wooden box with a stick on one side. It has four strings¹⁰, very thin ropes of metal. The violinist¹¹ holds the violin under her chin¹². She puts one hand on the strings that cover the stick. The other hand holds a long thin bow which she pulls over the strings. This makes high and beautiful music.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Diangienda began by buying some violins and other instruments. Then he taught himself to play many of them. He asked other people to learn too. This was not easy. Diangienda explained to the TV program Sixty Minutes:

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“In the beginning people made fun of us. They said, ‘Here in the Congo, classical music puts people to sleep.’”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　But soon other people in Kinshasa became interested in orchestra music. Many people wanted to learn to play the instruments. They did not get paid any money to play in the orchestra. But they loved the music. Then they had another problem. There were not enough instruments for all the musicians! Armand Diangienda told Sixty Minutes:

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“We only had five or six violins. And there were 12 people who wanted to learn to play the violin. So they took turns. One would play for 15 or 20 minutes at a time. That was very difficult”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　It was also difficult to keep the instruments in good condition. Albert Nlandu Matubanza is the orchestra's manager. He makes some of the orchestra's instruments. He often has to fix broken instruments as well. Many of the parts are difficult to replace. But Matubanza uses the resources he has. For example, one day a violin string broke. Matubanza did not have any strings to replace it. But he did not give up. He saw a bicycle with a long, strong wire that helped the rider¹³ to stop. Matubanza took this wire and attached¹⁴ it to the violin. And the violinist continued playing her music.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　There are many other difficulties¹⁵ for the members of the orchestra. The DRC does not have many developed roads. It takes a long time and a lot of energy to travel. And yet, people come to Armand Diangienda’s house to practice. Karim and Valvy Alolo are brothers. They both sing in the orchestra. They live 16 kilometres from Diangienda’s house. But they walk there and back six days a week. This takes them one and half hours each way. But Alolo says it is worth the trip. He tells Sixty Minutes:

 

　　Voice 4

 

　　“We started with the symphony on the eighth of November in 2003. It is like a birth for us in this symphony orchestra. So it is a date we cannot forget.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Soon there were over 200 people in the orchestra. Diangienda named them the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra. In 2010 some German filmmakers made a documentary¹⁶ film about them. People from other countries began to help them with new instruments. Musicians also came from Germany to help teach.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Some people criticized¹⁷ this European influence. They thought that it was better for African people to play traditional African instruments and music.  In the past Europeans often brought their cultures to Africa. Those Europeans did not value African culture. They tried to replace African culture with European culture. Some people thought of this when they saw the Kinshasa symphony. To them, playing music that came from Europe did not show pride in being African. But many people said that the music was the most important thing. One person shared a helpful opinion on the Sixty Minutes website:

 

　　Voice 5

 

　　“I hope that each of these musicians can now use those skills toward¹⁸ finding¹⁹ their own "voice." I hope they can use what they have learned²⁰ to express the amazing and rich, and at times tragic²¹, history of their country. We can choose to look for beauty instead of looking for all the "wrongs" and the ugliness. No matter where this happened - the music was amazing and encouraging.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The orchestra members produce beautiful music with their community. This brings them great happiness. They still have difficulties. The electricity often goes off. Instruments are sometimes stolen. The city of Kinshasa is very busy, noisy and often dirty. But music can make these things seem small. Heritier Mayimbi Mbuangi told a German film-maker:

 

　　Voice 6

 

　　"When we are working on the music, there are no limits. It is like a set of steps: You go up, and up."

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The writer and producer of this program was Rena Dam. The voices you heard were from the United²² Kingdom and the United States. All quotes²³ were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called, ‘Kinshasa Symphony’.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for spotlightradio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.

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 democratic   

adj.民主的；民主主义的，有民主精神的

参考例句：

• Their country has democratic government.他们国家实行民主政体。
• He has a democratic work-style.他作风民主。

3 symphony   

n.交响乐（曲），（色彩等的）和谐

参考例句：

• The Ninth Symphony of Beethoven is a famous one.贝多芬的第九交响乐非常有名。
• They play over the whole symphony.他们把整个交响乐重新演奏了一遍。

4 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

5 conflict   

n.冲突，矛盾，争执；vi.争执，撞斗，冲突，抵触

参考例句：

• Your statement is in conflict with the rest of the evidence.你的陈述同其余证据有矛盾。
• The conflict between them seems ceaseless.他们之间冲突似乎没个止息。

6 resources   

n.勇气；才智；谋略；有助于实现目标的东西；资源( resource的名词复数 )；[复数]物力；办法；来源

参考例句：

• The world's resources are rapidly diminishing. 世界资源正在迅速减少。
• a policy to equalize the distribution of resources throughout the country 使资源在全国分布均衡的政策

7 destructive   

adj.破坏（性）的，毁灭（性）的

参考例句：

• In the end,it will be destructive of our whole society.它最终会毁灭我们整个社会。
• It is the most destructive storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的一次风暴。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 classical   

adj.古典的；古典文学的；正统派的；古典主义的

参考例句：

• This classical poem is hard to understand.这首古诗很费解。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

10 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。

11 violinist   

n.小提琴演奏者，小提琴家

参考例句：

• Everyone cheered for the violinist at our school concert.在学校音乐会上，大家都为小提琴手喝彩叫好。
• She's a great violinist by any standard.不论以什么标准看，她都是伟大的小提琴家。

12 chin   

n.下巴，下颚，不气馁，不灰心

参考例句：

• You've got some egg on your chin.你的下巴上沾着一点鸡蛋。
• He hurried on with his shaving,cutting his chin twice.他急急忙忙地剃胡子，把下巴割破了两次。

13 rider   

n.骑士，附件，扶手

参考例句：

• The rider forced his horse on through the storm.骑手在暴风雨中策马前进。
• The jury added a rider to their verdict recommending mercy.陪审团在裁决后加了一条建议宽恕的附文。

14 attached   

附加的

参考例句：

• The lease entitles the holder to use the buildings and any land attached thereto.本租约持有人有权使用此建筑物以及所附属的土地。

15 difficulties   

n.困难( difficulty的名词复数 )；难度；难事；麻烦

参考例句：

• I am acutely aware of the difficulties we face. 我十分清楚我们面临的困难。
• the difficulties of English syntax 英语句法的难点

16 documentary   

adj.文献的；n.纪录片

参考例句：

• This case lacked documentary proof.本案缺少书面证据。
• I watched a documentary on the Civil War.我看了一部关于内战的纪录片。

17 criticized   

vt.批评(criticize的过去式)v.评论，批评( criticize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The decision was criticized by environmental groups. 这个决定受到了环保团体的批评。
• The movie has been criticized for apparently legitimizing violence. 这部电影因明显地美化暴力而受到了指责。

18 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

19 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

20 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

21 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

22 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

23 quotes   

v.引用，援引( quote的第三人称单数 )；报价；引述；为（股票、黄金或外汇）报价

参考例句：

• He quotes a few verses from Tennyson in his paper. 他在论文中引用了英国诗人丁尼生的几行诗句。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He quotes (from) the Bible to support his beliefs. 他引用圣经来支持自己的信念。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》