British architecture

 

X. Ask questions.

1. if Benjamin Britten is a world famous composer;
2. what music he wrote;
3. if he was also an outstanding pianist and conductor;
4. what Britten's operas you know;
5. who was the first true founder of a national movement in English music;
6. what kind of music was cultivated during the Victorian age;
7. whose success was “Cox and Box.”

 

XI. Speak about:

1. English music during the 18^th century;
2. Foreign-born composers and musicians who were dominant in Eglish musical life;
3. Light opera of the 18^th century;
4. The musical life of Victorian age;
5. The musical life of the 20^th century.

 

XII. Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1. Бенджамин Бриттен создавал произведения от аранжировок народных песен для голоса до больших драматических произведений, таких как опера.
2. Среди композиторов 20 века следует прежде всего упомянуть Ральфа Воана Уильямса.
3. Он создавал типично “английский” стиль, который в то же время был своеобразен.
4. Во время Викторианской эпохи хоралы-мессы стали наиболее широко развиваемой формой музыки.
5. Легкая опера оставалась единственной музыкальной формой, в которой собственно британские композиторы создавали что-то достойное и характерное.
6. Музыка 18 века находилась под влиянием зарубежной музыки и музыкантов.

 

XIII. Discuss the following problems:

1. What do you think of the British music of the 18^th century?
2. What can you say about composers who influenced British music?
3. Have you ever heard any of the British operas? What do you think of them?
4. What can you say about the British music of the 20^th century?

 

( XIV. Exchange your opinions on: 

the music you have just listened to; if you like it or not; why; what kind of music you prefer; if you can play any musical instruments. ) 

XIV. Exchange your opinions on the modern music of Great Britain; if you like it: who your favourite singers or groups are. 

XV. Would you like to visit of the most famous concert halls, musical shows or festivals in London? Look through this list and festivals those to suit your taste. 

The Henry Wood Promenade Concert, better known as the Proms, which take place in the Royal Albert Hall every evening between mid-July and mid-September, culminating in the emotion and patriotism of the Last Night of the Proms. 

The South Bank Centre with its hall famous for its excellent acoustics is used for big choral concerts. Its Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room are both used for smaller concerts of chamber music. 

The Barbican Centre is one of London's most important arts venues. The London Symphony Orchestra gives its concerts there. 

The Royal Opera House, home to both the Royal Opera and Royal Ballet, is situated in Covent Garden. Purists pay very large sums of money to come here and see opera performed as it should be. They look down on those who go to the Coliseum, on St. Martin's Lane, to hear the English National Opera, to make opera more accessible; the English National Opera sings in English, to the dismay of those who think Mozart only sounds right in German or Italian. 

Her Majesty's Theatre, originally built in 1704 and rebuilt in 1897 in French Renaissance style, performs many renewed operas and hit musicals including “West Side Story” by L. Bernstyne,  “Amadeus” or “Phantom of Opera” by Andrew Lloyd Webber.  

Music pubs have music shows when live bands provide entertainment. “The Half Moon” in Putney has entertainment every night, usually blues or rock music. “Minogue's” in Islington is the place to hear traditional Irish folk. “The King's Head” in Upper Street offer live music. Jazz-lover enjoy brilliant jazz in “The Bull's Head” in Barnes, a huge Victorian pub by the Thames. 

The Royal Festival Hall, the largest concert hall in the South Bank complex, is the place to go and to enjoy really big, impressive orchestral and choral works. Top orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic perform here regularly, but perhaps the most exciting productions to be seen are those mounted in the Queen Elizabeth Hall by the Opera Factory. 

XVI. Answer the questions:

1. Have you chosen the place to visit?
2. Why would you like to go there?
3. What kind of music do you prefer?
4. Are you lover of classical music?
5. Who are your favourite composers?
6. Are you keen on modern music?
7. What can you say about singers or groups you like?

 
 

UNIT 7

THE ARTS IN BRITAIN 

Are you keen on painting? Can you speak about art and express your feelings at the moment you are looking at the picture? Does your impression from the picture depend on the genre of painting? Read the text and it will show you how a writer may see a picture. Use the dictionary, if necessary. 

From “Christmas Holiday”

by W. S. Maugham. 

“Chardin,” he said. “Yes, I've seen it before… I've always rather liked his still lifes myself.”  

“Is that all it means to you? It breaks my heart.” 

“That?” cried Charley with astonishment. “A loaf of bread and a flagon of wine? Of course it's very well painted.” 

“Yes, you're right; it's very well painted; it's painted with pity and love. It's not only a loaf of bread and a flagon of wine; it's the bread of life and the blood of Christ, but not held back from those who starve and thirst for them and doled out by priests on state occasions; it's the daily fare of suffering men and women. It's so humble, so natural, so friendly; it's the bread and wine of the poor who ask no more than that they should be left in peace, allowed to work and eat their simple food in freedom. It'' the cry of the despised and rejected. It tells you that whatever their sins men at heart are good. That loaf of bread and that flagon of wine are symbols of the joys and sorrows of the weak and lowly. They ask for your mercy and your affection; they tell you that they are of the same flesh and blood as you. They tell you that life is short and the grave is cold and lonely. It's not only a loaf of bread and a flagon of wine; it's the mystery of man's lot on earth, his carving for a little friendship and a little love, the humility of his resignation when he sees that even they must be denied him. 

…And isn't it wonderful that with those simple objects, with his painter's exquisite sensibility, moved by the charity of his heart, that funny dear old man should have made something so beautiful that it break you? It was as though unconsciously perhaps, hardly knowing what he was doing, he wanted to show you that if you only have enough love, if you only have enough love, if you only have sympathy, out of pain and distress and unkindness, out of all the evil of the world you can create beauty.” 

I. Read the new words.

to shape [&e5p] определять

engraver [5n`$re5v1] гравер

to be dignified [`d5$n5fa5d] быть признанным

to rival [`ra5v1l] соперничать

landscape painting [`l0ndske5p] пейзаж

pastoral [`pa*st1r1l] пастушеский, пасторальный

to obtain [1b`te5n] приобретать, достигать

rustic [`r9st5k] простой, сельский

lavish [`l0v5&] расточительный чрезмерный 

II. Pronounce the proper names:

Hans Holbein [h0ns `h4lbe5n]

Van Dyck [v0n `da5k]

William Hogarth [`w5l51m `hou$a*7]

Sir Joshua Reynolds [s1* `d#4*&u1 `re5noldz]

Thomas Gainsborough [`t4m1s `$e5nzb1r1]

George Romney [d#4*d# `r4mn5]

John Constable [d#4*n `k4nst1bl]

Joseph Mallord William Turner [`d#4z1f `m0l1d `w5l51m `t1*n1] 

III. Read the text. 

The history of British painting dates back to the 16^th century. For two centuries it back shaped by the styles of other countries and by masters who came to work there. Holbein and Van Dyck (both foreigners) were the most celebrated masters on that period. Other painters of the 16^th and 17^th centuries were William Dobson, Isaac Olivier, John Riley and others. 

During the 18^th century a truly national school of painting was created in England. William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough were the most talented representatives of this school. 

 

Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792) was the leading portrait painter of his day, and the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts. His work is dignified and classical and uses many ideas from painters of the past. He created a whole gallery of portraits of his contemporaries. His famous works include the portraits of Dr. Johnson (his friend), Garrick (the well-known actor), Mrs. Sarah Siddons (the famous Shakespearean actress), Sterne and Goldsmith (two British writes) and others.  

Thomas Gainsborough (1727 -1788) was a fashionable portrait painter who rivalled Reynolds in fame, and one of the first English landscape painters. Gainsborough had little academic training and he did not depend upon old masters as Reynolds did. His “Sarah Siddons” has the vitality of original artistic vision. Portraying people he showed his own originality, composed entirely new variations. He himself preferred landscape painting in which he contributed his own strong feeling for his native countryside. Among his best landscapes are “The Watering Place,” “Sunset,” “The Cottage Door,” “The Market Cart” and “The Bridge.” 

George Romney (1734 - 1802) an English portrait painter is best known for his portraits of Lady Hamilton. His portraits created an impression, which was both striking and elegant.  

After Gainsborough there was no lack of landscape painters in Great Britain. John Constable (1776 - 1837) was a famous English landscape painter of the 19^th century, known for pastoral scenes. He was thoroughly English: no foreign masters influenced him, and rustic life furnished his inspiration and material. Constable was determined to paint the quiet, undramatic but friendly English landscape just as he saw it. His subjects were drawn from his native Suffolk, or Salisbury, Brighton on the coast, or Hampstead Health near London. He was one of the first painters to work in the open air. Constable's technique and colours are very close to these of the impressionists.

   Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775 - 1851) was an English romantic painter, known especially for his dramatic lavishly coloured landscapes and seascapes. He was very successful in reproducing effects of light and weather. More than anything else in nature Turner loved the sea, to which he devoted many of his canvases (“Shipwreck,” “Fishing Boats in a Squall” and others). The sea itself excited him, but especially he loved to paint the sea as it affected ships. He painted waves and storms, clouds and mists. 

The list of the most well-known painters of the 20^th century includes the following names. Edward Ardizzone - an artist who is known as a book illustrator. Cecil Beaton - a photographer and designer. Roger Fry - an artist, an art critic, a member of the so-called the Bloomsbury Group, which criticised many aspects of contemporary society. Richard Hamilton is one of the leaders of English pop art. Ivon Hitchens is known for his semi-abstract studies of landscape and flowers. 

IV. Translate the following words and phrases:

was shaped by the styles, the most celebrated masters of that period, leading portrait painter, rivalled the painter in fame, the vitality of original artistic vision, entirely new variations, created an impression which was both striking and elegant. 

V. Give English equivalents to the Russian words and phrases:

не было недостатка в пейзажистах, пастушеские сцены, академическое образование, совершенно новые варианты, сильное чувство к родной сельской природе, соперничали в славе, его произведения признаны, живость оригинального художественного видения, определялась стилями других стран. 

VI. Discuss the following questions:

1. What can you say about British painting of the 16^th century?
2. When was a truly national school of painting created in England?
3. What famous painters of the 18^th century do you know?
4. Have you ever seen their paintings?
5. Which of them did you know?
6. You are fond of painting, aren't you?
7. Are you keen on painting of English speaking countries?
8. Have you ever heard of the English painters of the 20^th century?

 

VII. Complete the sentences:

1. The history of British painting…
2. For two centuries it was…
3. Holbein and Van Dyck…
4. During and 18^th century a truly national school of…
5. Sir Joshua Reynolds was the…
6. He created a whole…
7. Thomas Gainsborough was a…
8. He had little…
9. He himself preferred…
10. George Romney is best known…

 

VIII. Give the beginning of the sentences.

1. …there was no lack of landscape painters in Great Britain.
2. …know for pastoral scenes.
3. …no foreign master influenced him.
4. …an English romantic painter.
5. …loved the see.
6. …but especially he loved to paint the sea, as it affected ships.

 

IX. Agree or disagree.

1. The history of British painting dates back to Dark ages.
2. Nothing influenced British painting in the 16^th century.
3. During the 18^th century a truly national school of painting was created in England.
4. Sir Joshua Reynolds was the first president of the Royal Academy.
5. His famous portraits include the portraits of his contemporaries.
6. After Gainsborough there were no landscape painters in Great Britain.
7. More than anything else in nature Turner loved forests.

 

X. Speak about famous British painters, look at their paintings (reproductions, cards and slides), exchange your opinions on their art.

1. Sir Joshua Reynolds.
2. Thomas Gainsborough.
3. George Romney.
4. John Constable.
5. Joseph M. N. Turner.   

 
 

UNIT 8

PART II

William Hogarth 

I. Read the new words:

sincerity [s5n`ser5t5] искренность

inheritance [5n`herit1ns] наследие

utilitarian [ju*t5l5`t:1r51n] утилитарный

caricature [k0r5k1`tju*1] карикатура

to ridicule [`r5d5kjul] высмеивать

Whig [w5$] Виг, либерал

distinction [d5s`t5%k&1n] различие