内容正文:
The Beauty of Chinese Music
Unit 7 Feel the Rhythm
Reading Plus
Learning Objectives
By the end of the class, I can :
1. Extract core information about three representative pieces of Chinese music.And analyze the text structure and accurately summarize the main ideas of each paragraph.
2.Explain detailed background stories and artistic features of each piece based on the text.
3.Introduce a favorite traditional Chinese music piece fluently in English.
1.7.2013
These are our goals for today. By the end of our lesson, you will be able to understand, analyse, and even create your own ideas about Chinese music. Let's see how we can achieve these together.
‹#›
Let’s listen and learn
1.What traditional Chinese instruments can you hear?
2.How do you feel? Is it joyful, peaceful, sad, or powerful?
Main Idea of Each Paragraph
Para 1
Para 2
Para 3
Para 4
A. Chunjie Xuqu describes a Spring Festival celebration
and makes the writer feel hopeful.
B. Molihua is a famous Chinese folk song played at many
important events.
C. Er Quan Ying Yue is a sad but beautiful piece that shows
Abing's optimism.
D. The writer attended a concert and felt the charm of
Chinese music.
Match the main idea with each paragraph.
Text Structure Analysis
The article has 4 paragraphs. How is it organised?
A B C
Detailed Reading
Read Para. 1 carefully and answer:
1. Why did the writer attend a Chinese music
concert?
2. How does the writer like the concert?
Because a Chinese friend took him there, and
he had always wanted to see traditional Chinese music performed live.
He felt the legacy and continuation of traditional Chinese music in China, and deeply felt the charm of traditional Chinese music.
Detailed Reading
Read Para. 2 carefully and answer:
1. What important events was Molihua played at?
2. Why did Molihua sound familiar to the writer?
It was played at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2010 Shanghai Expo, and the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics.
Because it has been played at many important international events and was adapted into an Italian opera by Puccini.
Detailed Reading
Read Para. 3 carefully and answer:
1. Why did the writer like this piece the most?
2. What does "sad beauty" mean?
Because the performer was very expressive and the piece is a masterpiece that shows both hardship and optimism.
It means the music is beautiful even though it sounds sad, reflecting the composer's difficult life but hopeful spirit.
Read Paragraph 4 and answer:
1. Who composed Chunjie Xuqu?
2. What scene does it describe?
3. How did the writer feel while listening?
Detailed Reading
Li Huanzhi.
It describes people in northern Shaanxi celebrating the Spring Festival during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
He felt the uplifting spirit and hopes for a bright future.
Task 2: Personal Sharing
What's your favourite traditional Chinese music piece? How does it make you feel? Share it with the class.
Samle answer:
My favourite piece is 'High Mountain and Flowing Water'. It's played on the guzheng. It makes me feel peaceful and connected to nature because the melody is very beautiful and flowing."
Think-Pair-Share
What unique qualities make Chinese music sound beautiful and appealing to international audiences?
Music is a universal language that transcends borders. Chinese music carries profound cultural history, philosophical harmony, and emotional depth—expressing stories of nature, human spirit, and timeless emotions. These universal themes create an emotional resonance that connects with people worldwide.
Let’s watch and learn more about Abing
Task 3: Make a Timeline
Make a timeline of one of the composers mentioned in the text. How do you think their life experience affected their music?
💬 Discussion Focus: Abing’s struggles gave his music deep emotional depth—melancholy yet resilient, reflecting his love for life despite hardship.
Language point
1. see sth done (live)观看某事物被(现场)表演
此处see traditional Chinese music performed live = 看传统中国音乐现场演出,see + 宾语 + 过去分词表“看见宾语被做”
2. attended by sb有某人出席/参加(过去分词作后置定语,修饰前面的名词)
例:a superb performance ... attended by both the elderly and the young 老少皆来观看的精彩演出
3. the legacy and continuation of ...……的传承与延续
legacy 指“遗留的文化/精神遗产”,这里指传统音乐的代代传承
4. be popular outside of China在中国境外流行/受欢迎
5. five-note scale五声音阶
中国传统音乐的核心音阶:宫商角徵羽
6. be characteristic of sth 是……的典型特征/特点
例:simple five-note scale that is characteristic of Chinese music 中国传统音乐标志性的简单五声音阶
7.be adapted into ... 被改编为……
例:It was adapted into an Italian opera by Puccini 《茉莉花》被普契尼改编进意大利歌剧中
8.No wonder (that)... 难怪…/怪不得…
例:No wonder it sounded so familiar! 难怪它听起来这么耳熟!
9. erhu solo二胡独奏(solo = 独奏/独唱)
10. so + adj + that + 结果从句如此……以至于……
例:The gifted performer was so expressive that I almost cried 演奏者表现力太强了,我听着几乎要哭出来
11. be considered (as) ...被认为是……
例:The piece is considered one of the masterpieces of Chinese string music 这首曲子被认为是中国弦乐杰作之一
12. remind sb of sth让某人想起某事/让某人联想到某事
例:Its sad beauty reminded me of the hardships in Abing's life 它哀婉的美让我联想到阿炳一生的苦难
13. be based on ...基于……/取材于……
例:the piece was based on folk music of northern Shaanxi 这首曲子取材于陕北民间音乐
14. depict /dɪˈpaɪkt/v. 描绘、描述(画面/场景)
例:It depicts the Spring Festival celebrated in northern Shaanxi 它描绘了陕北过春节的场景
15. feel as though/if + 从句感觉好像……(引导虚拟语气的表语从句,表达想象的场景)
例:I felt as though I was among the crowd celebrating the Spring Festival 我感觉自己仿佛身处当时庆祝春节的人群之中
16. uplifting spirit昂扬/积极向上的精神(uplifting = 鼓舞人心的)
重点长难句解析
1. As a foreign audience member, I felt the legacy and continuation of traditional Chinese music in China, and deeply felt the charm of traditional Chinese music.
翻译:作为外国观众,我感受到了中国传统音乐在中国的传承与延续,也深深感受到了传统中国音乐的魅力。
结构:as + 名词 作状语表身份,两个并列谓语 felt... and (felt)... 写出作者的直观感受。
2. The romantic song, played in a simple five-note scale that is characteristic of Chinese music, expressed the love for natural beauty.
翻译:这首浪漫的歌曲用中国传统音乐标志性的简单五声音阶演奏,表达了对自然之美的喜爱。
结构:插入语played in ... music 是过去分词短语修饰主语the romantic song;嵌套定语从句 that is characteristic of Chinese music 修饰 five-note scale,拆分后逻辑更清晰。
3. Composed in the 1950s, the piece was based on folk music of northern Shaanxi.
翻译:这首创作于20世纪50年代的乐曲取材于陕北民间音乐。
结构:开头过去分词短语Composed in the 1950s 作状语(逻辑主语是the piece,和compose“作曲”是被动关系),放在句首可以省略重复的“it was”。
4. As the melody played, I felt as though I was among the crowd celebrating the Spring Festival in Shaanxi back then, sharing the people's uplifting spirit and their hopes for a bright future.
翻译:旋律响起时,我感觉自己仿佛置身于当年陕西庆祝春节的人群中,同人们一起感受着那份昂扬的精神和对光明未来的期许。
结构:as 引导时间状语从句;as though 引导表想象的表语从句;现在分词短语 sharing ... 作伴随状语,表达“在人群中时的同步感受”。
Homework
⭐ Basic (All students)
Write a short passage (about 80 words) in English to introduce your favourite traditional Chinese music piece.
⭐⭐ Extension (Optional)
Design an A4-sized English poster about the renowned Chinese musician Abing or Li Huanzhi.
1.7.2013
Here is your homework for today. Choose the level that suits you best. Remember to check your work using the self-check list.
‹#›
、
Thank you for listening!
$