Museums and Galleries in Washington, DC

 

The United States Capitol stands proudly at the top of the hill at the east end of the Mall, an American icon, a symbol of democracy and the most prominent landmark of Washington, DC. The Capitol's frescoes and art collection qualify it as a notable museum. Million tourists come, above all, to brush shoulders with history. The dominant feature of the Capitol is its Dome. It is crowned by the statue "Freedom". The part of the Capitol is a museum now.

The Smithsonian Institution owes its existence to a wealthy Englishman who died in 1829 without ever having visited America. A scientist himself, James Smithson mysteriously bequeathed his entire half million at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, "an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men".

Nicknamed "The Castle", the newly-built Smithsonian was rife with -redbrick turrets and towers. It was built in the middle of the 19th century. It became an instant attraction for museum-goers and one of the major landmarks on the Mall. Nowadays it is the largest museum complex of the world. All the museums, which belong to the Smithsonian institution, have free tickets, and most of them are on the Mall.

As for James Smithson, he finally crossed the Atlantic in 1904 when his remains were exhumed in Europe and reburied in a special crypt near the main entrance of the Smithsonian's original red­brick building.

The National Air and Space Museum has 23 main exhibition galleries pay homage to some of the most ingenious and beautiful crafted objects of flight, from the Wright brother's airplane to the complex and powered ships. Another highlight there is the moon rock, displayed so that the public can touch it.

The National Museum of American History has a variety of fascinating objects, connected with American culture. On the first floor there are tools of the Industrial Revolution, as well as locomotives, farm equipment and objects of the 20th century. One can see mementos of American cultural history on the second floor. The third floor features a stirring tribute to the American presidency.

The National Gallery of Arts displays the collections from the Middle Ages through to the 20th century, including Italian Renaissance works, Dutch masters, French impressionists and all ages of American art. The newer East Building is often considered a work of art in itself.

The Library of Congress is not only the library, it is also the museum. One can see the main reading room with its famous allegorical figures: Religion, History, Commerce, Art, Philosophy, Poetry, Law and Science. There is a collection of ancient manuscripts including Gutenberg Bible and the handwritten Giant Bible of Mainz.

The tourists can also visit the National Cathedral. It is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. The Cathedral is officially named the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

Mount Vernon is a mansion on the banks of the Potomac River. George Washington spent part of his childhood here and returned here after his presidency. One can see the rooms here where he lived.

The Hirshhorn Museum has a collection of contemporary 4,000 paintings and 2,000 sculptures. The museum is known for displaying the newest works of art.

The US Holocaust Memorial stands alone in Washington. It is a museum of the horrors. The museum was opened in 1993. It is warning to the world that to forget the Holocaust is to repeat one of the most terrible chapters of history.

There are many other interesting museums and galleries in Washington, DC. And of course, Washington, DC is famous for its memorials. Everyone knows the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Arlington Memorial Cemetery, the Vietnam Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.

 

1. Where is the Capitol situated? 2. What is the Capitol crowned by? 3. How many main exhibition galleries are there in the National Air and Space Museum? 4. What is the highlight in the National Air and Space Museum? 5. What do you know about the National
Museum of American History? 6. What does the National Gallery of Arts display? 7. What do you know about the Library of Congress? 8. What other museums in Washington, DC do you know?

 

Cultural Life in New York

New York is often called the cultural capital of the USA. There are more than 800 museums in New York. One of the best-known is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is the largest art museum in the United Stale. Its magnificent collection of European and American paintings contains works of the greatest masters of art world. The second best-known is the Museum of Modern Art. The museum contains wonderful collections of modern art and photography. The Guggenheim Museum of Modem Art contains an impressive collection of 51 modern artists ranging from impressionists to abstractionists. The unusual circular building of the museum was designed by F. L. Wright.

No other city in the world offers as many theaters as New York does where there is a daily choice of almost two hundred productions. You can see the newest plays and shows on Broadway. But away from the bright lights of Broadway there are many smaller theaters. Their plays are called "off-Broadway", and they are often more unusual than the Broadway shows. Some Broadway musicals like "Cats", "Miss Saigon" live for decades, some off-Broadway shows live for a week.

The Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center is known through the music world. International stars sing here from September until April. The Carnegie Hall is the city's most popular concert hall. It was opened in 1891 with a concert conducted by P. I. Tchaikovsky. Music masters such as Arthur Toskanini, Leonard Bernstein, Jsaac Stern, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles have made up the Carnegie bill.

New York is famous for its festivals and special events: summer jazz, one-act play marathons, international film series and musical celebrations from the classical to the avant-garde.

There are a lot of colleges and universities in New York, among them such giants as Columbia University, the State University of New York, the City University of New York, New York University and others.

The New York Public Library is the largest library of the city. You can see a lot of interesting things here: Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, Charles Dickens's desk and Thomas Jefferson's own handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence.

 

1. What city is often called the cultural capital of the USA? 2. What famous museums and art galleries are there in New York? 3. What do you know about them? 4. Where can one see the most popular plays in New York? 5. How long can they last? 6. What plays do people call "off-Broadway"? 7. What do you know about the Metropolitan Opera? 8. Who conducted the first concert there? 9. What famous universities are there in New York? 10. What can people see in the New York Public Library?

 

British Music and Musicians

The British music scene is extremely varied. There are many different types of music and groups that you can enjoy. If you want to, you can go to a techno night at the local club on Friday, a classical concert on Saturday and see a reggae band on stage on Sunday.

It is difficult for groups in Britain to have lots of fans or sell lots of records because there are so many different types of music. Bands
do not last long, and very few groups stay in the Top 20, a list of the best-selling records, for more than one or two weeks. It's a world where "everyone is famous for five minutes".

Pop music in Britain is influenced by music from all over the world. Many teenagers like reggae, which comes from Jamaica. They also enjoy dancing and listening to Black-American rap.

Some music in Britain is a mixture of styles. Ragga brings together rap and reggae, for example. Pop music is also influencing traditional music. Recently some young musicians of Asian origin have started to mix bhangra (traditional music from the Punjab region) with Western pop.

Most clubs play different types of music and attract different types of clubbers each night. To get into many clubs you have to be over 18 or 21. Sometimes you have to be a member and there's often a dress code: if they don't like the way you look, they will not let you in.

One of the most popular groups of the 1960s was the Beatles. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were in the group. "The Fabulous Four" came from Liverpool. They began playing together in 1959. They appeared in different clubs until a string of hits in 1962-63 made them Britain's top new band. What followed is usually called "Beatlemania". They became the voice of new generation. They had hit after hit on both sides of Atlantic. By 1970, though, a mixture of drugs arguments and money problems brought the band's career to the end.

Their Greatest Hits include: Love Me Do, I Want To Hold Your Hand, Help, Yesterday, AH You Need is Love and others.

The Beatles were polite, wore suits and came from the north of England. The Rolling Stones were different. They didn't smile, they dressed like hippies and they came from London. Their music was different too — rough rock and roll instead of Lennon and McCartney's more complex, melodic songs. But although the Beatles were bigger stars in the 60s, the Stones have had a much longer career. Today they're still one of the world's top rock bands, both on stage and record.

Their Greatest Hits include: I Can't Get No Satisfaction, Paint It Black, Brown Sugar, Undercover of the Night and others.

Pop music is an important British export. Some modern groups, like The Police, Ultravox and Sky, and some modern singers, like David Bowie, Elton John and Boy George, are well-known internationally.

But if you ever did a musical tour of Britain, you might get j some surprise. Electric guitarists and pop singers are not the only musicians to be heard. There are many local traditions of music still very much alive today.

Let's start in the north, in Scotland. The national instrument is the bagpipes. To the Scots such music is the most exciting in the world. Scottish pipers led to the First World War, they led the soldiers into battle, played for their royal masters, and at weddings and funerals. The bagpipes are still very popular, and every town has a pipe band.

In the north of England we come to the land of the brass band. This is the country of factories and coal mines, many of which have their own bands. The Grimethorpe Colliery Band, for example, is internationally famous. The bands have an annual competition, and Britain's best classical composers write music especially for them.

Let's go to central and southern England. Music is always to be found in the village church, where the choir sings the old hymns which every schoolchild learns. Here you can also listen to old folk songs.

Now let's go west, and we will find the best choral music in Wales. The Welsh have always been famous for their singing. Even before the Romans came, 2,000 years ago, their "bards" were known to the ancient world. They still meet every year at the "Eisteddfod", a Welsh competition.

London, like all the great cities of Britain, has a long tradition of classical music. Every night English and international musicians perform in the concert halls and opera houses. London is one of the great classical music centres of the world.

1. What do you know about different musical styles in Britain? 2. What is pop music influenced by in Britain? 3. What music is a mixture of styles? 4. How old do the clubbers have to be? 5. What do you know about the Beatles? 6. Have you heard their songs? 7. Do you like them? Why? 8. What do you know about the Rolling Stones? 9. Why were these groups so popular in Britain? 10. What do you know about folk music in Britain?

 

Music in America

Americans have contributed to many art forms, but the jazz, a type of music, is the only art form that was created in the United States. Jazz Was created by Afro-Americans. The black slaves sang and played the music of their homeland. Jazz is a combination of the music of West Africa, the slaves' songs, and religious music. The musicians make the music up as they go along, or create the music up on the spot. The music was inspired by African culture but evolved directly from spirituals, ragtime and blues. Jazz is characterized by improvisation. That's why a jazz song might sound a little different each time it is played. By the 1940s you could not only hear jazz in clubs and bars, but in concert halls as well. Today, people from all over the world play jazz. Jazz musicians from the United States, Asia, South America and Europe meet and share their music at festivals on every continent. In this way jazz continues to grow and change.

Famous jazz singers and leaders are well-known all over the world. They are Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker.

Although the improvisational style of early jazz survives today jazz has moved on to new frontiers. Jazz musicians began combine the rhythms of rock'n'roll and electronic instruments with traditional elements of jazz to form a blend of music called "fusion" Today jazz is extremely popular in America.

The influence of jazz is found in many types of American music. The music of George Gershwin (1898-1937), one of American's most popular composers, was strongly influenced by jazz.

 

1. Who created jazz? 2. In what country was it created? 3. What music is jazz a combination of? 4. When did jazz become popular? 5. Why does jazz sound a little different each time? 6. In what countries is jazz popular nowadays? 7. Are you fond of jazz? 8. What popular jazz musicians do you know?

 

 

Music in Our Life

Can you think of a day without music? We can hear music everywhere: in the streets and at home, over the radio and on TV, in the shops and in the parks. People all over the world are fond of music. They listen to music, they dance to music, they learn to play musical instruments.

But what is music? Specialists explain that music isn't only a combination of pleasant sounds. It is an art, which reflects life. There are a lot of different kinds of music. Some of them appeared long ago, and some are modern. For example, folk music appeared long ago, but it is still alive. There are many local performers, choirs and folk groups in Russia, but perhaps one of the most famous singers is Nadezhda Babkina. Folk songs are very tuneful and pleasant to listen to. Classical music is often associated with the music of the past. However, this style also includes music being written now, and we may speak of modern classical music. Rap is a modern musical style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music with a steady beat. Such groups as Public Enemy or House of Pain are major in this style.

Great Britain has produced more popular music stars than any other country. Over the last 30 years rock and pop music have been very popular in Britain. The Beatles, with their style of singing eloquent and exciting, is still one of the most popular groups. British groups often set new trends in music. New styles, groups and singers continue to appear. Some of the more recent pop groups are Dire Strait, Eurhythmies and Spice Girls. Many of the bands have been able to use the changes in technology to develop their music. Computerized drum machines, synthesisers and other electronic instruments are now just as popular as the piano and electric guitars.

Tastes differ. So people's musical interests range from pop and rock music, which are extremely popular nowadays, especially among young people, to classical music and opera.

My favourite style of music is pop music because it is breathtaking and full of energy. When I listen to pop music, it makes me remember happy times and forget the problems of everyday life. It helps me to relax when I'm tired and entertains me when I'd like to have fun. My favourite group is ABBA. It was formed in 1973 Sweden. ABBA's cheerful tunes made them international pop stars and one of the most successful groups of the 1970s. Their most famous songs (Waterloo, Money, Money, Money, Knowing Me, Knowing You, etc.) often topped European charts. Though the group doesn't exist any more, it is still popular with people of all ages. I can't but admire their style of singing. I find it fascinating and overwhelming. When I have free time, I can't help listening to their records. I also like having background music while I and working.

I wouldn't mind listening to dance music, especially when I go to disco clubs. This style of music is catchy and torch and I like catching tunes. It makes me more energetic.

It's a pity that many young people like to listen only to modem music. As for me, 1 enjoy listening to classical music too. I find it tuneful and appealing. Classical music is always a complex of emotions. It gives me delight, pleasure and a sense of happiness. Some pieces of classical music are really wonderful. Not long ago I listened to the First Piano Concerto, composed by Tchaikovsky The power of his music captivated me. The impression was overwhelming.

The music 1 hate is heavy metal. I find it noisy and dreadful. When I listen to this style of music, it pictures in my mind dark days. Though some young people are fond of this style of music, it is not to everyone's taste. To my mind, too loud music can destroy our ears. I am indifferent to other styles of music. For example, I don't mind listening to jazz. Improvisation is an important part of this style, that's why a jazz song may sound a little different each time it is played. I think that jazz is a mixture of many different kinds of music, but I consider it a bit compli­cated.

My mother and father approve my tastes in music. Though they prefer to listen to classical and bard music, they think that on the whole, modern music is not too bad. My parents agree that each generation has its own tastes.

It goes without saying that music plays a very important role in people's life. It reflects our mood and emotions. Music appeals to our hearts and transforms our feelings. It conquers our souls and enriches our minds. Besides, listening to music is the perfect way to spend free time and not to feel bored. You can hardly find a person who doesn't like or need music, who never sings or dances. Music is beauty in sounds, it is our magic source of inspiration.

 

 

1. What is your attitude to music? 2. How can music influence people? 3. What do you think about classical/rock/pop music? 4. What sort of music do you like? 5. What does music make you think of? 6. What music irritates you? 7. What famous British musicians/composers/singers/groups do you know? 8. Who is your, favourite musician/singer? 9. Where and when do you listen to music? 10. Do you like to go to concerts? Why?

 

History of Music

Nobody knows for certain what the origin of music was. Music is certainly older than poetry and painting but as early man had no way of recording it, we can only guess what it sounded like. Watching a child banging on a drum with its hands on a piece of wood, it is easy to see that this is the simplest of instruments. It does not take much effort to produce a rhythm on it.

Wall paintings show what some of the first instruments looked} like. Early civilizations had already discovered the three basic ways, of producing music: blowing into a tube, striking an object and scraping a string. We know that Western music comes from the ancient Greeks. The musical scales we use now are based on certain sequences of notes, which the Greeks used to create a particular mood.

Until the 16th century most players of instruments were single' performers, but as music became more widespread, orchestras and musical groups began to appear. This brought about the writing of music to be played by several musicians at one time. This can certainly be called the birth of modern music.

Until the early part of the 20th century there was certainly a distinction between popular music, the songs and dance tunes of the masses, and what we have come to call underground music. Up to that point, however, there were at least some points of contact between the two, and perhaps general recognition of what made a good voice or a good song. With the development of mass entertainment, popular music split away and has gradually developed a stronger life of its own, to the point where it has become incompatible with the classics. In some respects, it is now dominated by the promotion of youth culture, so that a concert by Elton John is just as much a fashion event, and other artists may be promoting dance styles or social protest.

For this reason it is impossible to talk about popular music as if it were only unified art. The kind of music you like may depend on what kind of person you are. Curiously, there are now classical musicians and operatic singers who have achieved the status of rock stars and have been marketed in the same way. This seems to suggest that many young people enjoy classical music but do not wish to be associated with the lifestyle of those who are traditionally supposed to enjoy it. Or it may simply be that recording companies have discovered that there is an insatiable desire for "sounds", and that classical music is beginning to sound exciting to a generation raised on rock.

 

1. What was the origin of music? 2. Which is older — music or poetry? 3. What do we know about the first musical instruments? 4. Where docs the Western music come from? 5. In what century was the modern music born? 6. Why is popular music dominated now? 7. Can the style of music you like show what person you are?

Reading Preferences

I think that we can't live without books. There are a lot of different kinds of books in the world. For example, thrillers, historical novels, science fiction, adventure books and others. Most of them are with us during all our life. Boys all over the world like reading adventures, thrillers and horrors, whereas girls prefer romances, historical novels and poetry. Encyclopaedias, reference books and dictionaries help pupils to do well at school.

All the members of my family like reading very much. My father often reads newspapers and magazines. He thinks that it is the only way to be in the know of everything. And my mother is keen on reading romances and modern novels. For her they are more interesting than boring historical novels. She agrees with Anatole France that "history books, which contain no lies, are extremely dull". But she wouldn't mind reading about the life of the well-known people.

I enjoy reading very much. Most of all I like reading detective stories, because they have interesting story lines and unusual endings. 1 am particularly captivated by characters who conduct investigations.

I never believed there really were books that you couldn't put down. I changed my opinion when I started to read "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins, an English writer. The book was written in the 19th century. Its a very good detective story with a bit of romance thrown in it. The book is basically about mistaken identity. The main character in the story is a young artist who goes up to the north of England to instruct two young ladies. And he falls in love with Miss Fairlie, who looks very like the woman in white. Finally they turn out to be identical twins. The author brilliantly describes the adventures, love and fears of his heroes. He really brings the characters to life. A good writer knows how to keep you reading the book. In "The Woman in White" the reader's interest is caught from the very first page, and there is suspense till the very end! This is a great book, and I would recommend it to anyone.

But my favourite writer is Agatha Christie. She is possibly the world's most famous detective writer. She wrote 79 novels and several plays. Her books are translated into 103 foreign languages. Many of her novels and short stories have been filmed. Her sales outnumber those of Shakespeare, but her life was often lonely and unhappy.

She was born in 1890 in Devon. She didn't go to school, but she was educated at home by her mother. During World War I, while she was working in a hospital dispensary, she learned about chemicals and poisons, which proved very useful to her in her later career. She wrote her first detective novel, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles", in 1920. In it she introduced Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, who appeared in many subsequent novels. Her other main detective was an elderly spinster called Miss Marple. Miss Marple doesn't look like a detective at all. This old lady always uses her instinct and knowledge of human nature to investigate crimes.

In 1914 she married Archibald Christie, but the marriage was unhappy. It didn't last long, and they divorced in 1926. Agatha desperately wanted solitude and developed very bitter feelings towards the media because the newspapers had given her a hard time over her breakdown. She was determined never to let them enter her private life again, and she buried herself in her work. On 25 November 1952 her play "The Mousetrap" opened in London. Today, over 50 years later, it is still running. It is the longest running show in the whole world. Agatha Christie died peacefully in 1976. People all over the world value this talented writer and consider her to be the Queen of detective literature.

I wouldn't mind reading adventure stories. Especially I like to read about characters who go through dangers to complete their mission. I think it's more interesting than reading dull historical novels. But I dislike poetry, especially modern poetry. I find it too complicated. Sometimes I fail to understand what poets mean.

I am sure that reading is an essential part of our life. Only in books you can find answers to all your questions. Books can tell us a lot about the modern world and ancient times. Besides they can help us to explore new ideas and expand our outlook. I completely agree that "reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body". What is more, books teach us to be kind and honest. While reading we learn how to solve our problems and to make people happy. And I think that reading is the perfect way to spend free time and not to feel bored. Books must be our friends during all our life.

1. Is reading important to you? Why? 2. What kind of books do you like to read? Why? 3. What were your favourite childhood books? 4. Have your childhood reading interests changed? 5. What is your favourite book? Why is it worth reading? 6. What book are you reading now? 7. What famous British writers and poets do you know? Have you read any of their books/poems? 8. What Russian
authors do you like? 9. Who is your favourite writer? Why? 10. What books can help you to learn better at school? 11. Do you read books in English?