People of Music
Edward Benjamin Britten(1913 –1976) was an English composer, conductor, violist and pianist.
Britten showed musical gifts very early in life, and began composing prolifically as a child. He was educated at the Royal College of Music. Britten was a prolific juvenile composer; some 800 works and fragments precede his early published works. His first compositions to attract wide attention, however, were the Sinfonietta Op. 1, "A Hymn to the Virgin" (1930) and a set of choral variations “A Boy was Born”, written in 1934 for the BBC Singers. For many musicians, however, Britten's technique, broad musical and human sympathies and ability to treat the most traditional of musical forms with freshness and originality place him at the head of composers of his generation.
The Beatles, with their style of singing new and exciting, their wonderful sense of humor became the most successful pop group the world had ever known.
The Beatles were a rock and pop band from Liverpool, England that formed in 1960. During their career, the group primarily consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). Although their initial musical style was rooted in 1950s rock and roll, the group worked with different musical genres. Their clothes, style and statements made them trend-setters, while their growing social awareness saw their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s. After the band broke up in 1970, all four members embarked upon successful solo careers.
III. Translate the words in the brackets into English:
1. It passed several main (этапов) in its development.
2. A great number of Museums and galleries (демонстрируют) precious and interesting (находки) from all parts of the world.
3. Another (знаменитый) theatre in London is the National Theatre, which stages modern and classical (пьесы).
4. Gainsborough pictured high society clientele including portraits of (современных) celebrities.
5. Many British writers, poets, (художников), sculptors, (архитекторов), musicians, (композиторов), actors, (певцов) and dancers are known all over the world.
6. Newton showed that the (движение) of objects on Earth.
7. Faraday's discovery that an intense magnetic field can (вращать) the plane of polarized light is known today as the Faraday effect.
8. After the band (распалась) in 1970, all four members embarked upon successful solo careers.
IV. Find the corresponding translation of the words and word combinations:
a)
| 1. stages of development | A. вызывают огромный интерес |
| 2. past generations | B. этапы |
| 3. leading cultural centers | C. замечательное чувство юмора |
| 4. attract much interest | D. ведущие культурные центры |
| 5. wonderful sense of humour | E. прошлые поколения |
b)
| 1. traces of past generations | A. по всей стране |
| 2. interesting finds | B. классические пьесы |
| 3. classical plays | C. выдающийся композитор |
| 4. outstanding composer | D. следы прошлых поколений |
| 5. throughout the country | E. интересные находки |
V. Translate the sentences into English:
1. Культурная жизнь в Британии прошла несколько основных этапов развития.
2. Огромное количество музеев демонстрируют различные ценные находки со всех концов света.
3. Лондон – один из ведущих культурных центров во всем мире.
4. Различные праздники, которые проводятся по всей стране, вызывают огромный интерес.
5. «Битлз» – одна из самых популярных групп, когда-либо известных в мире.
VI. Find out the sentences which correspond to the text. Correct the wrong sentences in accordance with the text:
1. Monuments and traces of past generations are not everywhere.
2. Artistic and cultural life in Britain is rather rich.
3. There are buildings of only several styles and periods.
4. London is one of the leading cultural centers in Britain.
5. Now Britain has about 300 professional theatres.
6. Another famous theatre in London is the National Theatre, which stages modern and classical plays.
7. George Gordon Byron (1788-1824) is another great French poet.
8. Thomas Gainsborough is one of England's most famous sculptors.
9. Christopher Wren, the greatest English architect, designed St. Paul's Cathedral.
10. The Beatles became the most successful pop group the world had ever known.