VOA慢速英语2018--International Musicians Create Harmony

 

Twenty-five young musicians from around the world have come to California to train and perform this month. They will take part in an international program called iPalpiti. The name comes from the Italian word for heartbeats.

Eduard Schmieder is the program’s conductor and musical director. Schmieder and his wife started the program in 1997 with help from violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin.

This year, the musicians come from 19 countries, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Israel and Italy. Schmieder notes some of the musicians are from countries that are at war with each other.

“And they are sitting next to each other, and they become friends.”

He says through their music and friendship, they are making the world more peaceful.

The musicians taking part in the program range in age from their late teens to their 30s. Schmieder said they include winners of major music competitions.

Peter Rainer is a violin player from Germany. He serves as concertmaster, the link between the musicians and conductor.

“It’s so great that you have so many sensitive musicians. They all are very alert¹ and awake and listen to each other and it's a lot of fun.”

Turkish viola player Can Sakul says the international group works² well together.

The experience is a cultural as well as a musical exchange, said Russian violinist Semyon Promoe.

“Everyone has [their] own opinion of music, how to play every composition. It’s very interesting to interact³ with everybody, to play together and to create one opinion for everybody.”

This year, the festival focuses on music from the 1600s to the 1900s. But cello⁴ player Francisco Vila of Ecuador said the music has no geographic⁵ boundaries.

Vila added that the musicians get to know more about each other as they perform great music.

“It’s interesting to see where we intersect, how many things we have in common. And also the music world…is quite small, so you’re only one person away from knowing everyone else.”

Can Sakul said the musicians who have taken part in the training and festival make up “a big family.” He added that he is “proud to be a part of it.”

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

conductor – n. a person who stands in front of people while they sing or play musical instruments and directs their performance

sensitive – adj. aware of and understanding the feelings of other people

composition – n. a written piece of music and especially one that is very long or complex

1 alert   

adj.机警的，活泼的，机灵的；vt.使...警觉

参考例句：

• Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals.驾驶员必须密切注意交通信号。
• The rabbIt'seems to be very alert all its life.兔子似乎一生都小心翼翼，十分警觉。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 interact   

vi.相互作用，相互影响，互通信息

参考例句：

• All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
• The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。

4 cello   

n.大提琴

参考例句：

• The cello is a member of the violin family.大提琴是提琴家族的一员。
• She plays a melodious cello.她拉着一手悦耳的大提琴。

5 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法