2006年VOA标准英语-Barge in New York Serves as Floating Concert Ha

By Amanda Cassandra
New York
31 July 2006

The music of Bach and Beethoven is heard all over the world, often in elegant and historical buildings. But in New York, classical music fans can listen in an unconventional music venue¹ on the East River. Bargemusic is a former coffee barge² converted into a floating concert hall that has attracted high caliber³ classical musicians for almost 30 years.

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Since it was founded in 1977 by professional violinist Olga Bloom, Bargemusic has enjoyed an international reputation for showcasing world-class musicians on the Brooklyn waterfront.

Bloom, now in her eighties, attends every concert and welcomes guests to the barge, encouraging them to enjoy complimentary⁴ wine, crackers⁵ and cheese before taking their seats.

In a warmly lit cherry wood paneled room, a string quartet recently played for the audience. The room seats about 125 people, creating an intimate experience. The musicians play against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline.

Musician Eric Jacobsen has performed at Bargemusic for several years and says there is a close connection with the audience that he has never felt on other stages. "For me, Barge sort of incorporates the living room and concert performance setting all in one. You do have a stage, but the audience is right here, on your lap pretty much and they have a great view, so they are not only listening, they are watching, they are seeing and to invite someone into your living room, in a small beautiful setting that is really what chamber⁶ music is all about," he says.

Although more prominent venues⁷ in New York such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center are magnets for many wanting to take in a classical performance, Bloom says those big concerts halls are impersonal⁸. Bargemusic, she says, is about enjoying a shared musical experience with fellow concertgoers. "I think the architecture is terribly important. When I go to a large arena⁹ event, I feel very lonely in a crowd and I usually look for a place along the wall so I can lean on something. But in the barge, it's small but you are aware of the individuals who are around you, so it becomes more of a human relationship. You know each other as individuals, it is not a big mob," she says.

Attending an event at Bargemusic is not a typical concert-going experience. Visitors will find personal touches from Bloom and her staff such as handwritten name cards to easily locate their seats in the rows of identical red velvet¹⁰ chairs. During intermission, people mingle¹¹ with artists or retreat to the roof of the barge to soak in views of the Manhattan cityscape and Brooklyn Bridge.

As other boats cruise by on the East River, the 31 meter barge sways back and forth¹² sometimes in tempo¹³ with the music, sometimes not.

Musician Nick Cords says Bargemusic is an unparalleled experience and the unique setting compliments the classical music played there. "There is something about this place. This is a floating barge; this is not a dry docked barge. We're in the water here. It is floating and literally¹⁴ the ground is not beneath your feet. And actually this is the feeling you want I think in music. You do not want to be grounded, you want to be flying somehow and this barge actually feels like it's flying," he says.

Bargemusic attracts a diverse crowd of concert goers. Bloom says ticket prices for concerts have been kept reasonably low to attract seniors, students and people who might be put off by the steep prices often charged at larger music venues.

Bloom also extends her passion for the arts to children by encouraging them to visit the barge Thursdays when guest artists perform. Bloom says visiting Bargemusic gives children new perspectives about their world and makes music something familiar. "We experimented with this and it was wildly successful. I told them [adult guardians] don't tell the children what to do, let's watch and see what they do. And indeed, they came in and they ran to the windows and outer decks and squirmed all over the place, under the piano, they were everywhere. But the minute the musicians came on stage, they assembled themselves and sat in the first row with their chins out and they were listening. You don't have to stand there with a pointy finger saying, 'This is good for you. Listen to this.' No. Just let it happen around them and they will absorb it," he says.

Bargemusic presents concerts year round. With its extensive schedule, the not-for-profit Bargemusic is a premiere presenter¹⁵ of chamber music.

1 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

2 barge   

n.平底载货船，驳船

参考例句：

• The barge was loaded up with coal.那艘驳船装上了煤。
• Carrying goods by train costs nearly three times more than carrying them by barge.通过铁路运货的成本比驳船运货成本高出近3倍。

3 caliber   

n.能力；水准

参考例句：

• They ought to win with players of such high caliber.他们选手的能力这样高,应该获胜。
• We are always trying to improve the caliber of our schools.我们一直在想方设法提高我们学校的水平。

4 complimentary   

adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的

参考例句：

• She made some highly complimentary remarks about their school.她对他们的学校给予高度的评价。
• The supermarket operates a complimentary shuttle service.这家超市提供免费购物班车。

5 crackers   

adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘

参考例句：

• That noise is driving me crackers. 那噪声闹得我简直要疯了。
• We served some crackers and cheese as an appetiser. 我们上了些饼干和奶酪作为开胃品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

7 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

8 impersonal   

adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的

参考例句：

• Even his children found him strangely distant and impersonal.他的孩子们也认为他跟其他人很疏远，没有人情味。
• His manner seemed rather stiff and impersonal.他的态度似乎很生硬冷淡。

9 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

10 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

11 mingle   

vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往

参考例句：

• If we mingle with the crowd,we should not be noticed.如果我们混在人群中，就不会被注意到。
• Oil will not mingle with water.油和水不相融。

12 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

13 tempo   

n.(音乐的)速度；节奏，行进速度

参考例句：

• The boss is unsatisfied with the tardy tempo.老板不满于这种缓慢的进度。
• They waltz to the tempo of the music.他们跟着音乐的节奏跳华尔兹舞。

14 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

15 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。