英语六级必读美文017：自由激情爵士乐

　　In smoky clubs, bars and cafes across America and Europe people are all doing the same thing: enjoying the inventivesounds and style of jazz.

　　在美国和欧洲那些烟雾弥漫的俱乐部、酒吧和咖啡馆中，人们都在做着同一件事情：享受着爵士乐的独特乐音和曲调。

　　Jazz is an advanced art form with a rich lustory . It has been called Americas classical music. Why? Well, for one, its been around for a long time-over 100 years. Also, its reputation for complicated improvisationmeans its often approved of by academics in a way that pop is not,

　　爵士乐是一种高尚的、历史悠久的艺术形式。它曾被称做美国的古典音乐。为什么呢?原因之一是它的历史源远流长 有100多年之久。同时，它以复杂莫测的即兴创作著称，这意味着在某种方式上它总是能够得到学者们的认可，而流行音乐则不行。

　　New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. It started among the big brass bands of the citys black ghettos at the end of the 19th century. The new music took inspiration from two very different musical traditions. It combined the rhythm of West African dance music with the harmony and melody of European classical.

　　新奥尔良是爵士乐的发源地。爵士乐于19世纪晚期兴起于城市黑人区的大铜管乐队。这种新音乐的灵感来源于两种极其不同的音乐传统。它将非洲西部舞蹈音乐中的节奏和欧洲古典音乐中的和声和旋律结合在了一起。

　　Common jazz instruments are trombones, tubas, saxophones and, of course, tmmpel Indeed, one ofjazzs most infuential musicians was a trumpet player LouisArmstrong. He was the first importan tjazz soloist to emerge and is stillloved by fans, who fondly refer to him by his nickname Satchmo .

　　常见的爵士乐器有长号、大号、萨克斯管，当然还有小号。其实，最知名的爵士乐手之一就是一名小号手：路易斯 阿姆斯特朗。他是迄今涌现出的第一位重量级的爵士乐独奏家，现在仍然受到乐迷的推崇，他们亲切地称他为 书包嘴

　　Jazzs brass instruments are often played alongside drums and stringed instruments. However, the two key elements of jazz are swing and improvisation.

　　爵士乐中的铜管乐器通常会和鼓以及弦乐器一起演奏。但是，爵士乐的两大基本要素是摇摆乐和即兴创作。

　　Swing refers to the part of jazz that makes people want to dance. It is more a feeling than a specific sound. Jazz developed as music to dance to. The evolution of US swing bands like those led by Duke Ellington really amved during the 1930s.

　　摇摆乐是爵士乐的一部分，让人听了后想跳舞，它的旋律固然奇特，但其实它带给人们更多的是一种感觉。后来爵士乐逐渐发展成为跳舞的配乐。在20世纪30年代，艾灵顿公爵等人率领的美国 摇摆乐竹乐队发生了真正的变革。

　　The other key aspect of jazz is improvisation. This means that you dont have to play what is written. Jazz performers will start out playing an agreed song but arent expected strictly to follow the anticipated notes.Instead, they use their talent, creativity , and feeling to add new notes and sounds to the music as they are playing. Thats what jazz is all about: getting inspired, being inventive, and living for the moment.

　　爵士乐的另外一个重要因素就是即兴创作。(这就意味着你不必按照事先写好的乐谱进行演奏。爵士乐演奏者会从一首熟悉的曲子开始演奏，但他们并不严格遵守预先的曲调。相反，他们在演奏中发挥他们的天分、创造力以及灵感，为音乐注入新的音韵和旋律。这就是爵乐：灵感迸发、充满创造力、为现时而奏。