Text b promenade concerts

Much of English musical life is centered in London. Promenade Concerts became an important part of London cultural life since 1838. Sir Henry Wood, a renowned British conductor, organized annual Promenade Concerts from 1895 to 1944 with a view to introduce new musical works to the British public.

The name “Promenade Concerts”, or “Proms” as they are familiarly called, stemmed from the word “promenade” – “walk”. Originally the audience had no seats. The audience in the body of the hall were in theory supposed to be able to walk up and down (that is to “promenade”) while the music was being played: the idea being that these were popular and informal concerts for the masses. In practice, night after night the “Promenaders” stood packed tightly one against the other, quite unable to move, their enthusiasm triumphing over all discomfort. In view of the size of the average Prom audience it can be imagined what effect this strange but popular institution had in encouraging musical appreciation, especially among younger people, who usually form large proportion of the audience.

Now Promenade Concerts are held in the Royal Albert Hall (or, shortly, the Albert Hall). It is one of the largest halls in London with seating for 8000 on seven main levels, where, besides the annual Promenade Concerts a number of other concerts, parades, meetings, exhibitions and sporting events take place. It was named in honour of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria.

Promenade Concerts last from mid-July to mid-September. A great variety of orchestras and conductors, both British and foreign, take part in them. But one orchestra, that is, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, appears annually at these concerts.

The “Last Night of the Prom” is the name of the final performance of the Promenade Concert, when the audience is traditionally very lively (e.g. waving flags and banners, joining in the chorus of the songs) and when favourite musical compositions are usually performed, among them a version of the hornpipe and the accompanied song “Land of Hope and Glory”. At the end of the performance, the conductor usually makes a speech to the audience.

Proper Names

Pormenade Concerts [‘prOminid ...]

Henry Wood [‘henri ‘wud]

Royal Albert Hall [‘rOiql ‘xlbqt hLl]

Queen Victoria [‘kwJn vik‘tLriq]

BBC Symphony Orchestra – British Broadcast Symphony Orchestra – Симфонический оркестр Британской радиовещательной корпорации

4.3. English light music of the 20th century active words and word combinations

1. affair [q‘fFq]	дело
2. appreciation [q,priSi‘eiSn]	высокая оценка; понимание
3. award [q‘wLd]	присуждать, награждать
4. burst	взрыв
5. charity [‘tSxriti]	милосердие; благотворительность
6. clash	столкновение, конфликт
7. distant [‘distqnt]	дальний, далекий, отдаленный
8. drummer [‘drAmq]	барабанщик
9. dull [dAl]	притуплять /ся/
10. entertainment [,entq‘teinmqnt]	развлечение, увеселение
11. exhausted [ig’zLstid]	истощённый, изнуренный, измученный
12. fusion [‘fjHZn]	слияние
13. give smb. the sack	увольнять
14. headline	заголовок
15. hit	успех, удача; хит
16. label [‘leibl]	наклеивать ярлык
17. line-up	строй, раположение игроков
18. make a fuss of smth.	поднимать шум вокруг чего-л., привлекать к чему-л. внимание
19. murder	убивать, совершать убийство
20. mysterious [mis’tiqriqs]	таинственный, непостижимый
21. neighbour ['neibq]	сосед
22. penniless [‘penilis]	без гроша, безденежный; бедный
23.property speculator [‘prOpqti ‘spekjuleitq]	торговец недвижимостью
24. record ['rekLd]	увековечивать; записывать на пластинку, пленку
25. record [ri’kLd]	запись, пластинка
26. run a shop	держать магазин, быть владельцем магазина
27. splash	всплеск
28. stand	выдерживать, выносить, терпеть
29. stormy	бурный
30. unbounded [An‘bQundid]	безграничный, неограниченный