Unit VIII

SINGING LIKE DIVINE BEINGS

1. Pay attention to the following words. Pick out sentences with these words from the text and translate them into Russian:

«Pesnyary» - «Песняры»;

«Lyavony» - «Лявоны»;

«Star Square» - «Площадь звезд».

2. Practise saying the following proper names:

Vladimir Mulyavin [mu'ljΛvin] Владимир Мулявин

Leonid Bortkevich [bərt'kevit∫] Леонид Борткевич

3. Read these international words and try to guess their meaning:

Instrumental, risk, prestigious, Moscow Kremlin, interview, melodious, soloist, journalist, group, naturally, lyrical, ballad.

4. Read the following words and remember their meaning:

glory (n) ['glari] слава, великолепие

spiritual (adj) [spi'rit∫uəl] духовный

wealth (n) [welθ] богатство

penetrate (v) ['penitreit] проникать

authentic (adj) [э:'θentik] подлинный,

настоящий

nightingale (n) ['naitiηgeil] соловей

recollect (v) ['rekə'lekt] вспоминать

exclaim (v) [ik'skleim] восклицать

divine (adj) [di'vain] божественный

being (n) [bi:iη] существо

stout (adj) [staut] тучный

click (n) [klik] постукивание

bow (v) [bau] кланяться

bless (v) ['bles] благославлять

hospitable (adj) [ha'spitəbl] гостеприимный

5. Read out these phrases several times till you remember their meaning:

to take a risk - рисковать, рискнуть;

on the road - гастролировать;

to be in demand - иметь спрос;

быть востребованным

to the innermost of one's heart - до глубины души;

to play with feeling - играть с душой;

to stay indifferent - оставаться равнодушным;

to come to an end - заканчиваться;

подходить к концу

6. Match the English words and their Russian equivalents:

1. nightingale a. божественный

2. moving b. слава

3. renowned c. шутливый; игривый

4. divine d. трогательный

5. spiritual e. проникать

6. to penetrate f. радовать

7. playful g. вспоминать

8. to recollect h. соловей

9. glory i. одухотворённый

10. rejoice j. знаменитый

7. Make sure you know all the words in the box. Then ad their definitions and match the words with their definitions:

recollect, exclaim, penetrate, authentic,

nightingale, stout, rejoice, moving, playful,

renowned, bow, hospitable, divine, blessed

• giving friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, especially in one's own house

• holy; sacred;

• make a way into; (fig.) see into;

• small, reddish-brown migrating bird that sings sweetly by night as well as by day;

• cry out suddenly and loudly, from pain, anger, surprise, etc.

• of, from or like God or a god;

• (of a person) rather fat: tending to fatness;

• touching; stirring; inspiring;

• famous; celebrate;

• bend the head or body as a sign of respect or as a greeting;

• full of fun; in a mood for play;

• call back to the mind; succeed in remembering;

• genuine; known to be true;

• make glad; cause t o be happy.

8. Read the text and get ready to speak about «Pesnyary»:

SINGING LIKE DIVINE BEING

If you don't know the Belarusian vocal and instrumental ensemble «Pesnyary», take a risk and buy a compact-disk with their songs. Listen attentively to their music and the words of the songs. It doesn't matter all whether you know the Belarusian language or not. Just listen to and you`ll hear our bird singing, the sounds of our forests and rivers. Feel the national colour of our life or at least, try to feel it with the help ofj «Pesnyary». But goes without saying, it's much better to see them perform on the stage.With the help of their songs people learn that there exist such a nation in the world as Belarusians! «Pesnyary» sing about life love and our native land - Belarus with great feeling, that's why we love them.

«Pesnyary» is our pride and our glory. They are our history and our present. The State Belarusian vocal and instrumental ensemble «Pesnyary» under the direction of Vladimir Mulyavin, People's Artist of the USSR, is the prize­winner of numerous Аll-Union and international competitions and festivals. In Russia there is a well-known and prestigious «Star Square» by the Moscow Kremlin and you can see their star as well.

It is very difficult to interview «Pesnyary» in Belarus: they are very seldom at home in Minsk, because they are on the road. They are in demand in different countries with their concerts. They have won recognition all over the world. Their tours began over 30 years ago - in 1969 (at that time their group was called «Lyavony»). Their great merit is that they were the first to represent authentic Belarusian folklore abroad and demonstrate its beauty and spiritual wealth to the world public.

The unique voices of «Pesnyary» penetrate to the innermost of the audience's hearts. They strike us with their amazing melodiousness and they are often compared to the voice of the renowed Italian singer Robertino Loretti. It is no mere chance that the former soloist of «Pesnyary» Lyavon Bortkevich, was called 'a Belarusian nightingale' by one of the famous journalists. While listening to the songs of «Pesnyary» at live concerts, the middle-aged spectators recollect their youth and the time, when on hearing the word ‘Belarus’ foreigners used to smile and exclaim «Oh! Pesnyary!» We must admit that they have brought fame to our republic.

As many vears ago the ensemble consists of men only. And as many ears ago their voices sound clear, sweet and harming. Of course, they have changed in appearance: you can sее the signs of aging on their faces, their figures have become a bit stouter. And besides some changes have taken place in the stuff of the performers. New singers have come to the ensemble and some of the old ones have left it. But as many years ago, «Pesnyary» sing like divine beings and play with feeling - sincerely and naturally.

It is fantastic that for more than 30 years «Pesnyary have been rejoicing their audience. And nowadays they sing about love, life and Belarus. Their songs are lyric and moving. You can't stay indifferent when you are listening to Mulyavin performing the balad «A Bird's Cry». The spectators re completely absorbed in the dramatic atmosphere of the song. When the song comes to an end there is dead silence in the hall, and then a moment later, all of a sudden, a burst of applause! Mulyavin bows many times. The audience is amused when the grey-haired Master, clicking his heels, performs merry folk songs in a playful manner.

«Pesnyary» are superb, they have been popular with the public for more than a quarter of a century. They are the image of he blessed and hospitable land of Belarus, that's why they are adored in this country and abroad.