Civilisation 9A / Part II.

Contents
8. Sports
( Cricket, Football, Rugby, Tennis, Netball, Basketball, Golf, Horse-racing,
Polo, Table Tennis, Badminton, University Boat Race, Fishing, Bowls,
Darts)
9. Food, drink, pubs, etiquette
9. 1 Main meal dishes
9. 2 Pubs and drinks
10. Music
(main periods, styles, characteristics of those styles)
11. Architecture, famous cathedrals and castles
(general introduction, be able to describe at least one in detail)

8. Sports in the UK

Sports play an important part in the life in Britain and are a popular leisure activity. Many of the
world's famous sports began in Britain, including cricket, football, lawn tennis, golf and rugby.
England's national sport is cricket although to many people football (soccer) is seen as the national
sport. Football is the most popular sport in the UK. Some of England's football teams are world famous,
the most famous being Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.
Cricket
Cricket is played on village greens and in
towns/cities on Sundays from April to
August. The rules of cricket became the
responsibility, in the 18th century, of the
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), based at
Lords cricket ground in north London.
How to play Cricket
Teams are made up of 11 players each.
They play with a ball slightly smaller than a baseball and a bat shaped like a paddle. Two batters stand in
front of wickets, set about 20 metres apart. Each wicket consists of three wooden rods (stumps) pushed
into the ground, with two small pieces of wood (bails) balanced on top. A member of the opposing team
(the bowler) throws the ball towards one of the batters, who must hit the ball so that it does not knock a
bail off the wicket. If the ball travels far enough, the two batters run back and forth between the wickets
while the fielders on the opposing team try to catch the ball. The game is scored according to the
number of runs, which is the number of times the batters exchange places.
SEE: http://a.espncdn.com/media/pdf/110215/cricket101.pdf
The game explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPXAzgwwo0A
Homework task: as youre watching the video (at school or at home), write 5 questions to ask your
classmates after youve watched the video. The questions should be correct, in English, should show
your understanding of the game and you yourself should be able to answer them. Work in pairs or
groups to discuss your questions and answers.

40

Football (Soccer)
Football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in England, and has been played for hundreds of years. In
the English Football League there are 92 professional clubs. These are semi-professional, so most players
have other full-time jobs. Hundreds of thousands of people also play football in parks and playgrounds
just for fun. The highlight of the English football year is the FA (Football Association) Cup Final each May.
Did you know?
The first set of laws of the game of football, or soccer as it is known in the US, date from the formation of
The Football Association in England in 1863.
Homework: a group of 2-4 members should prepare a presentation on football in the UK. The
presentations should help the audience answer at least the following questions:
1. How is King Henry VIII believed to be related to football?
2. What happened in Cambridge University in 1848 in connection with football?
3. Who is Ebenezer, and what happened at the Freemasons Tavern?
4. What do you know about the first ever international football match?
5. Who is an armchair supporter?
6. What are the rules of the game (number of players, what they can do, the rights of the coaches, basic
equipment or kit, what not to wear)?
7. Describe the place where football is played in detail.
Rugby
Rugby originated from Rugby school in Warwickshire. It is similar to football, but
played with an oval ball. Players can carry the ball and tackle each other. The best
rugby teams compete in the Super League final each September. For many years Rugby
was only played by the rich upper classes, but now it is popular all over the country.
There are two different types of rugby - Rugby League, played mainly in the north of
England, and Rugby Union, played in the rest of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, together with France and Italy, play in an annual tournament
called the Six Nations.
American Football derived from our game of Rugby also Baseball derived from the old English game of
Rounders.

41

Tennis
The world's most famous tennis tournament is Wimbledon. It started at a small
club in south London in the nineteenth century. It begins on the nearest Monday
to June 22, at a time when English often have the finest weather. Millions of
people watch the Championships on TV live. It is traditional for visitors to eat
strawberries and cream whilst they watch the tennis.
Did you know?
Wimbledon is the oldest of all the major tennis tournaments beginning in 1877. The rewards of prize
money began in 1968 when the total purse allocated was 26,150 (about $40,000).
Netball
Netball is the largest female team sport in England. The sport is played almost exclusively by women and
girls, although male participation has increased in recent years. Netball is a ball sport played by two
teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of
basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960, international playing
rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation
of Netball and Women's Basketball (later renamed the International Netball
Federation (INF)) was formed. As of 2011, the INF comprises more than 60
national teams organized into five global regions. During general play, a
player with the ball can hold on to it for only three seconds before shooting
for a goal or passing to another player. The winning team is the one that
scores the most goals. Netball games are 60 minutes long. Variations have
been developed to increase the game's pace and appeal to a wider
audience. (Source: wiki)
Basketball
Over 3 million people participate in basketball in the UK.
Basketball was created by the Canadian teacher Dr James Naismith. In December 1891 he created the 13
rules that have governed basketball, whilst teaching at what is now Springfield College. Basketball was
first played by men at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Women first played at the 1976 Olympics. In 1992
professional players were allowed.
The British & Irish Basketball Federation (BIBF) was formed in
1960 from funding from the Sports Council. In October 2004 the
BIBF changed its name to Great Britain Basketball.
Some famous British players now in the roster are Kieron Robert
Achara and Ashley Hamilton.

42

Golf
Scotland is traditionally regarded as the home of golf. There are over 400 golf courses in
Scotland alone. The most important golf club in Scotland is in the seaside town of St.
Andrews, near Dundee. The Open Championship or simply The Open (often referred to as
the British Open), is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. Held in
the United Kingdom, it is administered by The R&A and is the only major outside the United
States. The Open is currently the third major of the calendar year, following The Masters and
the U.S. Open, and preceding the PGA Championship.
The current champion is Zach Johnson, who won the 144th Open at the Old Course at St. Andrews in
2015. Johnson defeated Marc Leishman and Louis Oosthuizen in a 4-hole playoff on Monday, 20 July
2015.
Horse racing
Horseracing, the sport of Kings is a very popular sport with meetings being held every day throughout
the year. The Derby originated here, as did The Grand National which is the hardest horse race in the
world.
Horse racing and greyhound racing are popular spectator sports. People can place
bets on the races at legal off-track betting shops. Some of the best-known horse races
are held at Ascot, Newmarket, Goodwood and Epsom.
Ascot, a small town in the south of England, becomes the centre of horse-racing world
for one week in June. It's called Royal Ascot because the Queen always goes to Ascot. She has a lot of
racehorses and likes to watch racing.
Polo
Another equestrian sport is polo, brought to Britain from India in the 19th Century by army officers. It is
the fastest ball sport in the world.
Polo is played with four men on horses to a team. A ball is hit with a stick
towards the goal, one at each end of a 300 yard long by 160 yard wide field...
Find out more here ....

Table Tennis (ping pong)

Table tennis was invented in England in 1880. It began with Cambridge University
students using cigar boxes and champagne corks. Although the game originated in
England, British players don't have much luck in international championships.

43

Badminton
Badminton takes its name from the Duke of Beauforts country home, Badminton House,
where the sport was first played in the 19th century. Badminton is a recreational sport
played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with
larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per
side) and "doubles" (with two players per side). Badminton is often played as a casual
outdoor activity in a yard or on a beach; formal games are played on a rectangular indoor court. Points
are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the opposing side's half of
the court. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. Play ends once
the shuttlecock has struck the floor or if a fault has been called by the umpire, service judge, or (in their
absence) the opposing side.
University Boat Race
In the nineteenth century, students at Oxford and Cambridge, Britain's two oldest
universities, were huge fans of rowing. In 1829, the two schools agreed to hold a
race against each other for the first time on the Thames River. The Oxford boat
won and a tradition was born. Today, the University Boat Race is held every spring
in either late March or early April.
Fishing (Angling)
Angling is one of the most popular sports in the UK, with an estimated 3.3 million
people participating in the sport on a regular basis. Fishermen can be seen sitting
beside rivers and lakes.

Bowls
The two main forms of bowls are lawn flat green (outdoor and indoor) and
crown green. Bowls or lawn bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll
biased balls so that they stop close to a smaller ball called a "jack" or "kitty". It
is played on a bowling green which may be flat (for "flat-green bowls") or
convex or uneven (for "crown green bowls"). It is normally played outdoors
(although there are many indoor venues).
Darts
Darts is a very popular pub game. The game of darts, as it is today, was invented in
the north of England in a town called Grimsby. However, the origins of the game date
back to at least the Middle Ages.

44

9. Food and drink

(Main sources: projectbritain.com, Wikipedia, YouTube)
Meals and meal times
Breakfast: between 7:00-9:00
Lunch: between 12:00-1:30
Many children at school and adults at work will have a packed lunch in a plastic container. This typically
consists of a sandwich, a packet of crisps, tuna, ham and pickle sandwiches, and a piece of fruit and a
drink.
Dinner (sometimes called Supper) The main meal. Eaten anytime between 6:30-8:00 pm.
On Sundays the main meal of the day is often eaten at midday instead of in the evening. This meal is
usually Roast Dinner consisting of a roast meat, Yorkshire pudding and two or three kinds of vegetables.

45

9. 1 Main Meal Dishes

British food has traditionally been based on beef, lamp, pork, chicken and fish and generally served with
potatoes and one other vegetable. The most common and typical foods eaten in Britain include the
sandwich, fish and chips, pies like the Cornish pasty, trifle and roasts dinners. Some of the main dishes
have strange names like Bubble & Squeak and Toad-in-the-Hole. You will hear more about these later.
The basic foods of Britain are meat, fish, potatoes, flour, butter and eggs. Many of the dishes are based
on these foods.
Some examples of main meal dishes in England:
1. The typical Sunday lunch: Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding (see: previous page)
2. Toad-in-the-Hole (sausages covered in batter and roasted)
Similar to Yorkshire Pudding (made from flour, eggs and milk, moistened with
gravy) but with sausages placed in the batter before cooking.

3. Roast Meats:

Typically joints of beef, pork, lamb or a whole chicken. More rarely duck,
goose, gammon (in the picture; gammon is ham), turkey or game are eaten.

4. Fish and chips

Fish (cod, haddock, huss, plaice) deep fried in flour batter with chips (fried
potatoes) dressed in malt vinegar. This is Englands traditional take-away food.
Fish and chips are not normally home cooked but bought at a fish and chip shop
(chippie) to eat on premises or as a take away.

5. Ploughmans Lunch
This dish is served in Pubs. It consists of a piece of cheese, a bit of pickle and
pickled onion, and a chunk of bread.

46

6. Shepherds Pie
Made with minced lamb and vegetables topped with mashed potato.

7. Lancashire Hotpot
A casserole of meat and vegetables topped with sliced potatoes.
8. Pie and Mash with parsley liquor
A very traditional East End London meal. The original pies were made
with eels because at the time eels were a cheaper product than beef.
About fifty years ago, mince beef pies replaced the eels and have now
become the traditional pie and mash that people know. The traditional
pie and mash doesnt come without its famous sauce known as liquor
which is a curious shade of green and definitely non-alcoholic. The liquor
tastes much nicer than it looks (its bright green).
9. Bubble & Squeak
Typically made from cold vegetables that have been left over from a previous meal, often the Sunday
roast. The chief ingredients are potato and cabbage, but carrots, peas, Brussels sprouts, and other
vegetables can be added. The cold chopped vegetables (and cold chopped meat if used) are fried in a
pan together with mashed potato until the mixture is well-cooked and brown on the sides. The name is a
description of the action and sound made during the process.
10. Bangers and Mash (mashed potatoes and sausages)
Bangers are sausages in England. (The reason sausages were nicknamed bangers is that during wartime
rationing they were so filled with water they often exploded when they were fried.
11. Black Pudding (Blood Pudding)
Looks like a black sausage. It is made from dried pigs blood and fat, and is usually eaten at breakfast
time.
See how some of these are made by some of the most popular chefs in the UK:
Hilarious British breakfast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nUKwvFsjA4
Yorkshire pudding and what its for: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUvIJqhq0KQ

47

9. 2 Public Houses (Pubs)

The word pub is short for public house. There are over 60,000 pubs in the UK (53,000 in England and
Wales, 5,200 in Scotland and 1,600 in Northern Ireland). One of the oldest pubs, Fighting Cocks in St.
Albans, Herts, is located in a building that dates back to the eleventh century.
Pubs are popular social meeting places. Pubs are an important part of British life. People talk, eat, drink,
meet their friends and relax there.
Pubs often have two bars, one usually quieter
than the other, many have a garden where people
can sit in the summer. Children can go in pub
gardens with their parents.
Groups of friends normally buy 'rounds' of drinks,
where the person whose turn it is will buy drinks
for all the members of the group. It is sometimes
difficult to get served when pubs are busy: people
do not queue, but the bar staff will usually try and
serve those who have been waiting the longest at
the bar first. If you spill a stranger's drink by accident, it is good manners to offer to buy another drink.
British Beer
Most pubs belong to a brewery (a company which makes beer) but sell many different kinds of beer,
some on tap (from a big container under the bar) and some in bottles. The most popular kind of British
beer is bitter, which is dark and served at room temperature (not hot, not cold). British beer is brewed
from malt and hops.
More popular today though is lager, which is lighter in colour and served
cold. Guinness, a very dark, creamy kind of beer called a stout, is made in
Ireland and is popular all over Britain. In the West of England, cider made
from apples, is very popular. Like wine, it is described as sweet or dry, but
is drunk in beer glasses and can be stronger than beer.
Beers are served in "pints" for a large glass and "halves" for a smaller one.
Most pubs offer a complete range of beers, local and imported, with German, Belgian and French beers
being in demand. Pubs sell soft drinks as well as alcohol
British people drink an average of 99.4 litres of beer every year. More than 80% of this beer is drunk in
pubs and clubs.
Nearly all pubs sell pub lunches. One of these is the Ploughman's Lunch. Other typical pub foods are
scampi (kind of shellfish) and chips (fried potatoes), pie and chips, and chicken and chips.

48

Pubs have traditional names which date back over 600 years. Some typical names are The Chequers, The
White Swan, The Crown, The King's Arms, The Red Lion and The White Horse. People often refer to the
pub by its name when giving directions: Turn left at the Rose and Crown. There is usually a sign outside
the pub showing the pub's name with a picture.
Tea as a meal
Tea is not only the name of the beverage, but of a late afternoon light meal at four o'clock, irrespective
of the beverage consumed. Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford is credited with the creation of the meal
circa 1800. She thought of the idea to ward off hunger between luncheon and dinner, which was served
later and later. The tradition continues to this day. Tea is often accompanied with a
light snack, such as biscuits, and it was the emergence of afternoon tea that saw
Britain regard biscuits as something "dunked" in tea; a British custom that was
exported around the globe. McVitie's biscuits are the most popular biscuits in the UK
to "dunk" in tea, with McVitie's chocolate digestives, Rich tea and Hobnobs ranked the nation's top three
favourite biscuits in 2009.
There is a tradition of tea rooms in the UK which provide the traditional fare of cream and jam on
scones, a combination commonly known as cream tea. While these establishments have declined in
popularity since World War II, there are still many tea rooms to be found in the countryside. In Devon
and Cornwall particularly, cream teas are a speciality. Bettys Caf Tearooms, established in 1919, is now
classed as a British Institution.
Tea today
In 2003, DataMonitor reported that regular tea drinking in the United Kingdom was on the decline. There
was a 10 percent decline in the purchase of normal teabags in Britain between 1997 and 2002. Sales of
ground coffee also fell during the same period. Britons were instead drinking health-oriented beverages
like fruit and/or herbal teas, consumption of which increased 50 percent from 1997 to 2002. A further,
unexpected, statistic is that the sales of decaffeinated tea and coffee fell even faster during this period
than the sale of the more common varieties. Declining tea sales were matched by an increase in espresso
sales.

49

Additional information / homework (use the internet: projectbritain.com if you cant find anything
else):
1. What are the most popular places nowadays in Britain for take-aways?

2. Mention some festive foods (at least 3). Describe how they are made.

3. Describe some popular puddings and cakes in England (at least 3)

4. Eating etiquette. Describe 5 things you should and 5 things you should definitely not do when eating in
Britain.
DO

DONT

50

10. A quick overview of music in Britain

1960's Mop Tops

The 1960s saw the emergence of a highly competitive band scene. It was in this decade British music
really exploded onto the international scene. For the first time, British people had money in their pockets
to spend on music. An underground music movement began to materialise to light up the teen scene.
This overtook the cosy cardigan comfort music that peoples parents and grandparents enjoyed listening
to. It was an exciting time for young people and this new, fresh and vibrant style overwhelmed the
country.
Things really started to hot up when The Beatles arrived. With their
catchy melodies and strong personalities, they captured the hearts of
Britain. Along with media hype, Beatlemania swept into other
countries and soon Britain was considered to be the centre of the
music world. The Americans have even termed this as the British
Invasion. They continued to dominate the decade, becoming the
most influential band of all time.
The legendary rock group, The Rolling Stones was also a leading member of the British Invasion. They
were a heavier alternative to The Beatles, and by 1966 had become one of the
most experimental and trendy rock groups around. As with The Beatles, they had
a huge following and many many hits.
In the mid to late 60s came the Hippy Movement. The way of the Hippy was to
dress, behave and live life in a manner that did not conform to societys
standards. They had a liberal attitude and lifestyle and greatly believed in the
importance of peace, love and freedom (the picture on the right is from the film
Hair.)

1970's Platform Passion

Also remembered as the decade that taste forgot, the 1970s brought with it glam, glitter and stadium
rock as well as punk, soul and the dance music that many (very) secretly loved.disco!
The 70s began with a major increase in LP sales from acts such as Led Zeppelin, The Who and Deep
Purple. The first big new sound of the decade was Glam Rock, the main advocates of this were Sweet,
Slade Marc Bolans T-Rex and of course Gary Glitter. In the bleak political backdrop, these larger that life
British bands and characters brought a welcome relief with their platform boots, sequins, nail varnish
and colourful hair.

51

Intellectual artists also emerged, for example David Bowie (on the right as Ziggy
Stardust). Bowie was a master of reinvention and is thought of as more vibrant
and creative than the average rock star of this time. In 1972 he achieved an
international breakthrough with The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the
Spiders from Mars about a gender-bending rock star from outer space.
Also in this decade, Elton John had his first top ten hit with Your Song and the
kings of disco, the Bee Gees spread Saturday Night Fever and had many
successful dancefloor hits. The great rock band, Queen emerged in the 1970s
and proceeded to have a number of hits, including the unforgettable Bohemian
Rhapsody which was also the song that launched the pop video. This pioneering promo only cost 3500
to make and three hours to shoot, but helped Bohemian Rhapsody reach a worldwide audience.
Punk-rock exploded across Britain towards the late 70s, spitting in the
face of musical trends of the time. Angry and frustrated young men and
women reacted against the system and rejected almost anything
institutional. Great British bands of this scene were The Sex Pistols and
The Clash. The Sex Pistols caused outrage across the nation especially
when they swore on the Bill Grundy TV show and a cult was born. The
Punk style of Mohicans, bondage clothes, safety pins, piercings, bovver
boots and sneering attitude was a perfect front for their rebellion.
Other major British bands/artists of this decade include the Pink Floyd or The Police.

1980's Electro-Pop
By the 1980s, popular music was part of everyday life, whether in soundtracks to films or in the
background of commercials. Also the introduction of the Compact Disc (CD) replaced vinyl and the
quality of sound recordings vastly improved.
The 1980s were an interesting musical decade. It brought the last waves of disco and music splintered
into many different styles. Advances in technology resulted in genres from acid
house to death metal to glam rock to techno-pop. Musical styles changed fast in
this decade. One of the most significant of these was the birth the New Romantics,
such as Soft Cell, Duran Duran, Human League and Spandau Ballet. With bold
make-up, sculpted hair, pirate costumes, kilts and leather jackets with scarves,
these bands had their own fantasy-driven style and kids lapped up the outrageous
glamour. Wham! had many hits in the 1980s, proving hugely popular with the
teenage market. Other British bands/artists in this decade include: Erasure, Pet Shop Boys (see picture
on the left), Simply Red.
Electropop was a genre of synthesised pop music which thrived during the early 80s and produced a
cold, robotic, electronic sound with catchy melodies which has continued to influence artists since.
British successes in this area were New Order, Depeche Mode and OMD.
52

Within the political climate of the 80s, commonly known as Thatcherism, the power of pop was
utilised for the roles of musicians as politicians. Protest songs were released in increasing numbers. For
example in Ghost Town, The Specials were scathing in their opposition to Thatcherite Britain and
response to rising unemployment. In the same way, the name of the group UB40 was also the code of
the dole card.
Bob Geldof, a singer with Boomtown Rats, achieved a magnificent political and musical feat in 1984. He
brought many artists together to form Band Aid, a project
to help the starving people in Ethiopia. They produced a
No.1 hit with Do they know its Christmas? In 1985, he
organised Live Aid two huge concerts held at the same
time via satellite, one at Wembley Stadium in London and
the other at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. These concerts
were listened to on TV or radio by 1.5 billion people across
130 countries, as well as the 160,000 people who attended.
Millions of pounds were raised for the African people.

1990's Britpop
The 1990s brought with it the phenomenon of Britpop. Largely of the indie genre, this music provided
the soundtrack to British youth of this era. Crucial to Britpop were the melodies and catchy choruses, all
having a distinctly British taste. There were many British bands that
emerged under this title. Oasis occupied the grittier side of the scene,
whereas bands such as Blur and Pulp were more art-rock and middleclass. With Oasis and Blur came a well-documented rivalry. This
culminated in the race for number 1 between Blurs Country House
(the winner) and Oasis Roll With It.
In stark contrast to the Britpop style came the success in this era of
British boy bands. Take That were the most successful boy band of the 1990s, having eight No. 1s. East
17 were another boy band who, whilst being in the shadow of Take That, had ten top ten hits between
1992 and 1998. Girl bands had their moments too, such as All Saints and The Spice Girls. The latter were
a national phenomenon and became massive export, with people all over the world watching with intent
at the antics, styles and charisma of Baby, Sporty, Posh, Ginger and Scary Spice.
Dance music also became hugely popular throughout this
decade. This brought about the growth of clubs and the birth of
Superclubs, such as Cream, Gatecrasher and Ministry of Sound,
Prodigy and the international successes of DJs including Carl Cox
and Pete Tong. Clubbing entered the mainstream and
incorporated a number of distinct genres, ranging from garage
to drum and bass to commercial dance/house to hardcore

53

trance. In the early-90s, rave culture was massive and heavily influenced by the widespread use of drugs
thought to add to the spiritual rave experience.

The beginning of the 21st Century

Music has become more fragmented. There has been a massive growth in manufactured pop with boybands such as Westlife, Blue and 5ive providing plenty of squeals of delight from teenage girls across the
country. In fact, Westlife set a new record with their first 5 singles going in at No.1. Other singers include
Robbie Williams, Dido or the Muse.
Along with this has been the appearance of TV programmes, such as Pop Idol, producing acts such as
Gareth Gates and Will Young. Pop Idol proved to be a huge British success that it then moved over the
Atlantic to American success. After the clubbing theme of the 90s, dance conformists argued that rock
had been killed for good. However, this has proved to be far from the case, with bands such as The
Darkness becoming more popular as well as Coldplay, Radiohead, Travis and Stereophonics enjoying
great success. Despite our charts having a heavy American feel, the world continues to look at the UK for
its evolving styles, talent and creativity.

Politics and music / some examples:

Through the years several musicians and bands have used their music as a vehicle to express their
political views. From Verdi to Pussy Riot, these artists use songs and performances to spark movements.
As long as there are policies and issues to rage against, these artists and bands will keep making sure
their voices get heard.
What examples can you find from the text above to how music is sometimes related to politics?
(list at least 5)

Some more examples of the relationships between politics and music:

In July 2012, three female members of a Russian punk band called Pussy Riot were arrested and put on
trial for hooliganism after they performed an anti-Putin song on the altar of Moscow's main Orthodox
cathedral. During one of the most high-profile trials that Russia's seen in years, the band members said
their demonstration was political, not an attack on Orthodox Christians. On Aug. 17, 2012, the three
members, Masha, Katya, and Nadya, were convicted of hooliganism and sentenced to two years in a
penal colony. At the sentencing, activists outside of the courthouse began to protest, chanting "Free
Pussy Riot!" Police arrested dozens of protestors. Rallies supporting the three women were held in cities
around the world, including London, New York and Paris. Immediately following the verdict, governments
including the United States, and human rights groups criticized the decision, calling the sentence severe.

54

This wasn't the first time that musicians and politics have collided. Political expression through music has
been present in many cultures and time periods.
In 1844, Nabucco, an opera by Giuseppe Verdi, premiered. In the opera, a chorus of Hebrew slaves was
considered to be a call for the Italians to overthrow Austria and France's dominance. Napolon had
crowned himself king of Italy in 1805; but with the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Austria once again
became the dominant power in a disunited Italy. In 1859, Italy helped France in a war against Austria as
part of a push toward its unification. Verdi was appointed to the parliament of a newly unified Italy in 1861.
In the 1954 ballet Spartacus, composer Aram Khachaturian used gladiator slaves rebelling against Roman
masters as a metaphor to overthrow the Russian government. German composer Kurt Weill believed in
writing music that served a purpose socially and politically. A socialist, Weill's most well-known work, The
Threepenny Opera, took a Marxist viewpoint of capitalism.

Over the years, folk music commented on politics directly. "We Shall Overcome," perhaps the best-known
folk protest song, was taken from an early gospel song, "I'll Overcome Someday" by African-American
composer Charles Albert Tindley. The tune was made popular by Pete Seeger and Joan Baez. It was
used as a theme during the Civil Rights Movement. "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" by Pete Seeger
became a popular protest song during the Vietnam War. Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" helped usher in
a younger generation's discontent with the beliefs and politics of older generations.

Read some more articles at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barrett-martin/music-and-the-politics-of_b_4087557.html

Presentations. In groups of 3-4 prepare quality presentations to each other on the following music
styles: e.g. Blues, Jazz (Afro-Cuban, Dixieland, etc.), Soul and R&B, Industrial, Indie rock and pop,
Electronic (Ambient or Electroacoustic, etc.), Folk (Traditional Irish, etc.), Reggae, Metal (Black, Death,
Doom, Thrash), Glam, Grindcore, Punk (Anarcho, Folk, Hardcore Emo), or if there is any other specific
style, ask your teacher.
In your presentation include all of the criteria below:

Narrow down the topic with some historical background: place it in context: around that time
what kinds of music were there, what does it belong to
Typical musical instruments used, characteristics of the music and live events
The main message of the music and lyrics if it has any
Types of people associated with it, appearance, outfits, their common beliefs and approach to
life
Political message, if it has any
Include the most important performers and a slide about one or two
Have a 2-minute sample of the music

The rest of the class should be taking notes based on all of these ideas. The presenters should make sure
that the rest of the class can follow them. That they understand all of the words used and that their
presentation provide help to their classmates in future tests and exams. Take notes in the boxes below:
55

Type of
music:___________________________
Historical background/context:

Instruments, characteristics of live events

The main message of the music and lyrics

People, appearance, outfits, common beliefs
and approach to life

Political message, if any

Performers:

Type of
music:___________________________
Historical background/context:

Instruments, characteristics of live events

The main message of the music and lyrics

People, appearance, outfits, common beliefs

and approach to life

Political message, if any

Performers:

56

Type of
music:___________________________
Historical background/context:

Instruments, characteristics of live events

The main message of the music and lyrics

People, appearance, outfits, common beliefs
and approach to life

Political message, if any

Performers:

Type of
music:___________________________
Historical background/context:

Instruments, characteristics of live events

The main message of the music and lyrics

People, appearance, outfits, common beliefs

and approach to life

Political message, if any

Performers:

57

Type of
music:___________________________
Historical background/context:

Instruments, characteristics of live events

The main message of the music and lyrics

People, appearance, outfits, common beliefs
and approach to life

Political message, if any

Performers:

Type of
music:___________________________
Historical background/context:

Instruments, characteristics of live events

The main message of the music and lyrics

People, appearance, outfits, common beliefs

and approach to life

Political message, if any

Performers:

58

Type of
music:___________________________
Historical background/context:

Instruments, characteristics of live events

The main message of the music and lyrics

People, appearance, outfits, common beliefs
and approach to life

Political message, if any

Performers:

59

11. Architecture / Famous cathedrals

Westminster Abbey, the coronation church of the British monarchy since the 11th century
Just a short walk from the Thames, Westminster Abbey is a mustsee and a significant structure in British history. This beautiful gothic
church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site popular with many visitors
to London. Complete with paintings, stained glass windows and
other religious artefacts, Westminster Abbey owns the most
important collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in Britain.

Highlights:

Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, Dr. Samuel Johnson and Charles Darwin were buried in the
churchs grounds
The Abbeys history is made up of famous Kings and Queens, as well as renowned poets and
priests even heroes and villains were embroiled in its past!
Memorial for Isaac Newton in Scientists corner
Westminster contains impressive statues and monuments from the Virgin Mary holding a baby
Jesus to the grave of the unknown warrior
The Little Cloister which leads to the College Gardens, the oldest garden in England, where the
clergy staff live

Did you know:

In 2011 it was the venue for the wedding of Prince

William and Kate Middleton
Its been the nations Coronation church since the
crowning of William the Conqueror in 1066
The current reigning Queen Elizabeth II was crowned
on King Edwards Chair, along with every monarch
since 1308
There are 450 tombs and monuments in the Abbey
The Chapter House has one of the oldest doors dating to 1050
If you look closely, the walls are littered with schoolboy graffiti from the 1700s-1800s

York Minster
York's cathedral church is one of the finest medieval buildings in Europe. The
Minster is also known as St Peter's, its full name being the 'Cathedral and
Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York'. In the past the church sat within its own
walled precinct, known as the Liberty of St Peter.

60

The site of the magnificent medieval building has always been an important one for the city. The
remains of the Basilica, the ceremonial centre of the Roman fortress, have been found beneath the
Minster building.
The first Christian church on the site has been dated to 627 and the first Archbishop of York was
recognised by the Pope in 732.
A stone Saxon church survived Viking invasion in 866 but was ransacked by William the Conqueror's
forces in 1069. William appointed his own Archbishop, Thomas, who by the end of the century had built
a great Norman cathedral on the site.
The present Gothic-style church was designed to be the greatest cathedral in the kingdom. It was built
over 250 years, between 1220 and 1472.
As the natural centre of the Church in the North, the Minster has often played an important role in great
national affairs - not least during the turbulent years of the Reformation and the Civil War.
See more at: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/york-minster
Winchester Cathedral is a beautiful Anglican cathedral in the county of Hampshire, southeast England.
The present structure, dating mostly from 1097, it is the longest cathedral in the country.
Winchester Cathedral
A Saxon church was built on this spot in 648 and was soon used by a Benedictine monastery. Saint
Swithun (d. 862) was bishop of Winchester and a tutor to young King Alfred. Despite his importance in
life, the saint humbly requested that he be buried
outside upon his death, so that "passers by might tread
on his grave and where the rain from the eaves might fall
on it." He was initially buried in the churchyard in
accordance with his wishes, in a highly prestigious
position. But when the Saxon cathedral, the Old Minster,
was enlarged in 971, the saint's remains were moved
inside. According to legend, it then rained nonstop for
40 days. Local lore still has it that if it rains on St.
Swithun's Day (July 15), 40 days of rain will follow:
The present church, the longest medieval cathedral in
Britain, dates from 1079, and was built in the Norman (Romanesque) style. St. Swithun's remains were
moved to the new church in 1093. The cathedral attracted many pilgrims who came to pray at the tombs
of Swithun and other saints.
The soaring Perpendicular Gothic nave of Winchester Cathedral, the longest in England, is the highlight
of the building. Also impressive are the chantry chapels, the reredos (late-15th-century ornamental

61

screens), and the elaborately carved choir stalls featuring flowers and plants, owls and monkeys,
dragons, knights and green men.
Jane Austen is buried here; her grave is marked with a commemorative plaque. Also buried in
Winchester Cathedral are the bones of many Saxon kings, the remains of the Viking conqueror Canute
and his wife, Emma, and the remains of William Rufus (William II), son of William the Conqueror.
The cathedral's library contains over 4,000 books, including several illuminated manuscripts from the
Middle Ages. Especially notable are Bishop Morley's 17th-century book collection and an exhibition
room contains the 12th-century Winchester Bible.
Canterbury Cathedral
St Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, arrived on the coast of Kent as a missionary to England
in 597 AD. He came from Rome, sent by Pope Gregory the Great. It is said that Gregory had been struck
by the beauty of Angle slaves he saw for sale in the city market and despatched Augustine and some
monks to convert them to Christianity. Augustine was given a church at Canterbury (St Martins, after St
Martin of Tours, still standing today) by the local King,
Ethelbert whose Queen, Bertha, a French Princess, was
already a Christian. This building had been a place of worship
during the Roman occupation of Britain and is the oldest
church in England still in use. Augustine had been
consecrated a bishop in France and was later made an
archbishop by the Pope. He established his seat within the
Roman city walls (the word cathedral is derived from the Latin
word for a chair cathedra, which is itself taken from the
Greek kathedra meaning seat.) and built the first cathedral
there, becoming the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Since
that time, there has been a community around the Cathedral
offering daily prayer to God; this community is arguably the
oldest organisation in the English speaking world. The present
Archbishop, The Most Revd Justin Welby, is 105th in the line
of succession from Augustine. Until the 10th century, the
Cathedral community lived as the household of the
Archbishop. During the 10th century, it became a formal
community of Benedictine monks, which continued until the
monastery was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1540.
Augustines original building lies beneath the floor of the Nave it was extensively rebuilt and enlarged
by the Saxons, and the Cathedral was rebuilt completely by the Normans in 1070 following a major fire.
There have been many additions to the building over the last nine hundred years, but parts of the Quire
and some of the windows and their stained glass date from the 12th century.
By 1077, Archbishop Lanfranc had rebuilt it as a Norman church, described as nearly perfect. A
staircase and parts of the North Wall in the area of the North West transept also called the Martyrdom
remain from that building.

62

The work of the Cathedral as a monastery came to an end in 1540, when the monastery was closed on
the orders of King Henry VIII. Its role as a place of prayer continued as it does to this day. Once the
monastery had been suppressed, responsibility for the services and upkeep was given to a group of
clergy known as the Dean and Chapter. Today, the Cathedral is still governed by the Dean and four
Canons, together (in recent years) with four lay people and the Archdeacon of Maidstone. During the
Civil War of the 1640s, the Cathedral suffered damage at the hands of the Puritans; much of the
medieval stained glass was smashed and horses were stabled in the Nave. After the Restoration in 1660,
several years were spent in repairing the building. In the early 19th Century, the North West tower was
found to be dangerous, and, although it dated from Lanfrancs time, it was demolished in the early
1830s and replaced by a copy of the South West tower, thus giving a symmetrical appearance to the
west end of the Cathedral. During the Second World War, the Precincts were heavily damaged by
enemy action and the Cathedrals Library was destroyed. Thankfully, the Cathedral itself was not
seriously harmed, due to the bravery of the team of fire watchers, who patrolled the roofs and dealt
with the incendiary bombs dropped by enemy bombers.
Today, the Cathedral stands as a place where prayer to God has been offered daily for over 1,400 years;
nearly 2,000 Services are held each year, as well as countless private prayers from individuals. The
Cathedral offers a warm welcome to all visitors its aim is to show people Jesus, which we do through
the splendour of the building as well as the beauty of the worship.
597 St Augustine arrived in Kent and soon established the first Cathedral
1070-1077 Cathedral rebuilt by Archbishop Lanfranc
1098-1130 New Quire built over a Crypt (present Western Crypt)
1170 Thomas Becket murdered in the Cathedral
1175-1184 Quire rebuilt. Eastern Crypt, Trinity and Corona Chapels added (all as seen today)
1220 Beckets body placed in new Shrine in Trinity Chapel
1377-1405 Lanfranc Nave demolished and rebuilt as seen today; Cloister vaulting inserted
c1450 Pulpitum Screen constructed
1498 Bell Harry Tower extended and the Cathedral largely complete as seen today
1538 Beckets Shrine destroyed by Henry VIII
1540 Monastery dissolved by royal command
1541 New Foundation of Dean and Chapter established
1660-1704 Repairs and refurbishing after Puritan damage
1834 North West tower rebuilt
1954 Library rebuilt, repairing War damage
1986 Altar of the Swords Point (Martyrdom) restored
1988 Compass Rose placed in the Nave
2000 International Study Centre (Cathedral Lodge) opened in the Precincts

63

Christopher Wren and St. Pauls Cathedral

Wren was an English scientist and mathematician and one of Britain's most distinguished architects, best
known for the design of many London churches, including St Paul's Cathedral.
Christopher Wren was born on 20 October 1632 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, where his father was rector.
His father later moved to Windsor and Wren was educated at Westminster School and then Oxford
University. He showed an early talent for mathematics and enjoyed inventing things, including an
instrument for writing in the dark and a pneumatic machine. In 1657, Wren was appointed professor of
astronomy at Gresham College in London and four years later, professor of astronomy at Oxford. In
1662, he was one of the founding members of the Royal Society, along with other mathematicians,
scientists and scholars, many of whom were his friends.
Wren's interest in architecture developed from his study of physics and engineering. In 1664 and 1665,
Wren was commissioned to design the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and a chapel for Pembroke
College, Cambridge and from then on, architecture was his main focus. In 1665, Wren visited Paris,
where he was strongly influenced by French and Italian baroque styles.
In 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the medieval city, providing a huge opportunity for
Wren. He produced ambitious plans for rebuilding the whole area but they were rejected, partly because
property owners insisted on keeping the sites of their destroyed buildings. Wren did design 51 new city
churches, as well as the new St Paul's Cathedral. In 1669, he was appointed surveyor of the royal
works which effectively gave him control of all government building in the country. He was knighted in
1673.
In 1675, Wren was commissioned to design the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. In 1682, he received
another royal commission, to design a hospital in Chelsea for retired soldiers and in 1696 a hospital for
sailors in Greenwich. Other buildings include Trinity College Library in Cambridge (1677 - 1692), and the
facade of Hampton Court Palace (1689 - 1694). Wren often worked with the same team of craftsmen,
including master plasterer John Groves and wood carver Grinling Gibbons.
Wren died on 25 February 1723. His gravestone in St Paul's Cathedral features the Latin inscription which
translates as: 'If you seek his memorial, look about you.'
Dr Gordon Higgott said: "Wren had an extraordinary ability to express three-dimensional forms on paper
purely through the use of line. His complete grasp of complex architectural relationships, and his natural
talent for delegating design-work to assistants, enabled him to remodel the dome in a series of trial-anderror studies between 1685 and 1708.
Oliver Caroe, the Cathedrals current Surveyor to the Fabric (the title held by Wren himself) added:
"Taken at face value, Sir Christopher Wren took risks which would be unconscionable in architectural
practice today. What Dr Higgott has demonstrated is that Wren was not only an exceptional master of
the science and craft of architectural design; he also commanded almost complete control of the entire

64

construction process. Thus the risks he encountered - and originated - were well matched by his
extraordinary talents.
St Pauls is the only great cathedral of the early modern era to have been designed and completed by a
single architect. It is also an exceptionally well-documented historic building. All the building accounts,
contracts, and records of the Rebuilding Commission survive, along with about 290 original design
drawings. It used to be thought that Wren designed the whole building up to the colonnade of the dome
in 1675 and only made changes to the outer dome, lantern and western towers after about 1700.
However, research on Wrens office over the past decade has identified the hands of most of the
draughtsmen working at St Pauls and helped establish dates, or date-ranges, for almost every drawing.
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is an Anglican cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother
church of the Diocese of London. It sits on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London. Its
dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. The
present church, dating from the late 17th century, was designed in the English Baroque style by Sir
Christopher Wren. Its construction, completed in Wren's lifetime, was part of a major rebuilding
programme in the City after the Great Fire of London.
The cathedral is one of the most famous and most
recognisable sights of London. Its dome, framed by the
spires of Wren's City churches, dominated the skyline
for 300 years. At 365 feet (111 m) high, it was the
tallest building in London from 1710 to 1962. The
dome is among the highest in the world. St Paul's is the
second largest church building in area in the United
Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral.
St Paul's Cathedral occupies a significant place in the
national identity. It is the central subject of much promotional material, as well as of images of the dome
surrounded by the smoke and fire of the Blitz. Services held at St Paul's have included the funerals of
Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill; Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria;
peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the wedding of Charles, Prince of
Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, the launch of the Festival of Britain and the thanksgiving services for
the Golden Jubilee, the 80th Birthday and the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
Homework (compulsory): Use 5 sources (cite and indicate those sources appropriately) to write 800
words about one of the castles of the UK found on this website:
http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/arts-and-culture/articles/britains-top-10-castles
You can use pictures to make your assignment more appealing. Send it via e-mail. Save with the file
name: Your name_9A_castles + Have your name, class and assignment title on the document itself.

65