MUSICAL DIVERSITY

PART A
GENRES
LEAD-IN
1 Look at the word cloud. Talk to your partner.
1) Which genres are familiar to you?
2) Which ones are popular in your country?
3) Which of these genres influenced your country’s music scene?
4) Do you feel that you have a special connection with any of these genres of music?
Which?

2 Watch the video “The differences between the music genres”. With the
partner look through the list of different genres of music. How many do you
think you can identify in music?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uxF9CsxW88
Put a tick (ν) against the genre you can easily identify, a cross (x) against the
one which you find hard, a minus (-) when you are not sure.

World
Jazz Soul Reggae Film score Pop
music

Hip New
EDM Gospel Disco Latin
hop age

March Children’s
Rock Blues Country
music music

Folk Classical Musical R&B Funk

1 MAIN ACTIVITY
1a Look up the following words / phrases.

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 an artiste memorabilia
a music genre an LP
Napster to headline
revenue concert announcements

1b Read the headline of the article. What trend in the world of modern music
do you the think the author discusses? Read the article and check your
predictions.
Could the music of the future
transgress the walls of genres?
In today’s streaming era, with more
exposure to music than ever before,
listeners as well as artistes have begun to
veer away from the confines of genres
A couple of decades ago, if a teenager
Streaming platforms not only offer a
walked up to another and asked what kind
of music he or she listens to, and one said ridiculous amount of choice in terms of
“rap” and the other said “metal”, the odds artistes, but the method of consuming
music has slowly shifted to the playlist
of them hanging out together would be
from the album. These playlists, whether
very slim. Cut to 2018 and the very
curated by the service itself or compiled by
possibility of either of them naming a
other users, offer a diverse range of genres
single genre is minimal.
and artistes, and often, listeners don’t even
According to a recent survey by Vice know who they’re listening to. So in a
Magazine, 78 percent of young people said sense, online playlists have replaced the
they couldn’t be defined by the genre they traditional format of the album as the
listened to. That’s actually a huge shift in preferred choice for listeners.
audience tastes, but one that can easily be
What this atmosphere has brought about
understood when put in context.
is the death of the “super fan”. We’ve all
Until the era of online bootlegs and peer- encountered them at least once even
to-peer sharing, which sprouted though they belong to a dying breed. It’s
somewhere in the early 2000s, the most that person who religiously collects all of
common method of music consumption the artiste’s memorabilia and knows all the
was the radio. Stations were often album names in chronological order (not
dedicated to a single style or genre and to mention the lyrics of each song).
heavy rotation playlists were largely
You get the picture. But the conditions that
instrumental in the taste making process.
were good for the existence of the super
In the Napster era, music sales took a giant
fan are fast disappearing, as record stores
slump, but the importance of radio was
and music shops are slowly fading away.
still sort of intact. Today, in the digital
Fans just aren’t as obsessed about
streaming age, that’s not the story
individual artistes anymore. Sure there are
anymore.
artistes like Drake or Beyoncé that have a
The Global Music Report 2018 announced church-like following, but there are very
that last year, online music streaming few fans that are listening to the albums
services such as Spotify and Apple Music from start to finish, which also explains
became the music industry’s single biggest the massive popularity of the single as a
revenue source, overtaking physical sales format over an LP.
and digital downloads for the first time.

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As listeners across the world are gaining
exposure to a seemingly unlimited range
of artistes from disparate genres,
simultaneously, the approach to creating
music has changed for the artiste as well.
Artistes are incorporating more and more
diverse elements into the work, erasing the
walls between genres to create a new blend
and flavor of music.
As hip-hop races past rock and claims the
throne of the new mainstream, some
breakthrough artistes are redefining the
very sound of hip-hop, incorporating
elements of jazz, rock, gospel, electronica
and a whole bunch of other styles into their
music. Producers are pushing the
boundaries of the field by working with
people from all sides of the musical world.
Some of the best albums are those that
borrow from a host of genres to create
something individualistic and unique.
There is a unique problem in terms of
“genrefication” in the modern musical age.
With the rise of so many unique artistes on
digital platforms, the basic human need to
box and categorize everything for the sake
of simplification has rather complicated
things. The result is an explosion of
“micro-genres” that chip away deeper into
the niches of a particular musical style.
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Just take pop for example. There’s synth-
pop, power-pop, Baroque-pop, chillwave,
art pop, chamber pop... the list is endless.
And two artistes both classified under the
pop umbrella could sound nothing like
each other. The pop of Ariana Grande is
entirely different from the pop of say,
someone like Capital Cities. And even if
artistes draw from a range of influences, it
doesn’t mean we can easily classify them
under one genre. For instance, if you were
to google Lana Del Rey, you’ll find her
listed under “pop, indie R&B, indietronica,
chamber pop and synthpop”. Sure, she
dabbles with all those styles but she’s also
not defined by any single one of them.
Meanwhile, as genres get more and more
esoteric, weirdly enough, they’re also
getting less relevant. That should explain
why almost every underground rock act in
the last decade or so are all inconveniently
clubbed under the bracket of ‘alternative’.
If it’s too hard to describe and categorize,
which is often the case these days, it’s the
easiest solution. This genre-blurring has
proven problematic in a lot of situations.
Out of the many ways in which this genre-
blending is affecting the music industry,
the one place where it’s clearly evident is
the problem of booking acts at music
 So with the boundaries of genres slowly
getting thinner and thinner, could the
future of music be heading towards a
genre-less direction? Or at least a place
where genres don’t matter anymore? That
could very well be where we’re heading.
After all, how many acts will we categorize
into the alternative label before we give up
on trying to make things fit? The fact
remains that art is never created in a
vacuum. It’s constantly shaped by the
festivals. For example, Coachella, a festival shifts in times and cultures. And we’re
that was traditionally associated with probably living in the most rapidly
indie/alternative rock acts had Beyonce changing cultural landscape in human
headline. The 1975, who are “not rock”, history, and the music of the time reflects
headlined the Reading and Leeds Festival that. These are exciting times! (Music
alongside Foo Fighters and Twenty One Business Association, 25 December 2018)
pilots, and festival goers are just as divided
about the announcements.
1c Read the article again, answer the questions and do the tasks below.
1) How does the author characterize the modern era? Why? To what extent do you share
the opinion?
2) How have youngsters’ music preferences changed over the past years?
Complete the table with the information from the article.

2000s 2010s
music preferences
rap, metal

young people accessed

music via ….

youngsters were exposed to playlists, music albums

….. music

attitude to genres and

styles of music

3) What do modern music streaming platforms offer to young people today? How do
you feel about that?
4) Why does the author describe a “super fan” as a dying breed? Are you of the same
opinion? Do you prefer the music of a certain artiste or a band or you would opt for musical
diversity?
5) How have music genres changed over the course of time?
6) What is ‘genrefication’? What impact does it have on the modern musical age?
7) Give examples of problem situations that genre-blending can cause. Have you ever
found yourself divided or confused by concert announcements? Have musical acts or artistes
always lived up to your expectations?
8) How important is it to categorize music?

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1d Read the sentences. Explain what the phrases in bold mean in English.
1) The odds of them hanging out together would be very slim.
2) Cut to 2018 and the very possibility of either of them naming a single genre is
minimal.
3) Music sales took a giant slump, but the importance of radio was still sort of intact.
4) Record stores and music shops are slowly fading away.
5) There are artistes like Drake or Beyoncé that have a church-like following.
6) The artistes classified under the pop umbrella could sound nothing like each
other.
7) Lana Del Rey dabbles with all those styles but she’s also not defined by any single
one of them.
8) Producers are pushing the boundaries of the field by working with people from
all sides of the musical world.

1e Complete the sentences with the prepositions. Agree or disagree with these
statements. Use the words in bold in your answers.
1) Listeners as well as artistes have begun to veer ___ from the confines of genres.
2) Young people can’t be defined ___ the genre they listen ___.
3) In the early 2000s, radio stations were often dedicated ___ a single style or genre.
4) The playlists are often curated ___ the streaming platforms or compiled ___other
users.
5) Listeners across the world are gaining exposure ___ a seemingly unlimited range
___ artistes ___diverse genres.
6) The result is an explosion of “micro-genres” that chip ___ deeper ___ the niches of
a particular musical style.
7) We can easily classify artistes ___ one genre.
8) The future of music could be heading ___ a genre-less direction.

1f Make up a “music” mind map. Scan the text. Search for words that are related
to music. Compare your mind map with your partner’s.

exposure
to music

1g Use the words / phrases you like best to make some sentences of your own.

1h Work with a partner or in small groups. Discuss the questions.

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1) How many ...
 MP3 tracks do you have on your mobile?
 music CDs do you have?
 music cassette tapes do you have?
 music vinyl records (LPs) do you have?
2) What music radio station do you usually listen to? Do you think that music radios will
eventually fade away?
3) Do you have a favourite streaming platform? How much do you spend on music
streaming services every month?
4) Have you ever illegally downloaded music? Do you think it is okay to download music
illegally?
5) When was the last time you bought a single or album?
6) Do you buy albums online or CD’s from the music shop?
7) Do you follow the artistes, music producers you like on social media?

2 VIDEO ‘WHAT YOUR MUSICAL TASTE SAYS ABOUT

YOU’
https://youtu.be/p5-i4X1WOTI
2a Pre-viewing
1 Discuss the following with your partner.
1) How true is the statement that our musical tastes reveal our personalities?
2) What kind of music are you into? What does your music preference say about you?
3) What kind of music did you listen to when you were a teenager?
4) Do you listen to tons of music every day? Why, or why not?

2 With your partner, complete the sentences

about different types of music. Make notes.
1) People who like jazz or classical music are…
2) Pop music lovers tend to be…
3) If you like rap music, you are probably…
4) Country music fans are…
5) If you are into metal, you are …
6) … music is likely to cause nostalgia.
7) … people are likely to experience shivers while listening to music.
8) People who are crazy about bass are likely to have…
9) Athletes love… music.
10) Teens are drawn to heavier genres because…
11) People who enjoy repetitive music are…

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2b Viewing
Watch the video and check your answers.

2c Post-viewing
Work in small groups. Agree or disagree with the following. Use the words in
bold.
1) The video sheds light on the link between musical taste and personality, it gives
some interesting tidbits.
2) There is no correlation between our music preferences and personalities.
3) Music can evoke incredible emotions within us.
4) Certain music is more nostalgic than others. Some tracks can bring back tons of
incredible memories, both joyful and sad.
5) Music speaks to us as we relate to its melodies and harmonies.
6) I never get goosebumps while listening to music.
7) The heavy, booming nature of bass is a big part of popular music these days.
8) People prefer music that they think is most fitting to their own perception of
themselves.

3 EXTRA ACTIVITY
3a Discuss in small groups.
1) What is music streaming?
2) What are the benefits of streaming?
3) Why do you think buying records is back in fashion again?
4) What objections to streaming could there be?

3b Read the article about different listening habits and answer questions 2-4
from exercise 3a. Explain the meaning of the words and phrases in bold.
You are on the bus and the person in front of you is wearing headphones and shaking their
head to a rhythm. It would be hard to guess their musical taste but it’s likely they are listening
via a music streaming service. More and more tracks are being streamed online in the UK.
It’s easy to see the advantages of streaming over downloads –you can search millions of
tracks, customise – creating and sharing playlists socially – and find out about new groups
and singers. You can also listen anywhere you like if you have an internet connection. If you
don’t, many streaming services now offer a temporary downloading service.
Consumers are generally content (a subscription costs about £10 a month), but artists lose
out on royalties. As a result, well-known musicians such as Taylor Swift, Radiohead and
Coldplay have either banned their music from being streamed or have released it physically
before allowing it to be streamed. They complain that the system is unethical because music
should not be free.
The convenience of streaming is undeniable, but vinyl records have been making a huge
come back in the UK. Even supermarkets have started to sell them! Young people now feel
nostalgia for an era they never knew and love to dig out their parents’ old vinyl. They are
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not content with just listening to music in a ‘cloud’, they want to have it physically and
treasure it. Records are real objects of desire.
Whatever your opinion, there has been one positive consequence of music streaming: the
number of illegal downloads has dropped. So, however we listen, at least more of us are
doing it legally!

3c Underline the correct alternative.

1) The number of people using streaming services is increasing / dropping.
2) With regards value for money, most consumers are happier than / not as happy as
the artists.
3) Artists complain that the system is fair / unjust to them.
4) The popularity of records can be explained by the desire for better quality / to own
something.
5) In the final paragraph, the author is positive / neutral about streaming services.

3d In pairs or in small groups discuss the following.

1) What is your opinion about music streaming? Do you listen to
music this way? Or are you anti-streaming?
2) Do you think music streaming is fair for artists? Why, or why
not?
3) Would you be interested in owning music physically?

FOLLOW-UP
1 Work with your partner and discuss the future of music.
1) In today’s streaming era, with the increasing rise of downloading from the internet,
what do you think the future of the music industry is?
2) How might music sound in 2065?
3) What do you think the next piece of music technology will be, after digital technology?

2 Make up an outline of possible musical development by 2065. Describe the

key music genres and trends. Get ready to justify your outline, using the
phrases below.

Expressing your opinion Talking about the future

In my opinion, … It’ll happen any day now.
As far as I know, … It’s right around the corner.
As I see it, ... …in the near future.
If you ask me, … It will/won’t happen in our lifetime.
For me/ From my point of view, I’m counting down the days until…
I agree with the opinion of …

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I could be wrong, but … Sooner or later… / It’s bound to happen
eventually.
I’d definitely say that …
I’m absolutely certain that … Time will tell.

I’m no expert (on this), but …

I’m positive that …
I’m pretty sure that …

3 Work in small groups. You are going to launch a music streaming platform.
Decide on the things listed below and present your streaming platform for the
class.
 the name and logo
 what age groups you want to attract
 what music genre/genres you will introduce to the audience
 which artistes you will invite to perform
 something that will make your platform special

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 MUSICAL DIVERSITY
PART B
GOING CLASSICAL
LEAD-IN
1 Read the quotes about classical music. Say
which opinion is the closest to how you feel
about classical music.
Classical music is an unbroken,
living tradition that goes back over
1,000 years, and every one of those
years has had something unique and
powerful to say to us about what it’s
like to be alive.
Michael Tilson Thomas, an American conductor, pianist and composer.
Classical music is not entertainment, and I feel strong about that.
Classical music is forever. Entertainment is something that is here
today, and may be gone tomorrow.
Van Cliburn, an American pianist who, at the age of 23, achieved
worldwide recognition.

A love of classical music is only partially a natural response to hearing the

works performed, it also must come about by a decision to listen carefully,
to pay close attention, a decision inevitably motivated by the cultural and
social prestige of the art.
Charles Rosen, an American pianist and writer on music. (1927-2012)
Classical music is one of the best things that ever
happened to mankind. If you get introduced to it in the
right way, it becomes your friend for life.
Yo-Yo Ma, an American cellist.

2 Work with a partner and discuss the following.

1) Do we need to know the music to enjoy it?
2) What do you think is classical music?
3) What differentiates classical music from other musical
genres?
4) Do you have a favourite period, composer, piece of
music?

3 Listen to 10 super famous classical piano pieces and try to identify them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMpWE_YuQpk&feature=youtu.be

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1 MAIN ACTIVITY
1a Google and/or listen to the following before you read the article.
 Henry Purcell
 Handel/Messiah/oratorio/opera/choral writing
 Haydn
 Mendelssohn
 The British national anthem/Marseillaise/Fratelli d’Italia
 bhangra/grime/dubstep/jungle
1b Read the article. What are the two aspects the author focuses on?
Charles Hazlewood on the flourishing of British classical
music
To the Germans, Britain was the land
without music. Not so, argues conductor
Charles Hazlewood: we have a hugely
dynamic musical culture – and we do like
a good sing-song.
It is one of the most famous insults in
musical history: in the mid-19th century,
the Germans declared that Britain was
“the land without music”. And it was true
that, since Purcell’s death in 1695, there
had not been any British composers of real
stature. “British” music had instead been
dominated by Handel, Haydn and
Mendelssohn – all of them of German
extraction. These three composers lived
and worked in Britain, using it as a cultural
studio, writing some of their best work
here. So why were we unable to produce
geniuses of our own?
Recently, I have been challenged by this
question on two counts. One: how was it
that our tiny country managed to punch
above its weight in so many other areas –
military, economic, literary – but not when
it came to music? And two: what does this
say about our musical culture and who we
are as a nation?
British music – as opposed to English,
Scottish, Welsh or Irish – began with our
own great Henry Purcell, who turns 350
this year. One of the undisputed greats of
the early baroque period, Purcell’s work
reflected the vigorous renewal of the arts
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that came with
the restoration
of Charles II in
1660s.
So if Purcell
was the first
truly British
composer,
what does his work say about us? His
music was steeped in our folk tradition; he
drew on the best and the most
harmonically intense elements of the great
Tudor composing tradition, producing
exquisitely visceral and melancholic tunes.
There is plenty of Shakespeare’s dying fall
in Purcell’s composition – and it feels very
familiar. Even if you don’t know his music
well, it chimes with our national tendency
to be the Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh
lexicon. We don’t do heavily miserable, but
we do do melancholic: always a bit down
on ourselves, always pessimistic about the
weather, rarely enthusiastic about
anything without qualification.
The flip side of this melancholia is our
acute embarrassment when it comes to
expressing any kind of national pride. Not
so our friends on the mainland: the
Marseillaise and Fratellid’Italia are
celebrating the supremacy of France and
Italy. The British national anthem is, by
contrast, a pretty ordinary tune expressing
vague sentiments about the monarch. But
hey: we can all sing it.
Being able to sing it, as it happens, does
matter. Watch Real Madrid play Arsenal:
the Spanish will chant, but the British will
sing. Though few of us would call ourselves
singers, we do enjoy
a good collective
sing-song. And this
was what George
Frideric Handel
exploited
brilliantly, and to
our benefit.
Though born in
Germany, Handel died here after
becoming a British citizen. He came to
London via Italy in 1710, where he had
exploded on to the theatre scene with his
lavish Italianate operas. A pragmatist, he
decided a radical overhaul of his business
plan was required. He decided to make
oratorio a British tradition to be proud of,
in the form of pieces such as his Messiah.
Here were great big stories told in music,
but which needed no staging and none of
the trappings of theatre. Large choirs were
their mainstay, and so the great British
choral-society tradition was born. I’m
willing to bet that there are more choral
societies in Britain today than in any other
country in Europe. As Handel said: “What
the people of this country like best is
something that hits them straight on the
drum of the ear.”
One of our other great visiting composers,
Joseph Haydn, an Austrian citizen of
German stock, arrived in London in 1791.
He became obsessed with the sheer scale
of London, which industrialization and a
liberal culture had turned into a hub of
enterprise. Like Handel, he adapted his
work to this context, writing 12 “London”
symphonies packed with the sort of exotica
and dramatic effects the British thrilled to.
He even wrote British “folk” music, in
response to the growing trend for parlour
music-making at home.
Haydn’s alien status was no barrier to
success. No one cared that he wasn’t
1b Read the article again. Answer the questions.
1) Why was Britain declared the “land without music”?
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British. The fact was, here was the greatest
composer in Europe, writing and
producing work in Britain for the British.
He was ours, wherever he came from.
Voltaire called Britain “the land of the free
thinker”. I think the fact that we are an
island nation, that we haven’t had to
defend land boundaries and fight over
which patch of land is ours or “theirs”, has
engendered a confidence (arrogance, too,
I’m sure) in our culture. Down the years,
this confidence has afforded us room for
the foreign, the strange and the radical.
Because our sense of nationhood has been
looser, the brightest and the best on
mainland Europe have wanted to work
here, to allow themselves to be shaped by
British culture.
This extraordinary openness continues.
There are 300 different languages spoken
on the streets of London today, more than
anywhere else in the world. So if we
haven’t excelled at jingoistic national
pride, or worked obsessively on
developing an exclusively British
tradition, it’s because we haven’t needed
to. Instead we have a hugely dynamic
musical culture that still flourishes today,
with the glorious kaleidoscope of new
genres such as bhangra, grime, dubstep
and jungle.
I think it’s the
very
mongrelness of
our nation, its
constant influx
of foreigners
from the
Vikings to
today’s Poles –
and our cultural
confidence not
to care – that has enabled composers to
flourish here. And, dare I say it, to produce
something that is uniquely and
wonderfully British. (The Guardian, 9
April, 2009)
2) What was H.Purcell’s contribution to the development of 17th century British music?
3) What made his music special? How did it chime with the character of the British
people of that period?
4) How do the British express their national pride in music? What do they mostly enjoy
about it?
5) What does the article say about G.F.Handel? How did he change the world of British
music in the 18th century?
6) How did J.Haydn contribute to British music in the 18 th – 19th centuries? How did the
British people relate to the fact that Haydn was not a British national?
7) Why did Voltaire call Britain “the land of the free thinkers”? Did it have any impact
on shaping the musical life of the country?
8) What is the British musical culture like today? What enables its flourishing today?

1c Say which of the composers (Purcell, G.F.Handel, J. Haydn)

1) is regarded as one of the undisputed greats of the early baroque period;
2) is thought to be the first truly British composer;
3) steeped his music in British folk tradition;
4) produced melancholic music;
5) brilliantly exploited the tradition of a good
collective sing-song in his works;
6) adopted the British citizenship;
7) acquainted the British with Italianate operas;
8) made oratorio a British tradition;
9) stimulated the birth of the great British choral-society tradition;
10) was obsessed with London culture;
11) wrote 12 “London” symphonies;
12) composed British “folk” music in response to parlour music-making.

1d What/who does the author describe using the words below?

 cultural  lavish
 hugely dynamic  alien
 vigorous  undisputed
 harmonically intense  jingoistic
 exquisitely visceral and melancholic  collective
 always pessimistic and rarely enthusiastic  glorious

1e What does the author mean by the following? Explain in English.

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1) British music is said to have been dominated by Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn –
all of them of German extraction.
2) In Purcell’s composition, there is plenty of Shakespeare’s dying fall.
3) The flip side of this melancholia is our acute embarrassment when it comes to
expressing national pride.
4) What the people of this country like best is something that hits them straight on
the drum of the ear.
5) The very mongrelness of our nation has enabled composers to flourish here.
6) How was it that our tiny country managed to punch above its weight in so many
other areas?
7) His music was steeped in our folk tradition.
8) Even if you don’t know his music well, it chimes with our national tendency.
9) He became obsessed with the scale of London.
10) The fact that we are an island nation has engendered a confidence in our culture.

1g Fill in the necessary preposition.

1) Purcell drew ____ the best and the most harmonically intense elements of the great
Tudor composing tradition.
2) How was it that our tiny country managed to punch
____ its weight in so many other areas – military, economic,
literary – but not when it came ____ music?
3) The British national anthem is, ____ contrast, a
pretty ordinary tune.
4) Handel decided to make oratorio a British tradition to
be proud ____, ____ the form of pieces such as his
Messiah.
5) This was what Handel exploited brilliantly, and ____
benefit.
6) Haydn arrived ____ London in 1791. He became
obsessed ____ the sheer scale of London, which
industrialization and a liberal culture had turned ____ a
hub of enterprise.
7) He even wrote British “folk” music, ____ response ____ the growing trend ____
parlour music-making at home.
8) ____ the years, this confidence has afforded us room ____ the foreign, the strange
and the radical.
9) The fact that we are an island nation, that we haven’t had to defend land boundaries
and fight ____ which patch of land is ours or “theirs”, has engendered ____ a confidence
in our culture.
10) If we haven’t excelled ____ jingoistic national pride, or worked obsessively ____
developing an exclusively British tradition, it’s because we haven’t needed to.

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1h Read Charles Hazlewood’s answer to the question below. How does it
resonate with you?
What single thing would improve the format of the
classical concert?
“Firstly, I want to see true inclusivity, by which I mean a
genuine mix on stage of able-bodied and disabled, black,
white and everything in between – not through tokenism
but sheer bloody talent. Secondly, the genuine desire of
every artist on that stage to engage and embrace the
audience, through the music. Whatever music it is, however difficult it is, any worthwhile
music will speak to any audience if the intention is right. It is all about the mindset of
sharing, not showing. Music is communication, an act of love, not a display.”

2 VIDEO “WHY I TAKE THE PIANO ON THE ROAD… AND

IN THE AIR”
https://www.ted.com/talks/daria_van_den_bercken_why_i_take_the_piano_on_the_ro
ad_and_in_the_air#t-541583
2a Pre-viewing
1 Read the title to the video and the information about the speaker. What do
you think she will talk about? What genre of music is she enthusiastic about?
Why?
Why I take the piano on the road … and in the air…
Daria van den Bercken loves classical music, and she
wants the world to love it, too. The Dutch/Russian
pianist plays with several orchestras in the
Netherlands, but she plays music in some unusual
places, too, such as in the air and driving down streets.
Because of her enthusiasm and her unusual
performances, Daria attracts many new listeners to
her favourite music - the baroque keyboard music of
George Frederic Handel.

2 Read the sentences below and guess the meaning of the words and phrases in
bold. Match them to the definitions below.
1) Beethoven was a classical composer. He wrote symphonies and other woks of
music during 18th-19th centuries.
2) Daria believes that young children listen to classical music without prejudice.
3) Some people are good at playing the piano. I can’t relate to that because I’m not
very musical.
4) Some people don’t like jazz because of its complexity.
5) Happiness and sadness are contrasting emotions. They are opposites.

a) ____________ (v) understand

b) ____________(n) a person who writes music

15
c) ____________ (n) an opinion based on general dislikes or good feelings, rather
than facts or reasons
d) _____________(adj) showing a difference
e) _____________ (n) the condition of having many difficult parts

3 Learn some facts about George Friedrich Handel.

George Friedrich Handel was born in Germany in 1685 but
spent most of his adult life in London. He wrote music for
singers and choirs, including operas. He is also well known for
his organ music and keyboard music.

2b Viewing
1 Watch the video. Which two statements do you think Daria van den Bercken
would agree with?
1) If you love something, you should try to share it with other people.
2) Older children can deal with the complexity of classical music better than the younger
ones.
3) Everyone should listen to classical music the way young children do.
4) All music expresses contrasting emotions.

2 Answer the questions below.

1) In what country did Daria play Handel while flying?
2) In what city did she play Handel while driving down streets?
3) Daria was especially amazed by on type of Handel’s music. What was it, and why did
she like it so much? Where did she find this music?
4) How does her onstage performance of Handel sound at first? How does the music
change?
5) According to van den Bercken how do children who are 7-8 years old listen to music?
6) Why does she think older children might not like classical music?

2c Post-viewing
Discuss with your partner:
1) Why did Daria van den Bercken play Handel in the air and while driving down the
streets?
2) What is the key idea of the TED talk? Is it worth spreading?

3 EXTRA ACTIVITY
3a Read an extract from a classical music beginner’s guide.

16
 How you can get into classical music
So, you want to explore classical music? The first question must be: where to start? The
most obvious fact about classical music is that it’s absolutely huge. It stretches back at
least 500 years, and over the past century has travelled from its ancestral homeland in
Europe to embrace the whole world.
A medieval song about love; a Beethoven symphony; a brand-new piece for a children’s
choir; and electronics all come under the heading of ‘classical music’.
Try to swallow all that whole and you’ll end up feeling disorientated and more than a little
sick. You need to find the parts that speak to
you personally. It may be that Russian music
fires you up, or the calm beauty of
Renaissance music, or the adventurous,
strange sounds of living composers. When you
make the discovery it will feel like fate, as if the
music was just waiting for you to come along.
As you explore you’ll encounter things you
simply don’t like, or even hate. That’s okay.
There’s no obligation to like a piece of music
just because it’s classical. The first and only
rule in classical music listening is: be true to your feelings. Don’t persuade yourself you like
something, just because somebody has declared it a masterpiece.
The first step is to locate the door that lets you into the world of classical music, which you
can then explore, one step at a time, at your own pace…

3b Which of the words/phrases in bold mean the following?

1) to make someone become excited
2) to search and discover about something
3) at your own speed
4) to spread over a long period of time
5) to spread worldwide
6) to experience a situation, especially something that is unexpected and unpleasant

3c Talk to your partner. Agree or disagree with the following.

1) “Where to start?” – is an important question to ask oneself when you explore classical
music.
2) You can easily get disoriented in the world of classical music.
3) A newcomer to classical music should find the music that “speaks to his/her
personality”.
4) If you encounter music that you don’t like or even hate, you should try to make
yourself like it.
5) “Be true to your feelings” – is the only rule in building relations with classical music.
6) You should try to learn as much as you can about classical music.

17
3d Read the text below and find out where else you can hear classical music in
Britain apart from concert halls and iPods.
If you’ve ever taken a trip to London and travelled by tube, you may
have noticed the soothing sound of classical music playing
overhead. What exactly has sparked this new trend? The
scheme was launched by TfL (Transport for London) to give
people’s happiness and wellbeing a boost. Previously, TfL played
popular classical melodies only in certain zones to deter
antisocial behaviour, which apparently did the trick. The bright initiative is said to have
cut robberies, assaults on staff and vandalism. Similarly, north London police were
inspired to play classical music in problem areas to reduce crime. And in Liverpool,
Cambridge, Southampton and London, several fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s
have been known to feature classical lists at night to create a
calming atmosphere.
There must be enough evidence to suggest that classical music in
public spaces can discourage the congregation of people who
would otherwise act anti-socially. Classical music makes
everything better, doesn’t it?

3e Match the words and phrases in bold with their meaning in English.

1) soothing a) to prevent or discourage someone from

doing something

2) to spark a trend b) making you feel calm

3) to deter antisocial behaviour c) violent attacks

4) to do the trick d) to cause the start of something

5) assaults e) to achieve the desired result

3f In pairs, agree or disagree with the following.

1) Playing classical melodies encourages more acceptable conduct.
2) British classical music lovers are most likely to turn to McDonald’s for an audio
experience.
3) It’s wrong to play classical music in the underground and fast food restaurants. It’s
wreaking cultural vandalism on the greats.

FOLLOW-UP
1 Talk to your partner.
1) When did you last listen to classical music? Where
was it? What kind of music did you listen to?
2) What is the most memorable concert of classical
music you’ve been to?

18
3) Would you dress up if you were to go to a concert of classical music? What would you
put on?
4) How expensive are tickets for classical music concerts in our country? Are there any
discounts for students?
5) How important is it to learn something about the composer’s life before you listen to
their music?

2 With a partner complete the 7 tips how to listen to classical music. Compare
what you have in the gaps with another pair.
1) Listen ____________, not passively. Classical music needs paying attention to. You
can’t just let it wash over you.
2) If possible, listen to music live. There’s a lot of ____________ when it comes to
performers.
3) If you can’t ____________, then choose a world-class recording. There’s a massive
bank of recordings.
4) Listen at a good volume on good quality ____________.
5) Listen ____________. With some composers you need to do so before it clicks,
before it falls into place
6) Take time to ____________ with a new style.
7) Go to a ____________. Tickets can be cheap. You can dress up. Listen carefully.
Keep the silence out of respect for the audience. Avoid talking or doing something that can
distract people sitting next to you.

3 Work in small groups. You are given a

time machine: what period, or moment
in musical history, would you travel to
and why? Share with the class.

19
 MUSIC FESTIVALS
PART A
THE PROMS
LEAD-IN
1 Work in pairs. Explain the words/phrases from the text in English. Look them
up if necessary.

 Philharmonic Orchestra  recital

 chamber music  tenor
 ensemble  opera
 Symphony Orchestra  cast
 queuing

2 Read the dialogue in pairs. Then talk to your partner.

1) What music venues are there in London?
2) Which of the concerts would you go to and why?
3) How diverse is the music landscape in your country? What are the finest concert
halls? Are there any outdoor live music venues? What are they?
4) What music festivals or concerts have you been to? Which one was the most
memorable? Why?

Culver Jones: Do you have any tickets for the Festival Hall tonight?
Girl: Which concert, sir?
Culver: Is there more than one?
Girl: Yes, sir. There’s a concert with the Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra in the main Festival Hall.
There’s a concert of chamber music with the Nash
Ensemble in the Queen Elizabeth Hall next door, and
there’s a concert of Indian music in the Purcell Room —
that’s in the same building as the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Culver: Well! Well! Is that all you have to offer me?
Girl: Oh no, sir! There’s a Promenade Concert with the
BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Albert Hall.
Culver: Promenade Concert? What’s that?
Girl: Well, sir, it’s a kind of concert where you have to stand — if you want a really cheap
ticket, that is. Promenade tickets are very cheap, but if you want one, you’ll have to start
queuing this afternoon. Promenading is really for young people, sir.
Culver: Then it’s not for me.
Girl: There are seats upstairs, sir, but they’re more expensive and I’m afraid they’re- all
taken for this evening. Perhaps you’d like to go to the Wigmore Hall? There’s a recital there
by a new English tenor.
20
Culver: No, I don’t think so.
Girl: Well, there’s opera, of course. There’s Verdi’s Falstaff at the Royal Opera House at
Covent Garden — with an international cast — or there’s Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer
Night’s Dream at the London Coliseum. It’s very good, I’ve heard. Are you staying in Britain
long, sir?
Culver: About six months.
Girl: Well, sir, if you’re really fond of music, perhaps you’d like to do a little trip round
Britain visiting all the festivals. Here’s a list with all the dates.

1 MAIN ACTIVITY
1a Read the article about the Proms. What tradition and what controversy does
it talk about?
Tradition and controversy across the pond
of Brits sit around their TVs to sing at
home. It is beautiful and moving, and all
the more so from a country that generally
does not make bold outward displays of its
patriotism.
There is really no American equivalent to
the ‘Last Night of the
Proms’. The best
description I can come
up with is as a
As we have just enjoyed the great combination of the
American late summer tradition of Labor popularity and
Day weekend, this time of year my mind patriotism of the 4th of
always turns to a fantastic and very British July with the beautiful
summer tradition, “the Proms” or as it is music of the National
more formally known, the Henry Wood
Memorial Day Concert in Washington
Promenade Concerts. This is an eight- DC…only bigger and more widely watched.
week summer season of daily concerts of
orchestral classical music held annually in So how did the Proms start? The first
the Royal Albert Hall in central London. Proms concert took place in August 1895
Unfortunately, as with many traditional and was the brainchild of the impresario
events that have been interrupted due to Robert Newman, manager of the newly
Covid-19 this year, these are mired in built Queen’s Hall in London. His vision
controversy. was to reach a wide audience by including
more popular programming, less formality
As a girl and young woman living in and keeping
London, England, the Proms concerts ticket prices
were part of the background and low. This was
soundtrack to my life, especially the grand pretty
finale, known simply as the ‘Last Night of revolutionary
the Proms’. as he removed
Thousands of people from all over the seats in the
country flock to London to crowd around stalls –
the Royal Albert Hall and into the large traditionally the priciest as they are closest
Hyde Park nearby, to sing traditional and to the orchestra – and let people stand in
patriotic British songs together. Millions the ‘promenade’ he created to enjoy the

21
concert for a low price (hence its name of
‘the Proms’). He wanted to end formal and
regimented ways of presenting serious
classical music and create a music festival
for the people. Smoking and drinking were
encouraged by audiences in those early
days to make sure everyone felt welcome
and relaxed. However, it is the conductor
Henry Joseph Wood whose name is most
closely associated with the concerts. As
conductor from that first concert, Wood
was largely responsible for expanding the
repertoire heard in later concerts. A
bronze bust of Wood, belonging to the
Royal Academy of Music, is placed in front
of the Organ for the whole season.
‘Promming’ is still the cheapest way to go
to the festival, and people don’t need to
book in advance. Last year up to 1,350
standing places were available every day
for the equivalent of about $8.
Even two World
Wars could not
stop the Prom
concerts
continuing
although the
annual festival
of world-class
performances by
the world’s
greatest
classical
musicians of the
past, present
and future were a little curtailed from
1915-18 and 1940-45 as the two World
Wars raged. Even when the original venue
of the Queen’s Hall was bombed by the
Nazis and destroyed in 1941, the Proms
were moved to Royal Albert Hall in
Kensington, London and have remained
there ever since. In 1927, the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began
broadcasting the Proms concerts on the
radio and later TV too, meaning that the
music became even more accessible to
everyone.
So from the start the concerts were a
mixture of the high and the low, the
popular and the academic, the familiar
and the experimental. Amid the nights
22
devoted to giants such as Wagner and
Beethoven were works by new
composers including Debussy,
Rakhmaninov, Ravel and Vaughan
Williams. This tradition has continued
right up to today, with further innovations
along the way, including performances of
complete operas, performances of music
from non-Western cultures (notably India,
Thailand, Indonesia and Japan) and the
introduction of themed nights —
children’s music being a particular favorite
— and more popular music forms such as
jazz and gospel.
This year the Prom’s annual series of
weekly symphony orchestra concerts is
125 years old.
So with the challenges of COVID-19 and
the need to social distance, there are no
audiences and no crowds for the Proms
this year, and the role of the BBC in
broadcasting the concerts on radio and TV
has become even more important to the
British public. At The ‘First Night of the
Proms’ in July, socially-distanced
members of the BBC singers performed in
the Royal Albert Hall’s otherwise empty
stalls, with the orchestra spaced out on the
large stage. So, what was the controversy
all about?
The most popular ‘Last Night of the Proms’
traditionally ends with the singing of the
patriotic songs ‘Land of Hope and Glory’
and ‘Rule Britannia’, with the audience
and those watching at home
enthusiastically joining in. The BBC
originally decided to play instrumental
versions only not just because of concerns
about singers gathering with the threat of
COVID-19 but also because the lyrics
might potentially be associated with
colonialism and slavery.
This led to outraged outpourings from
thousands including public figures from
actors to politicians, most of which
declared that the pomp and pageantry of
the Proms was a staple of the British
summer. Even British Prime Minister
Boris Johnson intervened, stating that, “I
think it’s time we stopped our cringing
embarrassment about our history, about
our traditions, and about our culture, and
we stopped this general fight of self-
recrimination and wetness. I wanted to
get that off my chest.’’ Soon after this, the
BBC made a U-turn by finding the solution
of socially distanced singers so that
audiences are free to sing along at home.
I will leave you with a quote by Prince
Philip, Duke of Edinburgh – the Queen’s
husband, who at age of 99 perhaps has the
ability to see current events through the
long term lens of history as much as
anyone on earth. “Change does not change
tradition. It strengthens it. Change is a
challenge and an opportunity, not a
threat.” (Bryan County News, 10
September, 2020)

1b Answer the questions.

1) What are the Proms?
2) Where are they held?
3) How familiar is the author with the
Proms?
4) How did the Proms start? What 3 things
were at the core of the idea?
5) What were the early days of the Proms like?
6) What impact did the two world wars have on the Proms?
7) How does the author describe the quality of the concerts?
8) What innovations have there been?
9) How different were the 2020 Proms? Why?
10) What does the ‘Last Night of the Proms’ traditionally end with? What was different in
2020? How did people react to it? What did the BBC decide to do in response to it?
11) How does the author conclude her article? How effective is it?

1c Why are sentences 1-8 false? Underline the relevant phrase or sentence in
the article.
1) Labor Day weekend is an American equivalent to the ‘Last Night of the Proms’.
2) The ‘Last Night of the Proms’ is associated with singing world-class songs together.
3) British people are famous for an exuberant display of Britishness on any occasion,
according to the author.
4) The Proms have been around for a long time and even the two world wars didn’t affect
them at all.
5) Promming tickets for the more popular events are traditionally pricey unless they are
bought in advance.
6) It was impresario Henry Wood’s idea to remove seats in the stalls.
7) The Proms continue today, though they present pieces more central to the repertoire
and early music.
8) All Britons believed that the BBC was right to have Land of Hope and Glory and Rule,
Britannia performed without lyrics at the Last Night of the Proms in the wake of the Black
Lives Matter protests.

23
1d Explain the meaning of the following in English.

The Proms Giant

The Last Night of the Proms orchestral music
The Royal Albert Hall ‘Land of Hope and Glory’
the stalls ‘Rule Britannia’
conductor repertoire
impresario lyrics

1e Read the sentences and explain the phrases in bold in English.

a) “The Proms concerts were part of the background and soundtrack to my life.”
b) “Thousands of people from all over the country flock to London.”
c) “This was pretty revolutionary as he removed seats in the stalls.”
d) “He wanted to end formal and regimented ways of presenting serious classical
music.”
e) “The pomp and pageantry of the Proms was a staple of the British summer.”
f) “I wanted to get that off my chest.’’
g) “He has the ability to see current events through the long term lens of
history.”

1f Match the words to make pairs. Relate them to the text. What aspects of the
Proms do they describe?

1) social a) of R.Newman

2) displays of b) distancing

3) the grand c) venue

4) the original d) patriotism

5) the brainchild e) final

1g Fill in the missing prepositions where necessary.

1) My mind always turns ____ a fantastic and very British summer tradition, “the
Proms”.
2) Thousands of people from all over the country flock ____ London to crowd ____-
the Royal Albert Hall.
3) His vision was to reach ____ a wide audience by including more popular
programming.
4) The Proms concerts were ____ the radio and later TV, meaning that the music
became even more accessible ____ everyone.
5) The lyrics of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ might potentially be associated ____
colonialism and slavery.

24
6) The BBC made ____ a U-turn by finding the solution of socially distanced singers.
7) ____ the ‘First Night of the Proms’ in 2020, socially-distanced members of the BBC
singers performed ____ the Royal Albert Hall’s otherwise empty stalls, ____ the orchestra
spaced ____ ____ the large stage.
8) The most popular ‘Last Night of the Proms’ traditionally ends ____ the singing of the
patriotic songs ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Rule Britannia’, ____ the audience and those
watching at home enthusiastically joining ____.
9) The BBC made … a U-turn by finding the solution of socially distanced singers

1h Read the verse from the British alternative anthem ‘Land of Hope and Glory’.
Answer the questions below.
Land of Hope and Glory,
Mother of the Free,
How shall we extol thee,
Who are born with thee?
Wider still and wider shall
Thy bonds be set;
God who made thee mighty,
make thee mightier yet.
How would you describe the words of the song:

1) nationalistic 4) sacreligious
2) patriotic 5) imperialist
3) racist 6) other

What does the third line mean?

1) our country should become more powerful;
2) our country should invade other countries;
3) our country’s values should spread all over the world

1i Watch the videos of how “Land of Hope and Glory” was performed in 2012
and 2020. Account for the differences. Say how you feel about the
performances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r94sjdHQ0c
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-2247990/Land-Hope-Glory-performed-
BBC-Proms.html
1j Read the following quote in which impresario Robert Newman states his
goal. How does it make you feel? Can the public be trained to understand and
appreciate classical music?
“I am going to run nightly concerts and train the public by easy stages. Popular at first,
gradually raising the standard until I have created a public for classical and modern music.”

25
1k Talk to your partner. Agree or disagree with the following.
1) The Proms is prestigious and accessible at the same time.
2) I would be thrilled to become a Prommer.
3) Standing for the duration of the concert sounds a little bit uncomfortable.
4) Music can bring millions together through the act of listening.
5) The level of audience involvement at the Last Night of the Proms is striking.
6) Musical performance doesn’t happen in a cultural or political vacuum – even if people
want to escape the realities of the outside world.
7) The pandemic has affected our lives. But how hard the music industry has been hit is
phenomenal.
8) Digital opportunities are interesting but live
performance is irreplaceable.

2 VIDEO ‘What Are the Proms?’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hobGLNZMhyg
2a Pre-viewing
1 Match the words and phrases from the box to their definitions below.

a raffle ticket live music

a pre-concert talk a Promming line
Promming

a) a queue to buy tickets to see the Proms

b) a talk about the music you are going to listen to
c) music heard while it’s played
d) a numbered ticket
e) the use of the standing areas inside the hall for which ticket prices are much lower
than for the seating

2b Viewing
1c Watch the video and choose the right option to complete the statements.
1) The Proms usually last from _______.
a) mid June – mid September b) mid July - mid September c) mid July –
mid October
2) The 1st series of the Proms took place in _______.
a) 1885 b) 1985 c) 1895
3) The proms were created by _______.
a) Robert Newman and Henry Wood b) Henry Wood c) Robert Newman

26
4) Their idea was to _______.
a) combine different styles of music in one series of concerts
b) perform pieces composed by cutting-edge composers
c) introduce the audience to classical music only
5) The BBC got involved in broadcasting the concerts in the _______.
a) 1940s b) 1950s c) 1930s
6) Now you can listen to the Promenade concerts on _______.
a) BBC 2 and BBC b) Twitter BBC3 and BBC website c) BBC3 and BBC news
7) One of the most exciting ways to experience the Prom is by _______.
a) watching the proms on BBC website b) booking the tickets in advance c) Promming
8) _______ is in the DNA of the British people.
a) tea-drinking b) queuing c) Proms
9) When you are standing in a Promming line you are given a (an) _______.
a) event ticket b) return ticket c) raffle ticket
10) Right before the concert you can attend a _______.
a) buffet b) pre-concert talk c) rehearsal
11) A promenader has to pay _______ pounds to get to enjoy the concert.
a) 16 b) 60 c) 6
12) The best place to listen to music unfolding in front of the eyes of the listener is the___.
a) stalls b) arena c) balcony
13) The nice thing about the area is that the promenaders are really _______.
a) friendly b) noisy c) hospitable
14) What makes the Proms really special is the _______.
a) range of music it offers to listeners
b) the outstanding musicians
c) the music pieces performed
15) If you are planning a Prom in the summer to come, or want to get the information
about the concerts you should _______.
a) buy a Last Night ticket in advance
b) go to the BBC website
c) check the TV listings

2c Post-viewing
Talk to your partner.
1) What was the most surprising fact about the Proms you have learnt from the video?
2) Do you agree that the Proms are a must do activity? Why?
3) Are there any similar celebrations of classical music in your country? What do you
know about them?
27
3 EXTRA ACTIVITY
Top 10 tips for the BBC Proms
If you are in Britain over summer, why not come to a Prom? Make the most of the greatest
classical music festival on earth with our top tips for the BBC Proms London.
1 Read the Beginner’s Guide to the Proms. Student A: read tips 1-5. Student B:
read tips 6-10. Check the meaning of the words in bold and tell your partner
about the tips, make a list of 10 tips. Then decide on the three best tips.
Compare them with another pair.

Student A
1) Bag the best seat
Seated tickets for the Proms at the Royal Albert
Hall can be booked in advance, and start at £12 for
unrestricted view circle seats. Standing
(Promming) places are split between the Arena
and the Gallery. Promming tickets are available on
the day at £6 each, while seasonal and weekend
Promming tickets can be bought in advance.
Every night, standing tickets are sold on the door
– make sure to get there early to secure a spot.
2) Use public transport
With limited parking in the area, opt for public transport.
3) Be prepared to queue
If you’re going for the on-the-door standing tickets, be prepared for some serious queuing.
Keep a bottle of water on hand and an umbrella at the ready. A numbering system is
in place, so you don’t have to stand in line all day. Simply ask a steward for your place
number (which are handed out from 9am) and return to the line later to take up your
numbered position in the queue.
4) Dress up (or down)
“Promenading”, as the Proms were known when they started in 1895, was a glamorous
affair; these days the dress code has relaxed a little. So what to wear for the Proms? While
many love to glam up for the occasion, jeans and t-shirts are also perfectly acceptable.
5) Take the kids
Children between the ages of eight and 18 are positively encouraged to join in the classical
music celebrations with half-price tickets. Children can also enjoy a special series of
family-friendly events, from weekend matinee family concerts, to music workshops.

Student B
6) Wave your flag
It’s an emotional experience as thousands of “Prommers” join together shoulder-to-
shoulder to sing the National Anthem in Hyde Park or in the Royal Albert Hall at the Last
Night of the Proms. Swaying from side to side with your flag, or bobbing up and down
is mandatory.

28
7) Embrace the chanting
The eccentric ritual goes when the stagehands bring a piano onto the stage, the arena
prommers shout “heave” and the audience shouts “ho”… all part of the experience
whether you’re inside the hall or in the park.
8) Pack a picnic
It’s not really a British summer without a picnic; so if you’re heading to the Last Night
of the Proms in Hyde Park, come rain or shine, spread out a blanket and join the
crowds in unpacking sandwiches and fold-up chairs. If you don’t fancy buttering your own
bread, order a hamper to pick up when you get there.
9) Immerse yourself in the music
With countless performances spread across the
58 days, there’s plenty of opportunity to
discover wonderful new music and composers.
The acoustics are completely different in the
Arena right next to the orchestra compared to
high up in the Gallery, where the music floats
up to your ears. In quieter concerts, you can
even lie down in the Gallery to really unwind
and soak up the sounds.
10) Make new friends
One of the best things about the BBC Proms – and one of the many reasons its festival
veterans come back time and time again – is the sociable crowd. Strike up a conversation
with the person in the next seat or in the queue; rumour has it, even marriages have
followed these meetings.

FOLLOW-UP
1 Look at the poster of the very first “First Night of the Proms”. When and where
was it held? Who was the conductor? How comprehensible and attractive is the
poster?

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2 Look at the contemporary Proms posters below. How different are they from
the first Proms poster? Which one is the most grabbing? Why? Talk to a
partner.

3 Work in small groups. Imagine that the Proms have an unusual programme:
instead of live concerts, festival-goers will enjoy highlights which will be
broadcast on TV and radio. Talk to your partner and discuss the concept of one
Prom. Think about its name, 3-5 masterpieces it will feature (repertoire), the
performers and a picture or pictures to accompany the information. Present
your version of the poster to the class.

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 MUSIC FESTIVALS
PART B
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
LEAD-IN
1 Read three descriptions of experiences. What events do the people describe?
How do you think they feel about their experiences? Why?
1 I love going to the theatre and I especially love seeing new drama,
but I think a lot depends on the director. Sometimes, you can get
marvellous actors and a great play. But if the director is wrong, then
the whole thing can be disappointing. We usually go a couple of times
a month if we can. We take turns choosing what to go and see.
2 I’ve never been to anything like it before, but I have to say I really
enjoyed myself. They recorded it for television and there were ten
different choirs in the competition. The standard of the singing was
marvellous. Honestly, they were as good as professional even though
they were all amateurs who just sing in their free time. It’s on every year,
so I am definitely going back next year.
3 I love that moment when the lights go down and the audience is in their
seats, waiting for the show to begin. Sometimes, you can hear the musicians
moving around, getting ready. Then the curtain goes up and suddenly there’s
just lots of colour and movement, and energy and excitement. The contrast
from the dark and quiet to the explosion of dance is absolutely brilliant.

2 Work in pairs. Discuss the questions.

1) How often do you go to concerts, music festivals, shows, theatrical performances?
2) What are your favourite events?
3) What traditional events in your country or region do you enjoy?
4) Why do you think people are ready to spend their money on real-life experiences,
including festivals?

1 MAIN ACTIVITY
1a Music festivals are huge these days – both in size and popularity. Read on to
find out about one of the most visited modern music festivals in Britain.
Glastonbury - the Mecca of all
music festivals
Every summer, many music festivals take
place across the UK. From Leeds Festival
in the north to Bestival on the Isle of Wight
(the small island just off the south coast of
Britain), festivals are everywhere. There
are festivals for children, for literature
enthusiasts and for young adults. Despite

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the huge amount of choice, one festival
remains “the one” to go to: Glastonbury.
Glastonbury is a hugely popular festival,
located in the countryside near Bristol.
Formally known as Glastonbury Festival of
Contemporary Performing Arts, it is a five-
day event featuring numerous singers and
performers. The festival takes place over
the last weekend in June. Every five years
there is a “fallow year” – this means the
festival does not take place, allowing the
land to recover.
First set up in 1970, it has now become an
iconic Festival with around 175,000
attendees each year. Tickets, which cost
£225 each, are released in the autumn
prior to the festival. Many people want to
obtain tickets and they usually sell out very
quickly. Tickets for the 2018 festival sold
out in just 26 minutes! For those who
missed out, there will be a resale in April.
It’s great to see the festival, support a good
cause and see how a festival is run. The
organisers don’t release the full line-up
until after the tickets have been sold. This
means people buy tickets without knowing
which performers will be there. You might
think this is silly – but the festival has a
good reputation so most people don’t
mind the suspense, many are looking
forward to experiencing Glastonbury in
the summer!
Though the festival is held in summer, the
festivalgoers are sure to have their wellies
with them – Glastonbury is notoriously
muddy!
Forty-six years since its beginnings, 2015
was Glastonbury’s rainiest year yet. And
with the rain came mud, and with the mud
came chaos. The sudden onslaught of
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180,000 festivalgoers, who all seemed to
descend on the festival before the gates
even opened that year, ended in 12-hour
traffic jams, closed-off motorways and
towed cars.
And the journey to the car park is only half
the battle. The site is an enormous 8.5
miles in perimeter, so the trip from your
car to the tent can add another hour, even
two, to your quest. So after trekking
through mud, sweat and sometimes tears,
you’d be forgiven for questioning why
anyone forks out £230 to endure all this.
But as soon as you drop your bags, head up
to the Glastonbury hill, crack open a cider
and watch the sunset, you realise why it’s
all worth it.
The festival is set in 900 beautiful acres of
the Vale of Avalon, a site which holds
much religious and mythological
importance. Said to be where King Arthur
is buried and where the Holy Grail lies, the
sprawling fields of Glastonbury are sacred
and spiritual. For five glorious, limitless
days, it becomes a magical, fantasy world
to which you can escape. And as you
wander and explore, whiling away these
days in utopia, the mud will just cease to
matter.
You’ll be awash with music, absolutely
spoilt for choice. With over 80 stages and
2,000 performances to soak up, there’s
always something in which to take delight.
Everyone from Bowie to Beyoncé have
graced Glastonbury, but if you don’t fancy
the rush of the main stages, you can chill
at the Acoustic Stage or boogie in Dance
Village.
Yet you may just find yourself lost in the
Healing Fields with the wand-makers, the
fortune tellers and the happy, wholesome
hippies that roam there. You might
stumble across a wedding, or find yourself
on a blind date. You may even find yourself
in a naked hot tub at the Rabbit Hole, the
hidden Alice-in-Wonderland field that you
need a secret password to get into and a
fancy dress to be allowed entry. There is no
knowing and no telling.
There really are very few rules at
Glastonbury. You are free to camp where
you wish, wear what you want and bring
whatever you desire. Even the normal
rules of society are thrown out the window.
This feeling of freedom is contagious and
brings people of all backgrounds, ages,
races and ethnicities together in a
beautiful unity. You’ll be witness to the
weirdest and most wonderful human
interactions at Glastonbury, and you’ll
most likely find yourself asking why life
can’t always be like this.

1b Complete the fact file of Glastonbury music festival. What is Glastonbury

most famous for?

When it began

Location

When it takes place

How often it happens

How long it lasts for

Prices of ticket

The sort of music played

Famous artists

Other attractions

1c Mark the statements as true or false. Give evidence from the text.
1) Music festivals in Britain cater for different tastes and interests.
2) Glastonbury is a true festival of performing
arts.
3) It is so easy to become one the attendees of
this musical event.
4) Glastonbury is always ready to surprise
numerous festivalgoers.
5) There is one aspect that made Glastonbury
notoriously famous – it’s music!
6) Glastonbury is a mystical venue.
7) The festivalgoers are spoilt for choice with music and entertainments.
8) The rules are rarely broken in Glastonbury.
9) Glastonbury is a fantastic life experience.

1d Explain the meaning of the following in English.

a “fallow year” festivalgoers/attendees

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 a line-up Leeds Festival
a resale Bestival

1e Read the sentences from the article. Think of another way of saying the parts
in bold type.
1) Even the normal rules of society are thrown
out the window.
2) You’ll be awash with music, absolutely
spoilt for choice.
3) The organisers don’t release the full line-
up until after the tickets have been sold.
4) You’d be forgiven for questioning why anyone
forks out £230 to endure the chaos of the festival.
5) People buy tickets without knowing which performers will be there, but most of them
don’t mind the suspense
6) The event features numerous singers and performers.
7) The sudden onslaught of 180,000 festivalgoers, ended in 12-hour traffic jams.
8) With over 80 stages and 2,000 performances to soak up, Glastonbury offers a once
in a lifetime experience.

1f Match the words to make pairs that describe an array of activities

Glastonbury offers. Which of them would you enjoy?

1) fancy a) in the dance village

2) boogie b) delight
3) find yourself c) the rush of the main stage
4) chill d) on a blind date
5) trek e) weird human interactions
6) be witness to f) at the Acoustic stage
7) take g) through mud

1g Complete the sentences with the prepositions where necessary.

1) Glastonbury was set … … 1970, it has now become an iconic Festival
2) Many people want to obtain tickets and they usually sell … very quickly
3) Tickets for the events are released in the autumn prior … the festival.
The festivalgoers, while … the days in utopia, even the mud ceases to matter.
4) You might stumble … a wedding, or find yourself … a blind date.
5) Anyone can become witness … the weirdest and most wonderful human
interactions at Glastonbury.

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1g Read the following quotes in which Miranda Sawyer, the Observer radio
critic and feature writer, talks about Glastonbury. What do they suggest about
the festival?
“It’s amazing,” someone said to me recently, “how Glastonbury seems to be the
first with everything.” No matter how amazing the environment, how
wonderful the bands, how trippy the new head-on-its-side stage, festivals exist
because of the people who go there.”
“Glastonbury is another world. At least, that’s what it feels like when you’re
there: it’s so vast, so utterly overwhelming.”

2 VIDEO “TOP 5 MUSIC FESTIVALS IN THE UK”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXvQ3XzxB-4
2a Pre-viewing
1 Read the sentences (1-6), match the words in bold to their definitions (a-f).
1) Creamfields still remains a trailblazer to this day.
2) Reading music festival is a rite of passage for young music fans.
3) Young music fans are drawn by the festival’s huge rock-centric lineups.
4) Parklife showcases a top-tier lineup.
5) Kicking things off is the one and only Glastonbury.
6) Festival fans can hardly forget the off-the-wall experiments with the music.
a) a ceremony or event that marks an important stage in someone’s life;
b) people who will perform at an event;
c) to show the best qualities of something;
d) being the first to do something new;
e) starting or beginning smth;
f) surprising and unusual.

2b Viewing
1 Watch the video. Complete the fact file of the festivals presented.

performing
festival type special features
artists/music

Glastonbury

Creamfields

Reading and Leeds

Wireless

Parklife

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2 Watch the video for more facts. Choose the right answer.
1) Glatonbury is home to more than____ stages and areas.
a) 100 b) 200 c) 180
2) Creamfields is held every _____ _____ holiday.
a) Autumn bank b) August bank c) April bank
3) The UK’s ______ music festival is Reading.
a) oldest b) newest c) most popular
4) Wireless is held in ________ _____.
a) London City b) London Tube c) London Park
5) Parklife started in _____ in ______.
a) 2010, Manchester b) 2012, Newcastle c) 2010, Leeds

2c Post-viewing
Work in pars. Look at the posters of the music festivals, which would you like
to attend? Why? Explain your choice to the partner.

3 EXTRA ACTIVITY
3a Read the article about the impact the festivals may have on the wellbeing of
the attendees. Student A: read text A. Student B: read text B. Tell your partner
about the healthy and unhealthy sides of the festivals.

36
 Could music festivals be good for your health?
Text A
"The music is great, it's educational and it's
therapy," says Marta Pibernat, from
Catalonia in Spain.
"But we do end up drinking more than we
should," admits her friend, Patricia Torne,
who is also from Catalonia, but lives in the
UK.
It is Friday morning and we are in a field in rural Wiltshire, in southwest England, where
the two women and several hundred other people have just taken part in a 90-minute
yoga workshop.
We are at the Womad world music festival, where performers such as Macy Gray, reggae
star Ziggy Marley and Malian singer Salif Keita are performing over the four-day event to
a total of 39,000 people. There are workshops, talks and therapies, along with exotic and
familiar foods. James Mowbray, from London, has just had
a gong bath when I meet him. Massages, reiki, reflexology
and inversion therapy are all on offer. Mowbray lies on his
back on a couch while two therapists gently bathe him in
the sound of their gongs. "It's extremely pleasurable and
relaxing," he says.
The health benefits of listening to live music are borne out
by studies.
"We found that going to concerts significantly reduces the levels of the stress hormone
cortisol," says Daisy Fancourt, associate professor in epidemiology at University College
London. They took saliva samples from people attending a classical and a pop concert to
compare stress levels. "Both groups were biologically calmer afterwards. That suggests
it's more about the event rather than the type of music.”
Her studies also found that going to live music events could help reduce the risk of
developing depression and preserve cognition in the over-50s.
Julie Ballantyne, of the University of Queensland, has studied the effects on people's
wellbeing of music festivals in Australia. "The experience of being separated from
everyday life prompts people to reflect and spend time on themselves and this is
important for their wellbeing," says the associate professor of music education. "But we
also found that if they had a positive social experience with friends, their subjective,
psychological and social wellbeing were all the more impacted."
Ziggy Marley tells me that festivals such as Womad are good for the collective wellbeing. "They
represent the potential of the world. Thousands of people together in unity," he says. (BBC News,
August 2019)

Text B
But not everyone has a good time at festivals.
"If you aren't enjoying it and everyone else around you is, that could make you feel worse,"
says Dr Chris Howes, the founder of the charity Festival Medical Services (FMS). "That's

37
 why we have psychiatrists and mental health nurses on site and work with welfare
services," he tells me in the medical tent at Womad.
Using volunteers, including doctors, nurses,
pharmacists and paramedics, FMS now also
works at 11 other UK festivals, including
Reading. "At Reading, you get a lot of young
people who are away from home for the first
time," says Dr Howes. "Sometimes they just need
a cuddle." He says that around 10% of the cases
they deal with at festivals involve mental health
or psychiatric problems.
"We see all the medical conditions you would expect in life from cardiac arrests to burns
from barbecues and fires, to sunburn. We see an upswing in stomach problems towards
the end of festivals as food people have brought
starts to go off.
"I've delivered one or two babies in caravans at
Glastonbury in the past and a festival is not an
ideal place to have a baby," Dr Howes adds.
Moreover, being in a crowd can expose you to
infectious illnesses. He says festival-goers should
make sure their immunisations for things such as
measles and meningitis are up to date.
"The close proximity of people means epidemics can spread very quickly," Dr Howes adds.
(BBC News, August 2019)

3b Discuss with your partner.

1) In terms of the impact on health, would you consider festival going a positive or
negative experience?
2) Which of the sides (healthy/unhealthy) prevails? Why?

3c Read the quote in which Martin Vennard describes a new approach to music
festivals. Do you approve of such approach? Why? Why not?
“Millions of people around the world go to music festivals each year. At one time, they were
seen as encouraging heavy drinking and drug-taking while providing poor facilities and bad
food. But now organisers are more focused on festival-goers' wellbeing.”

3d Work in pairs or small groups. Make up a list of Festival Does and Don’ts.
Which wellness activities would you offer to the festival-goers?

FOLLOW-UP
1 Imagine you have just been to a UK music festival. In about 100 words write a
blog post about the event. Include the following:
 the name of the festival
 its location and when it was held

38
 how often it takes place
 how long it lasts
 how much the tickets cost
 the music played
 famous artists/ bands which
headlined
 personalities it suits
 the variety of experiences available

2 Work in small groups. Google and choose one UK festival. Write 3-5 sentences
about a unique experience the festival offers. Share your description with the
class. This link might come in handy:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/may/04/the-uk-10-best-music-festivals-
2019

3 Work in groups. Tell each other about the music events for young people in
your city or country:
 what the events are
 how many people attend
 how expensive they are
 what the events offer
 what the attendees usually do
 how the people view these events.

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