Read the text and speak about culture in Great Britain

Cultural life and traditions in Great Britain

In Great Britain there is probably a greater interest in painting and sculpture today than ever before. Artists are experimenting with colours, shapes and materials of all kinds. They hold exhi­bitions on street pavements, in parks, in empty buildings, as well as in schools, universities and art clubs. If they are lucky, their works are chosen for exhibition by the Institute of Contemporary Art, which was founded to help young artists. Much of their work is connected with the objects and experiences of everyday life. A few young painters and artists are successful and have their works accepted by well-known London art galleries. ,

The older generation of modern painters arid sculptors, such as the artists John Piper and Gra­ham Sutherl or the sculptor Henry Moore, now have an international reputation.

An interest in crafts has grown again. More and more young people are learning them in schools, colleges and evening classes. Pottery, wood-carving, furniture-making, hand-woven and hand printed cloth, handmade jewellery and metal work are the most popular.

British musical traditions

In the 16th-17th centuries English musicians had a great reputation in Europe, both for their talent and their originality. Today there is a revival of interest to these neglected composers, for instance to the music of William Byrd, one of the most distinguished musicians of that time.

In the centuries that followed, Britain produced no composers of world rank, except for Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934). Today, however, many people believe that there has been a reflowering of English music, and that the compositions of some contemporary musicians will live on after their deaths. The music of Michael Tippett, Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) and William Walton (1902 - 1983) is performed all over the world.

Benjamin Britten (the most well-known of the three) was not modern in the musical sense of the word, but he was modern in his attitude towards his public. He has been called a «people's composer» because he composed music, particularly operas and choral works, that can be sung by ordinary people. Some of his operas, such as «Noyes Fludde» (Noah's Flood») are performed in churches every year and people from the neighbourhood sing and act in them. The festival which he started in his little home town of Alderburgh in Suffolk has become one of the most important music festivals in Britain.

The most classless art form, rock and pop music, is listened to by «princes and by paupers». It also crossed national barriers as easily as class barriers. Every year about 40 % of the best-selling CDs in Europe are British, and about 10% are number one in America. The people who put Britain at the forefront of the pop revolution of the 1960s were the Beatles. Before them, British pop music based on rock'n'roll was exported from the USA by singers like Elvis Presley.

The Liverpool, or the Merseyside «beat» was born in the north-west corner of the industrial Black Country and conquered the whole world. And though the Beatles partnership broke, up in the 70s because of the clash of talents and interests, and one of them, John Lennon, was murdered in 1980, the influence of this famous group has continued and can be felt in present day rhythms.

Many modern British singers and musicians have been popular not just for the music and the words of their songs but also because of the ideas and attitudes behind them. Singers like Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Elton John and Boy George have challenged previous standards of «good and normal behaviour», taste and sexual definition.

British theatrical life

There are over 300 professional theatres in Britain, with London as its theatrical centre, having more than 100 theatres in the West End and suburbs. The National Theatre Company performs at the National Theatre on the south bank of the Thames. It also tours the provinces. Th6 Royal Shakespeare Theatre has three permanent stages: at the Barbican Theatre in the City of London, in the exact replica of the Globe Theatre on the south bank of the Thames and in Stratford-on-Avon. These theatres tend to specialise in classical repertoire while the Round-house, the Royal Court and the Mermaid Theatre, for example, put on modern plays.

There is no National Opera House, but the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden receives a grant from the Art Council. It stages operas and ballets in the beautiful recently renewed building throughout the year. The English National Opera House performs operas, sung in English, at the London Coliseum and also tours the provinces.

It has been said that the level of amateur involvement in the arts is higher in Britain than anywhere else. Certainly amateur theatre is very popular: productions take place in nearly every town in Britain. Even small villages may have a group of players who produce a play once or twice a year. Local operatic groups all over the country present light operas, particularly the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan «The Pirates of Penzans», «The Mikado» and others.

Pantomime

Many foreigners think that the British pantomime is the same as mime, but it is not so. «Mime» means' (1) without speaking, but «pantomime» has changed its form over the centuries and

British pantomime is a very noisy show full of shouting and singing of both the (2) and the audience.

Pantomime is usually an amateur winter show which begins early in December and lasts for a couple of months after _____ (3). The story of a pantomime is usually well-known and based on a ____(4) like «Snow White», «Sleeping Beauty» or «Peter Pan».

The strangest thing about the pantomime is that the «principal» boy is always played by a girl, and a «wicked witch» is always a ____ (5). To make it even stranger nobody tries to hide under a costume or the _____ (6) because it is a very old tradition and the audience expects it to be like this.

The origin of pantomime is very old and goes back to the Italian folk ____(7) of the 16th century. It is always full of humour, practical _____(8) and great freedom for actors to improvise. Its other elements are singing, dancing, acrobatics, and the so-called «slapstick» comedy, usually used by clowns in the__ (9) or actors like Charlie Chaplin or Benny Hill. It's a friendly type of violence where actors attack each other with buckets of_(10) or cream cakes.

MUSIC

What music do you like? Do you like classic or pop music? What is your favourite pop group?

Music can be inspiring force only if it is itself inspired. Music influences us because we all have different physical, mental and emotional tendencies. Each person will absorb from the music the kind of feeling natural for him. As we absorb the feeding of the mu­sic our inner nature grows. This growth is an enrichment of the psyche.

Music can open new phases of our inner life because the way of expression of music is limitless. There may be talents lying dormant within us which music can stimulate into activity. We can be affected in many different ways by the same composer. Beethoven's Eroica Symphony inspires heroic actions; his Moonlight Sonata brings into play our deepest emotions and longing for the Ideal.

Some kinds of music vitalise us - others depress and fill our hearts with melancholy.

Arthur Bliss /1891- / is the English composer. He studied music at Cambridge under Charles Wood /1866-1926/. His production of the Colour Symphony in 1922 was a great event: In 1923 he-left¹ England for California. He was musically associated with the film industry and composed piano pieces and songs. He was back in England in 1926. He had become a perfectly serious composer.

Arthur Bliss' Music Was much admired for the qualities of decorative stateliness and fierceness, which exactly march the scenario. He has written copiously: ballet, orchestral, pieces, chamber music, con­certos and film music.

Benjamin Britten /1913/ is an English composer, pianist, conductor and outstanding representa­tive of modem English music. He played the piano at seven, composed an oratorio at nine, and had written a symphony by the time he was 16. His opera Peter Grimes was produced in the USA.

He is an eclectic composer whose manner of writing is influenced by the aesthetic requirement of the work he is producing. Every page of his work bears originality.

Among his other compositions are Beggars' Opera, Midsummer Night's Dream. Britten's special gift lies in his music for the stage.

BEATLES /1962-1970/ became the most popular group in rock music history. The group con­sisted of 4 Englishmen: George Harrison /1943/, John Lennon /1940-80/, Paul McCartney /1942/ and Ringo Starr /1940/. Lennon and McCartney wrote and sang most of the Beatles' Songs. Harrison played lead guitar, Lennon played rhythm guitar, McCartney played bass, and Starr played drums.

All the Beatles were born in Liverpool. In 1954 John Lennon and 5 other musician formed a band called "Quarrymen" named after the Quarry Bank High School which they attended. McCartney joined the group in 1957. Harrison joined Lennon and McCartney in 1958. The tree, plus bass guitarist Stu Sutcliffe and drummer Peter Best, performed together under several names. They finally called themselves "The Beatles" in I960. Sutcliffe left the group in 1961 and Starr replaced Best in 19662. Brian Epstein, who ran Liverpool record store became their manager in 1961.

The Beatles gained nationwide fame in 1962 and worldwide fame in 1964. During the early 60's the Beatles's style was influenced by American rock artists. The Beatles's first compositions were simple love songs "Love Me Do" /1962/, "Please, Please Me" /1963/.

In 1964 the Beatles toured the USA and created a sensation. They starred in two popular movies. During the late 60', the Beatles help to give rock music a new direction. Early rock music had been based on a strong beat, but die Beatles's music contained a new sense of melody. The lyrics of their songs were more imaginative and meaningful.

The Beatles composed several songs of social criticism and such ballads as "Michelle" /1965/ and “Yesterday” /1965/, "Come Together" /1969/ and "Something" /1969/.

The Beatles began to drift apart in the late 1960's. The group broke up in 1970 and Beatles per­formed as soloists. On the 8^th December 1980 outside his home in New-York City John Lennon was mur­dered by a 25 year old fan who believed mat he was John Lennon. ^;; y'

DEPECHE MODE was formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. Their debut album was released in 1981. "Just Can't Get Enough" became a major dance hit. A second hit album "A Broken Frame" was re­leased in 1982. At their 101^st concert there were 70,000 fans. A live album and video was released in 1988. "Personal Jesus", the first single from this album was a huge success. It became one of the largest selling CD singles in U.S history. "Enjoy the silence" became Depeche Mode's trademark song. Depeche Mode released their new album "Ultra" in 1997.

PRODIGY. Some of the "Prodigy" fans call themselves "Children of Keith Flint'. In fact, every­thing, which is performed by «Prodigy», was created by Liam Howlett.

Liam Howlett from Breintry /Essex/ has been a music fan since his school days. He worked as a DJ in one of the popular groups and at the construction site. At 18 he passed exams and got a diploma of designer.

At the party in Barn he came across the rave for the first time and felt "something incredible and new". In two months he began to work as a DJ at the rave parties and became a well-known person in Es­sex. In secret he created some his own compositions but being modest by nature he did not show them to anybody. , ,

At that time he met Keith Flint and Leroy Thornhill who was just the guy for rave. Flint liked Liams's melodies very much. Keith left school before passing examinations, and used to smoke. In 1988 he travelled in Africa. In 1989 he returned home to England but was turned out of the house for his ex­traordinary behaviour. He passed the nights at the riverbank of Branetry. Soon their common girl-friend Sharky joined them. Liam played and Keith, Leroy and Sharky danced. So appeared in England a new group "Prodigy".

Then Sharky left the group and the raggist and rapper Maxim Reality joined it. In February 1991 the groups had its first single "What Evil Lurks", 7000 copies were sold. In August they made their legen­dary single and clip "Charly" which paved them the way to the TV programme "Hit Show".

On September 20, 1992 the debut album "The Prodigy"-Experience" appeared to become me best class thing of the rave. The new album "Music-The Jilted Generation", -which became Hit N1 and soon got the Mercury Prize. Those were the most advanced dancing melodies, a hell mixture of heavy break-beat, jazz-punk, "crazy " guitar, hip-hop and rough dancing compositions. The group got the MTV Prize for the best dancing show.

The period of world fame for the group came in 1995. The "Prodigy" concert in Glastonbury was declared "the greatest show on the Earth".

The single "Firestarter Promo" with a TV clip focused on Keith provoked many angry complaints of parents. Keith was too terrible for the night show. Nevertheless, the new album became Hit N 1 in many European countries. This was followed by "the Fat of the Land" /1997/, "We Are the Ruffest", and "Year 2000" /February 11, 2000/.

SPICE GIRLS. Birth -1993. Genre -Rock. Style -Dance-Pop, Pop, Europop, Eurodance. The Spice Girls used dance-pop as a musical base, but they infused the music with independent feminist stance and the stance of England's new lad culture. Their proud, all-girl image and sense of humor made the Spice Girls a cross -generational success. Their debut single and video was "Wannabe" was on the top in 1996. The Spice Girls became media icons in Britain. Geri was "the sexy Spice", Melanie Brown was the "scary Spice", Victoria was "the posh Spice", and Melanie Chisholm was "a sporty Spice". Their second single, "Say You'll Be There", entered the chart at N1. Having topped the charts in the Western World, the Spice Girls concentrated on America.