音樂的語言

A painter hangs his or her finished pictures on a wall， and everyone can see it. A composer writes a work， but no one can hear it until it is performed. Professional singers and players have great responsibilities， for the composer is utterly dependent on them.

A student of music needs as long and as arduous a training to become a performer as a medical student needs to become a doctor. Most training is concerned with technique， for musicians have to have the muscular proficiency of an athlete or a ballet dancer.

Singers practice breathing every day， as their vocal chords would be inadequate without controlled muscular support. String players practice moving the fingers of the left hand up and down， while drawing the bow to and fro with the right arm—two entirely different movements.

Singers and instruments have to be able to get every note perfectly in tune. Pianists are spared this particular anxiety， for the notes are already there， waiting for them， and it is the piano tuners responsibility to tune the instrument for them. But they have their own difficulties； the hammers that hit the strings have to be coaxed not to sound like percussion， and each overlapping tone has to sound clear.

This problem of getting clear texture is one that confronts student conductors： they have to learn to know every note of the music and how it should sound， and they have to control these sounds with fanatical but selfless authority.

Technique is of no use unless it is combined with musical knowledge and understanding. Great artists are those who are so thoroughly at home in the language of music that they can enjoy performing works written in any century.

畫家將其已完成的作品掛在墻上，每個人都可以觀賞到。作曲家寫完了一部作品，得由演奏者將其演奏出來，其他人才能得以欣賞。因為作曲家是如此完全地依賴于專業的演唱者和演奏者，所以專業的演唱者和職業演奏者肩上的擔子可不輕。

一名學音樂的學生要想成為一名演奏者，需要經受長期的、艱苦的訓練，就像一名醫科學生要成為一名醫生一樣。大多數的訓練都是技巧性的，因為音樂家控制肌肉的熟練程度必須達到與運動員或芭蕾舞演員相當的水平。

歌手每天都練習吊嗓子，因為如果不能有效地控制肌肉的話，他們的聲帶就不能滿足演唱的要求。弦樂器的演奏者練習的是在左手的手指上下移動的同時，用右手前后拉動琴弓——兩個截然不同的動作。

歌手和樂器演奏者必須使所有的音符完美協調。鋼琴家則不用操這份心，因為每個音符都已在那里等待著他們了。而給鋼琴調音是調音師的職責。 但調音師也有他們的難處：他們必須小心地敲擊琴弦，不能讓音錘發出像打擊樂器的聲音，還要讓每個疊音發音清晰。

弄清音樂作品的織體是學生指揮者所面臨的難題：他們必須學會懂得音樂中的每一個音符以及它們的正確發音。 他們還必須熱忱而客觀地去控制這些音符的發音。

除非是與音樂方面的知識和悟性結合起來，單純的技巧沒有任何用處。偉大的藝術家是那些對音樂語言駕輕就熟的人，他們可以滿懷喜悅地演奏出寫于任何時代的作品。

muscular /'m?skj?l?（r）/ adj. （有關）肌肉的

inadequate /?n'?d?kw?t/ adj. 不夠好的

The new air conditioning system proved inadequate.

spare /spe?（r）/ v. 使免遭

I wanted to spare Frances the embarrassment of discussing the subject.

thoroughly /'θ?r?li/ adv. 非常；極其

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.