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The Fire of Flamenco Ole，来一曲佛朗明哥！

 

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繁體中文譯本

 

The dancer elegantly spins on the spot, sensuously twisting and sweeping her arms around her body. At the same time, she vigorously stamps her feet, sending out rattling bursts of sound. Captivated by her spirited display, the audience spurs her on by clapping to the beat. This is the passionate spectacle of flamenco. In terms of sheer intensity and expression, few art forms compare.

舞者优雅地在定点旋转，手臂性感地随着身体旋转与舞动。她同时也奋力地以双脚踏出一阵阵响亮的喀哒声。观众着迷于她生气勃勃的表演，随着音乐节奏拍手为她加油。这是热情又精彩的佛朗明哥舞。纯粹就强度与情绪表达而言，少有能与其匹敌的艺术形式。

 

Though the singular style of flamenco makes it instantly recognizable to us, the dance’s earliest origins are cloaked in mystery. Flamenco is unique to the Spanish region of Andalusia, but over the centuries, gypsy, Arabic, Jewish and North African settlers all brought their distinct cultures to the region. This diverse fusion of influences gave rise to the spectacular and bold dance form that we know and love today.

虽然佛朗明哥独特的风格一眼就能让人认出，但它最初的起源却很神秘。佛朗明哥舞为西班牙的安达卢西亚地区所特有，但几世纪以来，吉普赛、阿拉伯、犹太和北非移民皆将其特别的文化融入此区。多元文化融合的影响之下，造就了今日受大众熟知喜爱、且壮观大胆的舞蹈形式。

 

While most people associate flamenco with dancing, the word also refers to the musical genre itself, performed by a singer and, usually, a guitarist. In fact, flamenco music is said to have given rise to the dance. During a show, the dancer is always accompanied by flamenco singers. With a strong emphasis on rhythm over melody, the passionate performance of the songs goes hand-in-hand with the forceful energy and powerful emotion of the dance. Rhythm is incredibly important to the flamenco artists and, for them, it cannot be counted; it must be felt.

虽然大多数的人都将佛朗明哥与舞蹈联想在一起，这个字其实也是指音乐类型本身，通常都由一位歌手和一位吉他手表演。事实上，佛朗明哥舞蹈据说是由音乐而产生的。表演时，舞者总会有歌手伴随。由于佛朗明哥音乐特别强调节奏而非旋律，热情的歌曲表演与舞蹈的活力及强烈情感密切相关。节奏对佛朗明哥表演者很重要，对他们来说，拍子不是用算的，而是要用心去感受。

 

The guitar provides the percussion throughout, and it is the guitarist and the singer who get things started. Only once the dancers have a feel for the song do they begin, matching their movements perfectly to the mood of the music.

佛朗明哥表演始于吉他手与歌手，音乐中自始至终的打击乐声皆来自于吉他。直到舞者对歌曲有感觉后才会开始舞动，肢体动作完美地配合音乐的氛围。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

elegantly [ˋɛləgəntlɪ] adv. 优美地

twist [twɪst] v. 旋转

vigorously [ˋvɪgərəslɪ] adv. 有力地

audience [ˋɔdɪəns] n. 听众，观众

passionate [ˋpæʃənɪt] adj. 热情的；热烈的，激昂的

spectacle [ˋspɛktək!] n. 壮观的场面[景象]

intensity [ɪnˋtɛnsətɪ] n.（思想、感情、活动等的）强烈

origin [ˋɔrədʒɪn] n. 起源；由来

mystery [ˋmɪstərɪ] n. 谜; 神秘的事物

associate [əˋsoʃɪɪt] v. 把……联想在一起[+with]

refer to 意指; 谈到, 提及 suggest as meaning

perform [pɚˋfɔrm] v. 表演

emphasis [ˋɛmfəsɪs] n. 强调，重视

rhythm [ˋrɪðəm] n. 节奏；韵律

 

 

More Information

单词发音

 

sensuously [ˋsɛnʃʊəslɪ] adv. 感觉上

rattling [ˋrætlɪŋ] adj. 发嘎嘎声的

captivate [ˋkæptə͵vet] v. 迷住﹐吸引

spur someone on 鼓舞, 鞭策, 激励 to encourage someone

spur [spɝ] v. 激励

clap [klæp] v. 拍（手）

flamenco [fləˋmɛŋko] n.〔西班牙〕佛朗明哥舞

singular [ˋsɪŋgjəlɚ] adj. 非凡的，卓越的

cloak [klok] v. 掩盖，掩饰[（+with/in）]

gypsy [ˋdʒɪpsɪ] n. 吉普赛人

diverse [daɪˋvɝs] adj. 多种多样的；多变化的

give rise to 引起 to cause something to exist

spectacular [spɛkˋtækjəlɚ] adj. 壮观的；壮丽的

genre [ˋʒɑnrə] n.【正式】〔艺术﹑写作﹑音乐等的〕类型﹐体裁

accompany [əˋkʌmpənɪ] v. 陪同，伴随

percussion [pɚˋkʌʃən] n. 撞击声; 振动

throughout [θruˋaʊt] prep. 从头到尾 through the whole of some specified period or area

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

With improvisation at the heart of flamenco dancing tradition, performers are free to explode into spontaneous movement, thus making it rawer, sexier, and more instinctive than conventional, choreographed styles of dance. As the dancers lose themselves in the wild heat of the movement, stamping their feet to an ever-faster beat, onlookers clap their hands together and shout winning cries of “ole!”

由于佛朗明哥舞蹈的传统重心为即兴表演，表演者随时都可以自由地来一段即兴狂舞，因此，与传统编好的舞蹈相较之下，显得更加自然、性感且浑然天成。当舞者陶醉在狂放的热情中，跟着越来越快的节拍踏着脚步时，观众也拍着手，欢声大叫「加油！」

 

Equally as distinctive as the dance are the costumes of flamenco. The classic image is that of a woman wearing her hair in a bun, a black dress with many ruffled layers, and high-heeled shoes. Her only adornments are a red rose behind her ear and perhaps a red scarf. For men, a white shirt, black suit, and broad-brimmed black hat are standard. Some forms of flamenco also feature the use of castanets: small, shell-shaped, wooden instruments held in each hand. Castanets are clicked together to create a rhythmical, percussive sound that complements the dance.

跟舞蹈一样有特色的是佛朗明哥的服装。其经典形象是一位梳包头、穿着多层荷叶边的黑裙子与高跟鞋的女士。她身上唯一的配件是耳后的红玫瑰花，也许还会系一条鲜红色的围巾。白衬衫、黑西装搭配黑色宽边帽子是男性舞者的标准装扮。某些类型的佛朗明哥也会以使用响板为特征。响板形状如贝壳，是套在左、右手上的小型木制乐器。舞者将响板木片相互敲击以产生具节奏感、能使舞蹈更臻完美的打击声。

 

If you want to catch an authentic performance, the best place, of course, is Andalusia. Each summer, the towns of the region stage flamenco festivals where the drama can be appreciated, in its truest form, underneath the moonlit sky. But, if you can’t get to Spain, flamenco troupes are always touring, wowing audiences around the world. While it might not strictly be the real thing, watching a staged show such as this or a famous opera like Carmen is still an excellent way to experience all the emotion, flair, and passion of the flamenco.

若你想欣赏一场纯正的表演，最佳去处当然是安达卢西亚。每年夏天，这地区的城镇都会举行佛朗明哥庆典，可以在被月光笼照的夜空之下欣赏这舞蹈最真实的形式。不过要是去不了西班牙，佛朗明哥歌舞团时常在巡回演出，博取世界各地观众的喝采。虽然严格来说它并非最真实的佛朗明哥表演，但是观看这类的巡回演出，或是欣赏像《卡门》的著名歌剧，仍是体验佛朗明哥的情感、特色、与热情的绝佳方式。

 

−by James Laughton-Smith & Alice Davis

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

explode [ɪkˋsplod] v. 爆发，突发，迸发[（+in/into/with）]

spontaneous [spɑnˋtenɪəs] adj. 自发的﹐自动的; 一时冲动的

movement [ˋmuvmənt] n. 动作

raw [rɔ] adj. 处于自然状态的

instinctive [ɪnˋstɪŋktɪv] adj.（出于）本能的；（来自）直觉的

distinctive [dɪˋstɪŋktɪv] adj. 与众不同的，有特色的

costume [ˋkɑstjum] n. 服装

layer [ˋleɚ] n. 层

feature [fitʃɚ] v. 以……为特色；是……的特色

complement [ˋkɑmpləmənt] v. 补充，补足；与……相配; （使）〔优点〕显现; 使更具吸引力

authentic [ɔˋθɛntɪk] adj. 真正的; 真实的

appreciate [əˋpriʃɪ͵et] v. 欣赏; 赏识; 鉴赏

underneath [͵ʌndɚˋniθ] prep. 在…下面; 在…底下

strictly [ˋstrɪktlɪ] adv. 严格地

 

 

More Information

单词发音

 

improvisation [͵ɪmprəvaɪˋzeʃən] n. 即兴演出; 即兴创作

choreograph [ˋkɔrɪə͵græf] v. 设计舞蹈动作﹐编舞

lose oneself in 对…入迷,专注于…

onlooker [ˋɑn͵lʊkɚ] n. 观众；旁观者

ole [oˋle] int. 好；好极了；棒极了

bun [bʌn] n.（女子的）圆发髻

ruffled [ˋrʌf!d] adj. 有褶饰边的

adornment [əˋdɔrnmənt] n. 装饰品

scarf [skɑrf] n. 围巾；披巾

-brimmed [brɪmd]（构成形容词）表示"有……边的"

castanet [ˋkæstə͵nɛt] n.【音】（常作复数）响板

rhythmical [ˋrɪðmɪk!] adj. 有节奏的；有韵律的

troupe [trup] n.（演员等的）一团

wow [waʊ] v.【俚】赢得……喝采

flair [flɛr] n.独特的处事风格; 时髦派头; 新奇的创意 distinctive elegance or style

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1. According to the article, what do must people think of when they hear the word “flamenco”?

A. Performers dancing and stamping their feet.

B. Beautiful guitar melodies and Spanish songs.

C. Bright and colorful costumes.

D. People playing castanets and clapping their hands.

 

2. What is the main role of the guitar in flamenco music?

A. To be played by the dancer during the show.

B. To distract the audience from the stage.

C. To force the performance to end sooner.

D. To keep the beat of the music.

 

3. Which of the following statements about flamenco is NOT true?

A. Rhythm is more important than melody.

B. Flamenco is a blend of several different styles.

C. No one is sure exactly when flamenco was created.

D. Each part of a flamenco performance is carefully planned.

 

4. What kind of person is most likely to appreciate a flamenco performance?

A. Someone who enjoys soft, relaxing music.

B. Someone who prefers to watch carefully planned dances.

C. Someone who wants to see an energetic, cultural show.

D. Someone who is interested in modern Spanish music.

 

Flamenco Dance

 

Flamenco Spanish Guitar.Excellent !!! Enjoy This Acoustic Amazing Gypsy rumba

 

Flamenco Guitar. Barcelona street music (HD)

 

JOSE ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ - Flamenco Festival NYC

 

more videos: 

Flamenco Festival NY 08 EvaYerbabuena

Bizet - Carmen - Habanera

 

 

 

Answer

1. ( A )

2. ( D )

3. ( D )

4. ( C )