爵士樂的發源地在哪裡？電子音樂的種類有哪些？百老匯的音樂劇從何而來？本書用12篇有趣又深入淺出的短文介紹西方音樂的輪廓，除了有豐富的音樂單字，每單元末還有習題幫助複習。是一本授課、自學兩相宜的英語教材，讓讀者輕鬆用音樂學英文。

        ESP（English for Specific Purposes）為1990年代興起至今的英語教育觀念，強調英語學習內容應在各種專業領域下「言之有物」的實境文本，一般稱為專業英文。學習各種Content Area Reading、跨學科英文等，能彌補以往英語教學脫離生活應用的缺點。書林旗下品牌簡單出版於2005年起曾出版「ESP知識英文」系列書籍，主題有美術、宗教、理財等等，廣受好評。

梁一萍

01 –Introduction to Music 認識音樂                        008

“What is Music?”

02 –Classical Music I古典音樂(一)                                 016

“Brief Introduction to Classical Music—Medieval and Renaissance”

03 –Classical Music II古典音樂(二)               022

“Brief Introduction to Classical Music— Baroque, Classical, and Romantic”

04 –The Effects of Music音樂帶來的影響          030

“Classical Music Affects in Seven Ways”

05 –Nursery Rhymes童謠                                          038

“The Shocking Origins of Nursery Rhymes”

06 –Folk Music民間音樂                                           048

“Understanding Folk Songs”

07 –Jazz Music爵士樂                                                054

“Jazz Through the Decades”

08 –Film Music電影配樂                                           064

“Functions of Music in Movies”

09 –Musicals音樂劇                                                         072

“A Musical Timeline”

10 –Modern Music I: Technology and Music             078

現代音樂(一)──科技與音樂

“You’re Your Own Band!”

11 –Modern Music II: Electronic Music                     084

現代音樂(二)──電子音樂

“EDM for Newbies”

12 –World Music世界音樂                                        092

“ World Music―Music Across the Globe”

01 Introduction to Music

What is Music?

Some people talk of farmers who play music to their animals, swearing that it increases milk production. Others cite recent studies showing that listening to fast music while driving can increase the chance of an accident. And then there are those who are adamant about the Mozart Effect, claiming that it boosts intelligence. While it’s true that some of these claims may indeed be overblown, it’s hard to disagree that music can have a powerful, almost hypnotic effect on our minds.

But what is music, and why are humans so absorbed by it? Every culture in our recorded history has had music in one form or another. It goes without saying that we’ll have music at all of our important cultural events, whether it’s a wedding or a wake. Composer Edgard Varese defined music as “organized sound,” but does that fully encompass what music is? Why is it that what sounds like music to some may sound like noise to others?

The technical meaning of music can be described in encyclopedias as an “art of combining sounds or sequences of notes, created by voices or various kinds of musical instruments, into rhythmic, melodious and harmonious patterns pleasing to the ear and satisfying to the thought and emotions.” But this definition lacks resonance with aficionados of some forms of music. It may be possible to understand music conceptually, rather than by definition. As a concept, we can say:

1 Music is generally understood as sounds organized with purpose, by humans or in human ways.

2 Music is a medium of communication, sharing many common points with spoken language.

3 Music is difficult to fully explain without using elements of music itself.

4 Our understanding of music does not always match how we experience, use, or engage with music and musical communities.

Is there any reason to study music when enthusiastic music lovers often claim that music is better if we don’t analyze it and just try to enjoy it? Of course there is! Music is unique in its ability to convey memories, ideas, expressions, and our aesthetic values, as well as distinguish the uniqueness of different cultures. It is these cultural aspects of music that various genres of music developed, evolved, and are passed on from culture to culture, generation to generation: Latin dance, military marches, jazz, folk, rock and roll, gospel, R&B (rhythm and blues), techno, hip hop, pop, and many others.