音乐的语言

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.

画家将其已完成的作品挂在墙上，每个人都可以观赏到。作曲家写完了一部作品，得由演奏者将其演奏出来，其他人才能得以欣赏。因为作曲家是如此完全地依赖于专业的演唱者和演奏者，所以专业的演唱者和职业演奏者肩上的担子可不轻。

一名学音樂的学生要想成为一名演奏者，需要经受长期的、艰苦的训练，就像一名医科学生要成为一名医生一样。大多数的训练都是技巧性的，因为音乐家控制肌肉的熟练程度必须达到与运动员或芭蕾舞演员相当的水平。

歌手每天都练习吊嗓子，因为如果不能有效地控制肌肉的话，他们的声带就不能满足演唱的要求。弦乐器的演奏者练习的是在左手的手指上下移动的同时，用右手前后拉动琴弓——两个截然不同的动作。

歌手和乐器演奏者必须使所有的音符完美协调。钢琴家则不用操这份心，因为每个音符都已在那里等待着他们了。而给钢琴调音是调音师的职责。 但调音师也有他们的难处：他们必须小心地敲击琴弦，不能让音锤发出像打击乐器的声音，还要让每个叠音发音清晰。

弄清音乐作品的织体是学生指挥者所面临的难题：他们必须学会懂得音乐中的每一个音符以及它们的正确发音。 他们还必须热忱而客观地去控制这些音符的发音。

除非是与音乐方面的知识和悟性结合起来，单纯的技巧没有任何用处。伟大的艺术家是那些对音乐语言驾轻就熟的人，他们可以满怀喜悦地演奏出写于任何时代的作品。

muscular /'m?skj?l?（r）/ adj. （有关）肌肉的

inadequate /?n'?d?kw?t/ adj. 不够好的

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；极其

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.