An Early Form of Jazz Music
Music comes in many forms; most countries have a style of their own. At the beginning of the last century, 1 jazz was born, America had no prominent 2 of its own. No one knows exactly when was invented or by whom. But it began to be 3 in the early 1890s. Jazz is America's contribution to 4 music. In contrast to classical music, which 5 formal European traditions, jazz is spontaneous and free in form. It bubbles with energy, 6 the moods, interests, and emotions of the people. In the 1920s jazz 7 like America. And so it does today. The 8 of the music are as interesting as the music itself. American Negroes, or blacks, as they are called today, were the jazz pioneers.
They were brought to the Southern states 9 slaves. They were sold to plantation owners and forced to work long hours. When a Negro died his friends and relatives 10 a procession to carry to body to the cemetery. In New Orleans, a band often accompanied the __ 11 . On the way to the cemetery the band played slow, solemn music suited to the occasion. 12 on the way home the mood changed. Spirits lifted. Death had removed one of their number, but the living were glad to be 13 . The band played __ 14 music, improvising on both the harmony and the melody of the tunes 15 at the funeral. This music made everyone want to dance. It was an early form of jazz.
1. when (定语从句)
2. music（标题指引）
3. it began to be heard 音乐开始被听到
4. popular music流行音乐
5. follow formal European traditions 遵循欧洲传统
6. express the mood 表达心情
7. sound like听上去像
8. the origins of the music音乐的起源
9. as slaves作为奴隶
10. form a procession 组成队伍
11. accompany the procession 伴随队伍
12. but表转折
13. glad to be alive 高兴地活着
14. play happy music 演奏轻快的音乐
15. play at the funeral 葬礼上演奏的
爵士乐的早期形式
音乐的形成方式多种多样；而且，多数国家都有其独特的音乐风格。爵士乐诞生于上 世纪之初，当时美国还没有明显属于自己的音乐。十九世纪九十年代初期，美国人开始欣赏爵士乐，但并没有人确切地知道何人何时发明了它。爵士乐是美国对流行音乐的—个贡献。与遵循欧洲传统的古典音乐相比，爵士乐以即兴演奏和变化丰富的节奏为特点。它充满活力，表达了人们的心情；兴趣和感情。在二十世纪二十年代，爵士乐听上去真正有了美国特色，今天亦然。爵士乐的起源就像是音乐本身，同样引起了人们的兴趣。现在的美国黑人是爵士乐的先行者。
他们曾被当成奴隶，贩卖给南方各州的庄园主，被迫长期从事艰苦的劳动。那时，某个黑人去世后，他的亲朋好友会自发形成队伍，将其遗体送到墓地。在新奥尔良，爵士乐队通常是葬礼行进队列的—部分。他们演奏着庄严低沉的进行曲带领着队伍向着墓地前进。但是，在回来的路上，他们的心情改变了。他们情绪高涨，因为死神虽夺取了他们的朋友，但还活着的人就应该快乐的生活。乐队演奏轻快的进行曲，即兴地改编着葬礼上演奏的那些和谐、优美的曲调。和着改编后的轻快音乐，他们跳着舞。这就是爵士乐的早期形式。