📘 Part 3: Music

This episode's vocabulary

Fiend (noun) - an evil and cruel person.

Mishmash (noun) - a confused mixture.

Bizarre (adj.) - very strange and unusual.

Mashup (noun) - a type of recorded music or video that consists of parts of different songs or images that have been combined.

Genteel (adj.) - calm and gentle.

Jig (noun) - an energetic traditional dance of Great Britain and Ireland, or the music that is played for such a dance.

To vest (verb) - to give someone or something the power to do something.

Fanfare (noun) - great attention to and interest in something.

Clarity (noun) - the quality of being clear and easy to understand.

Inauthentic (adj.) - if something is inauthentic, it is not real, true, or what people say it is.

Elitist (adj.) - characteristic of the elite, and esp. not caring about the interests or values of ordinary people.

Orchestra (noun) - a large group of musicians who play many different instruments together and are led by a conductor.

Opera (noun) - a musical play in which most of the words are sung, or plays and music of this type.

Niche (adj.) - interesting to, aimed at, or affecting only a small number of people.

Mosh pit (noun) - the area in front of the stage at a rock concert where members of the audience dance energetically and violently.

Gig (noun) - a single performance by a musician or group of musicians, especially playing modern or pop music, or by a comedian (= a performer who makes people laugh, for example by telling jokes or funny stories).

To thrum (verb) -to make a continuous low sound.

Venue (noun) - the place where a public event or meeting happens.

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Questions and Answers

M: Rory, what kinds of music do young people like?

R: I feel like I say this for just about everything. But that depends so much on individuals, and maybe their friendship groups, doesn't it? I mean, you might be a goth who's really into heavy metal, or a bit of a musical fiend, and a fan of show tunes. Actually, in many cases, I find it's a mishmash of different genres. Even the biggest fan of rock music could enjoy a Britney Spears song, for example.

M: What kinds of music is popular in your country?

R: It's such a bizarre question. Like, I think unless you live in North Korea, or somewhere else that's cut off from everything, then all kinds of music are popular everywhere. And it seems like every day there's another mashup or remix, blending different genres, somewhere that gets shared elsewhere in seconds and goes viral. I'm sure older or more conservative people probably prefer something more genteel. But outside of that, it's really anyone's guess.

M: What kinds of people like traditional music?

R: Well, I suppose that's contingent on the tradition that it embodies. If it's a religious one, like choir music, then it's likely to be a more religious crowd that gets drawn to it. However, if it's like an old fashioned jig, or a Cayley strain, then anyone who's vested in keeping that aspect of cultural alive will want in on it. And young people rediscover old pieces all the time and find the enjoy it. So you can't count anyone out, really, when it comes to traditional music, can you?

M: Why are some music competitions popular?

R: Well, I have no idea since I don't take part in them, nor do I watch them. But if I were to guess it's because people like the fanfare and drama around them, as well as the apparently skilful performances. But that is just a guess.

M: What are the differences between live concerts and online concerts?

R: Well, aside from the use of technology, probably not much, since the clarity of the sound over like the speakers you have in your home probably matches that of the actual performance nowadays. And you have the benefit of all of the home comforts if you're watching it online. I'm sure some people think it's inauthentic to enjoy something over the net. But I think it's a bit elitist, since some people don't have the time. Maybe they don't even have the money to make the journey to whatever concert hall or arena, that it's in.

M: Do you think that in the future, people continue having online concerts instead of offline concerts like we used to have before the pandemic?

R: Oh, I still think they'll have them. I think it will be a balance of both, really. But that's like I say it's just a guess. I don't know much about music or musical events.

M: Why do people spend a lot of money on concerts?

R: Well, putting on a show is expensive, and you have to pay for all of the equipment and the people who play the various instruments and also manage the crowds. It can also be about status. If it's a particular kind of music. For example, orchestras and operas, in general, tend to be quite niche and attract a certain kind of person, so they can pay for the privilege of being around the same people if that's what they're, well, into.

M: Are music concerts suitable for older people?

R: I don't see, I can't see why not assuming they're healthy enough to go like, I doubt they would do well in a mosh pit. Or maybe some of the more violent death metal gigs, but it shouldn't stop them from enjoying the sound of the music, of thrumming through the air, or the general atmosphere that creates.

M: Why do some people prefer to listen to live music, instead of listening to the recorded music?

R: The convenience is the most obvious advantage to CDs. But live music is a social experience and a unique one at that. You might have the same band playing the same songs, but the different venues and times and crowds will make it something more personal to remember. It's priceless. But it's also quite demanding to create I think.

M: Do you think music will change in the future?

R: I think it's changing all the time, not just in the future. Like now it's changing even and the perspectives on past music are also changing.

M: Thank you, Rory, for your musical answers! They are music to all our ears!

R: Aw, that was my pun.

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