A
As the saying goes, "Without music, life would be a mistake." Music is very important in our lives and here are four of the greatest musicians in history.
Ludwig van Beethoven(1770-1827)
Born in Bonn, Germany, Beethoven never held an official position in Vienna. He supported himself by giving concerts, teaching piano, and the sale of his compositions(作曲). The last 30 years of Beethoven's life were filled with a lot of hard times, the first of which was his deafness. Beethoven's music greatly influenced the next generation of musicians.
Johann Sebastian Bach(1685-1750)
Bach, "the father of modern music", was born in Eisenach, Germany. His parents died when he was nine years old, and in 1695 he went to live with his brother Johann Christoph, who was an organist(风琴手)in Ohrdruf. He stayed there until 1700. Seven years later, he moved back to Weimar, where he served as court(宫廷)organist for nine years. His music greatly influenced classical music.
Frederic Chopin(1810-1849)
Chopin was born in Zelazowa Wola, Poland. He showed a talent for the piano at a very young age. Chopin began composing when he was still a child, but some of his early works have been lost. He gave his first public concert in 1818.Chopin was considered as the leading musician of his time.
Franz Schubert(1797-1828)
Schubert was born and died in Vienna. Unlike most of his predecessors(前辈), Schubert was not a great performer. He never had much money but he was very productive. He wrote his first masterpiece when he was only sixteen. However, he died young, before his talents had even been known.
21. Where was Beethoven horn?
A. In Vienna. B. In America. C. In Germany. D. In Poland.
22. Who is called "the father of modern music"?
A. Bach. B. Beethoven. C. Schubert. D. Chopin.
23. When did Chopin give his first public concert?
A. In 1707. B. In 1818. C. In 1810. D. In 1828.
24. What do we know about the four musicians?
A. They all lived a hard life at their old age. B. They were all born in Germany.
C. They were all talented musicians. D. They all served as a court organist.
