VOA标准英语2010年-Bluegrass Jam Sessions Popular Across

Bluegrass is often associated with the arrival of Celtic immigrants to the Appalachian Mountain region in the 1700s.

American bluegrass music remains¹ popular in many parts of the United States.

Jam sessions, where musicians get together to play, can be found across the country, and even other parts of the world.

One of the longest running bluegrass jams is held twice a month in Florida.

Jamming

Under weeping willows² and oak trees, musicians gather to play bluegrass at a picking session in rural Cassia, Florida.

Guitarist and harmonica player Larry Testerman says it is a chance to get together with like-minded enthusiasts³.

"You could call us just met, because some of us have just met," says Testerman. "But bluegrass is a common denominator that brings a lot of people together."

 

The unique American roots music is often associated with the arrival of Celtic immigrants to the Appalachian Mountain region in the 1700s.

"When the Irish came over and settled in the mountains. They, of course, brought their string instruments and their music and their dancing," says Testerman.

Only acoustic⁴ will do

At this bluegrass jam there are no speakers or amplifiers. True to tradition, these musicians use only acoustic instruments.

J.J. Weis plays with a group called the Hilltop Ramblers.

"You look for a banjo, then you look for a flat top guitar, got to have the stand-up bass⁵, a fiddle⁶ works really well, and then you get the old mandolin in because a mandolin really has got some good sound to it too."

Musician Bill Monroe is often called "The Father of Bluegrass". The genre⁷ is believed to owe its name to Monroe's 1930s band, The Blue Grass Boys.

There are no speakers or amplifiers and these bluegrass musicians use only acoustic instruments.

These bluegrass pickers say they try to stay faithful to Monroe's style. But it is often fast-paced and complex, and some musicians admit they don't always succeed.

"If we can bring some smile on people's faces - even if we don't do it exactly like it was done before - if they like it, that makes us happy," says Weis.

This jam has been a fixture⁸ in this part of Florida for about 20 years. And bluegrass aficionados⁹ here hope it will continue for many decades to come.
 

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 willows   

n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木

参考例句：

• The willows along the river bank look very beautiful. 河岸边的柳树很美。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Willows are planted on both sides of the streets. 街道两侧种着柳树。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册

4 acoustic   

adj.听觉的，声音的；(乐器)原声的

参考例句：

• The hall has a fine acoustic.这个大厅的传音效果很好。
• Animals use a whole rang of acoustic, visual,and chemical signals in their systems of communication.动物利用各种各样的听觉、视觉和化学信号来进行交流。

5 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

6 fiddle   

n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动

参考例句：

• She plays the fiddle well.她小提琴拉得好。
• Don't fiddle with the typewriter.不要摆弄那架打字机了。

7 genre   

n.(文学、艺术等的)类型，体裁，风格

参考例句：

• My favorite music genre is blues.我最喜欢的音乐种类是布鲁斯音乐。
• Superficially,this Shakespeare's work seems to fit into the same genre.从表面上看， 莎士比亚的这个剧本似乎属于同一类型。

8 fixture   

n.固定设备；预定日期；比赛时间；定期存款

参考例句：

• Lighting fixture must be installed at once.必须立即安装照明设备。
• The cordless kettle may now be a fixture in most kitchens.无绳电热水壶现在可能是多数厨房的固定设备。

9 aficionados   

n.酷爱…者，…迷( aficionado的名词复数 )； 爱看斗牛的人

参考例句：

• West Coast aficionados of postwar coffee-shop architecture(Karal Ann Marling) 西海岸战后咖啡店式建筑的狂热追随者（卡拉尔安马林） 来自互联网
• Clay developed a radical style which appalled boxing aficionados. 克莱发展出一种震惊拳击迷的全新风格。 来自互联网