Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Finn
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Finn...
Neil
...and I'm Neil. Hello.
Finn
Now, Neil, are you doing anything interesting tonight?
Neil
Well, I was thinking of popping down to - that means visiting - my local pub to catch a band. What about you?
Finn
Well, my wife and I have got tickets for the Proms tonight.
Neil
The Proms? You mean that ceremony for high school leavers? I thought you left school decades ago, Finn.
Finn
Ah yes, very funny, Neil. Actually, yeah, it was almost two decades ago. Anyway, the Proms I'm talking about have nothing to do with that. These Proms, or as they're also known, the BBC Proms, are the biggest classical music festival in the world, and they're held in London every summer.
Neil
Ah, yes, of course I know the Proms. And I've even watched the Last Night of the Proms with all those waving flags and the patriotic singing by the audience. Not really my thing.
Finn
I know what you mean, but you shouldn't judge the Proms by the concert on the last night, Neil. It's not really typical. Although it is watched by millions of people around the world. And you know, the Proms is also a very old festival... but, how old, Neil? Is it:
a) 57 years?
b) 84 years?
c) 120 years old?
Neil
Well, I don't know, so I'm going to guess and say 84 years.
Finn
OK. Well, we'll find out the answer to that question later.
Neil
OK. So, come on then Finn, sell the Proms to me. What is it that I'm missing?
Finn
Well, rather a lot, actually. It's not stuck-up - that means a bit superior - in fact, I think there's something for everyone. For example, you might hear something like this...
Music
[Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony]
Neil
Wow! That was pretty dramatic. It really grips you, doesn't it? What was it?
Finn
Well, that was from the first movement of Tchaikovsky's fourth symphony. And at the end you would hear the Prommers showing their appreciation by cheering and clapping.
Neil
Right, so it's almost like Glastonbury, then! So that's the point you're making, is it - the Proms make classical music accessible to everyone. But who are these Prommers?
Finn
Ah, well for an answer to that, let's hear from the Director of the BBC Proms, Edward Blakeman.
Edward Blakeman - Director of BBC Proms
So the Prommers, are quite literally the people who stand to listen to the concerts. And there is space for about 800 people, right in the middle of the hall. And this is a long tradition, back, going through the Proms. And it's wonderful because it costs very little, and it means that almost anyone can afford to come to the Proms. So it is a wonderful place for all sorts of people to meet together, and by the way, it's the best place in the hall to hear the music.
Finn
Now, the hall that he's talking about is the Royal Albert Hall in London - and the Prommers are the people who come and stand as they listen to the music. You know, Neil, it's only £5 a ticket.
Neil
Right, so you stand? That sounds like a proper gig. I think I might just give it a go, Finn. So, you've been trying to persuade me that it's quite informal. But, at the same time you do get all those big, fancy classical music names, don't you?
Finn
You do, absolutely. The top soloists - whether that's on the piano, the violin or any other instrument, or singing - they all perform at the Proms. As do very big orchestras.
Neil
And I believe the BBC commissions new works from time to time. I was even told about rock musicians playing there. Can that be right, Finn?
Finn
Well, yes Neil. That's actually true. The whole range of music is becoming wider year by year. They also screen concerts to other cities, they hold lunchtime and children's concerts, they even play Indian classical music, like this type of thing...
Music
[Classical sitar music]
Neil
What, playing sitars (and tablas) at the Proms?
Finn
Yes. But the core of the eight-week festival is devoted to the heavyweight composers of the last 400 years - Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and so on. Let me play you another extract of that Tchaikovsky symphony now Neil. Tell me what you think of this.
Music
[Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony]
Neil
Now, that was totally different. Much slower and quite sad.
Finn
Yes, every symphony, concerto, or sonata will have a slow movement and it will often be deeply emotional.
Neil
Well, you can't beat live music. So, I must get going.
Finn
Oh yeah? Are you off to see that gig at the pub, Neil?
Neil
Actually, yes. Or, you know what? I might go and catch a Prom after all.
Finn
OK. Well, before you hurry off, I have to give you the answer to the quiz. I asked how many years has the BBC Proms been going?
Neil
And I said 84.
Finn
And I'm sorry, Neil. That's the wrong answer.
Neil
Oh no.
Finn
The correct answer was actually 120 years. Well, that brings us to the end of today's 6 Minute English. We hope you enjoyed the programme. Join us again soon. Bye.
Neil
Goodbye.
to pop down to
to visit somewhere
patriotic
showing love for your country
stuck-up
superior attitude
to be gripped by something
to be completely attentive to something
to cheer
to approve of something by shouting in a positive way
gig
an informal musical event
to commission
to pay a person to create something unique
symphony
a work using the whole orchestra
concerto
a work using a soloist plus orchestra
sonata
a work usually using just a soloist
Finn:Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Finn.
大家好，歡迎來到六分鐘英語。我是菲恩。
Neil:And I'm Neil. Hello.
我是尼爾，大家好。
Finn:Now, Neil, are you doing anything interesting tonight?
尼爾，你今天晚上有什麼有意思的事情要做嗎？
Neil:Well, I was thinking of popping down to - that means visiting - my local pub to catch a band. What about you?
我想去當地的酒館（pop down to意思是出現、參觀），看個樂隊表演。你呢？
Finn:Well, my wife and I have got tickets for the Proms tonight.
我妻子和我有兩張今晚舞會的門票。
Neil:The Proms? You mean that ceremony for high school leavers? I thought you left school decades ago, Finn.
舞會？你說的是為高中畢業生舉辦的畢業舞會嗎？我以為你高中畢業都有幾十年了，菲恩？
Finn:Ah yes, very funny, Neil. Actually, yeah, it was almost two decades ago. Anyway, the Proms I'm talking about have nothing to do with that. These Proms, or as they're also known, the BBC Proms, are the biggest classical music festival in the world, and they're held in London every summer.
啊，是的，你很幽默尼爾。我確實是二十多年前就畢業了。總之，我剛才說的舞會和畢業舞會完全不是一回事。我說的這個是逍遙音樂節，也就是BBC每年夏天在倫敦主辦的全世界最為盛大的古典音樂節。
Neil:Ah, yes, of course I know the Proms. And I've even watched the Last Night of the Proms with all those waving flags and the patriotic singing by the audience. Not really my thing.
啊，這個音樂節我當然知道了。我甚至看過音樂節最後一晚觀眾們揮動旗幟高唱愛國歌曲。我不是很感興趣。
Finn:I know what you mean, but you shouldn't judge the Proms by the concert on the last night, Neil. It's not really typical. Although it is watched by millions of people around the world. And you know, the Proms is also a very old festival... but, how old, Neil? Is it: a) 57 years? b) 84 years? c) 120 years old?
我明白你的意思，但是你不應該單憑音樂會的最後一晚就給整個音樂會下定論，尼爾。儘管全世界有上百萬的人會觀看最後一晚的表演，但它並不具有什麼代表性。而且，你知道嗎，尼爾，逍遙音樂節是一個歷史十分悠久的節日。尼爾，你知道它有多少年的歷史嗎？是a)57？年 b)84年？c)120年？
Neil:Well, I don't know, so I'm going to guess and say 84 years.
我不知道，所以我要猜了，我才是84年。
Finn:OK. Well, we'll find out the answer to that question later.
好的。那麼我們稍後會揭曉這個問題的答案。
Neil:OK. So, come on then Finn, sell the Proms to me. What is it that I'm missing?
好。那麼，菲恩，給我推薦一下逍遙音樂節吧。逍遙音樂節上有哪些是我不知道的？
Finn:Well, rather a lot, actually. It's not stuck-up - that means a bit superior - in fact, I think there's something for everyone. For example, you might hear something like this...
好啊，實際上有很多。實際上它並不是陽春白雪，也就是說它並不是一個只有清高藝術的節日，它裡面有每個人都喜歡的東西。比如你會聽到這個……
Music 'Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony'
音樂《柴可夫斯基第四交響曲》
Neil:Wow! That was pretty dramatic. It really grips you, doesn't it? What was it?
哇！這音樂太激動人心了。它很吸引人，是不是？這是什麼音樂？
Finn:Well, that was from the first movement of Tchaikovsky's fourth symphony. And at the end you would hear the Prommers showing their appreciation by cheering and clapping.
那是《柴可夫斯基第四交響曲》的第一個樂章。在結尾處你會聽到逍遙者們的鼓掌歡呼以示欣賞。
Neil:Right, so it's almost like Glastonbury, then! So that's the point you're making, is it - the Proms make classical music accessible to everyone. But who are these Prommers?
對，那它就是和拉斯頓伯裡音樂節類似！這就是你想說的嗎——它是一個能向所有人普及古典音樂的音樂節。但是逍遙者又是什麼人？
Finn:Ah, well for an answer to that, let's hear from the Director of the BBC Proms, Edward Blakeman.
啊，關於這個問題，我們就聽聽BBC逍遙音樂節的負責人Edward Blakeman是怎麼說的吧。
So the Prommers, are quite literally the people who stand to listen to the concerts. And there is space for about 800 people, right in the middle of the hall. And this is a long tradition, back, going through the Proms. And it's wonderful because it costs very little, and it means that almost anyone can afford to come to the Proms. So it is a wonderful place for all sorts of people to meet together, and by the way, it's the best place in the hall to hear the music.
逍遙者，準確來說就是站著聽音樂會的人。在音樂廳的正中央能容納800餘人。聽者穿行於音樂節之間是由來已久的傳統。而且這也是一種很不錯的形式，因為它需要的成本很小，因此任何人都負擔得起逍遙音樂節的門票。所以這裡的音樂廳是我們接觸到形形色色人物的好地方，也是聆聽音樂的最佳去處。
Finn:Now, the hall that he's talking about is the Royal Albert Hall in London - and the Prommers are the people who come and stand as they listen to the music. You know, Neil, it's only ￡5 a ticket.
他所說的音樂廳就是倫敦的皇家艾伯特演奏廳，而逍遙者指的就是來音樂節站著聽音樂的人們。你知道嗎，尼爾，一張門票只需要5英鎊。
Neil:Right, so you stand? That sounds like a proper gig. I think I might just give it a go, Finn. So, you've been trying to persuade me that it's quite informal. But, at the same time you do get all those big, fancy classical music names, don't you?
好的，那麼你需要站著？聽起來是個不錯的音樂節。我想我或許回去看看，菲恩。那麼，菲恩，你一直在勸我說這個音樂節並不是很正式，但是，我還是會聽到一些高大上的古典音樂的名字，不是嗎？
Finn:You do, absolutely. The top soloists - whether that's on the piano, the violin or any other instrument, or singing - they all perform at the Proms. As do very big orchestras.
是的，當然。頂尖的獨奏者，不管是鋼琴家，小提琴家還是歌手都會在逍遙音樂節演奏。同時還有大型管弦樂隊在此演奏。
Neil:And I believe the BBC commissions new works from time to time. I was even told about rock musicians playing there. Can that be right, Finn?
而且我相信不時還會有BBC委員會的新作品。甚至有人告訴我搖滾音樂家也會在那演奏，那是真的嗎？
Finn:Well, yes Neil. That's actually true. The whole range of music is becoming wider year by year. They also screen concerts to other cities, they hold lunchtime and children's concerts, they even play Indian classical music, like this type of thing...
那的確是真的，尼爾。逍遙音樂節上音樂的種類每年都在增多。音樂會還會在電視上被播出給其他城市看。他們還會舉辦午餐音樂會和兒童音樂會，甚至還會演奏印度經典音樂及諸如此類的……
Music'Classical sitar music'
音樂'古典錫塔爾琴音樂'
Neil:What, playing sitars (and tablas) at the Proms?
什麼，逍遙音樂節上還有錫塔爾琴演奏？
Finn:Yes. But the core of the eight-week festival is devoted to the heavyweight composers of the last 400 years - Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and so on. Let me play you another extract of that Tchaikovsky symphony now Neil. Tell me what you think of this.
是的。但是這個為期八周的音樂節主要是為了向過去的400年間的重量級作曲家——巴赫、莫扎特、貝多芬、布拉姆斯等致敬。讓我再播放一段剛剛柴可夫斯基的交響曲，然後告訴我你覺得它如何尼爾。
Music[Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony]
音樂《柴可夫斯基第四交響曲》
Neil:Now, that was totally different. Much slower and quite sad.
現在和之前完全不同。慢了許多而且還很悲傷。
Finn:Yes, every symphony, concerto, or sonata will have a slow movement and it will often be deeply emotional.
是的，任何交響樂、協奏曲或者奏鳴曲都會有一個慢節奏的樂章，而且通常飽含感情。
Neil:Well, you can't beat live music. So, I must get going.
你播放的音樂終歸比不過現場演奏的，所以我得走了。
Finn:Oh yeah? Are you off to see that gig at the pub, Neil?
哦，是嗎？你是要去酒吧看演出嗎，尼爾？
Neil:Actually, yes. Or, you know what? I might go and catch a Prom after all.
對。又或許我會去逍遙音樂會。
Finn:OK. Well, before you hurry off, I have to give you the answer to the quiz. I asked how many years has the BBC Proms been going?
好吧。在你匆忙離開之前我必須把測試題的答案告訴你。我問你BBC古典音樂節從開始舉辦到現在有多少年了？
Neil:And I said 84.
我選的是84年。
Finn:And I'm sorry, Neil. That's the wrong answer.
我很抱歉，尼爾，你的回答是錯的。
Neil:Oh no.
哦，不會吧。
Finn:The correct answer was actually 120 years. Well, that brings us to the end of today's 6 Minute English. We hope you enjoyed the programme. Join us again soon. Bye.
正確答案實際上是120年。今天的六分鐘英語到這裡就結束了，我們希望您喜歡今天的節目。歡迎下次收聽，再見。
Neil:Goodbye.
再見。