Travel in Chinese Lesson 76 Yun Nan (Ancient Naxi Music)

同事：四方街好玩儿吗？都累坏了吧。这儿的咖啡不错，咱们在这儿先喝点儿咖啡休息一下吧。

雪梅：这里的音乐很别致，我好象以前从来没听到过。

同事：那当然，你听到的就是著名的“纳西古乐”。

人豪：我在美国看过关于纳西古乐的介绍，据说很多听过纳西古乐的人都被它所感动。

同事：我对纳西古乐也非常感兴趣，只要有时间，我就去听纳西古乐，今天晚上我就要去，如果你们有兴趣的话，咱们一会儿可以一块儿去。

人豪/雪梅：太好了，我们一定去。

人豪：据说纳西古乐原来是一种道教音乐。

同事：对，是明朝时从中原地区传入的，后来又加入了纳西风格，形成了“纳西古乐”。

人豪：我觉得“纳西古乐”挺有意思的。你看啊，这种音乐在内地已经没有了，反倒在丽江地区一直流传下来，你说这是为什么啊？

雪梅：我听说，因为纳西族女人向来勤劳、能干，包揽了家里的所有的工作，纳西族男人才有时间去研究纳西古乐。

同事：这种看法倒是挺新鲜的。不过无论原因是什么，多亏了纳西族人，这种古老的音乐才得以保存下来。

人豪：这种音乐会每天都有吗？

同事：每天晚上都有，乐师们都是纳西古乐的爱好者和研究者，雷打不动，每天都会来演奏。时间不早了，我们走吧。

雪梅：乐师们的年龄看起来都很大了。

当地：是啊，他们原来有的是教师、有的是农民、有的是工匠，现在都退休了。

人豪：真了不起，不简单。

当地：这是今晚的演出的曲目。

人豪：这些都是很古老的曲目。

当地：对，有的据说还是唐朝皇帝创作的呢。

雪梅：噢，开始了。
 

Translation:

Colleague：Do you like Sifang Jie? You must be tired. The coffee here is quite good. Let’s take a coffee break.

Xuemei：The music here is really special. I don’t think I’ ve ever heard it before.

Colleague：Of course, what you’re hearing is the famous “Ancient Naxi Music ”.

Renhao：“Ancient Naxi Music”? I’ve read about Ancient Naxi Music in the US. Apparently many people who listen to Ancient Naxi Music are very moved by it.

Colleague：I’m very interested in Ancient Naxi Music, too. I go to listen to Ancient Naxi Music whenever I have time. In fact I’m going tonight. We can go together if you like.

Renhao/Xuemei：Fantastic, we’d love to.

Renhao：I’ve heard that Ancient Naxi Music used to be Taoist music.

Colleague：Yes, it was introduced from the central regions around the time of the Ming dynasty. Later on it incorporated the Naxi style and formed what’s known as“Ancient Naxi Music ”.

Renhao：The musical style is extinct in the more populated areas, but it’s managed to survive in Lijiang. Do you know why?

Xuemei：I’ve heard that being so hardworking, Naxi women do all the chores in the house. That’s why the Naxi men have time to study Ancient Naxi Music .

Colleague：That’s an interesting idea. But whatever the reason was，it’s thanks to the Naxi people that this ancient folk music was preserved.

Renhao：Are there concerts every day?

Colleague：Every night. The musicians are all fans and researchers of Ancient Naxi Music，so come rain or shine, they will perform here. It’s about time, let’s go.

Xuemei：The musicians look quite old.

Local：Yes, some of them used to be teachers, some were farmers, or craftsman，they’re all retired now.

Renhao：That’s remarkable，just amazing.

Local：This is the programme for tonight’s concert.

Renhao：These are all very old tunes.

Local：Right. Some were supposedly composed by emperors from the Tang dynasty.

Xuemei：Oh, it’s starting.
 

Bookmarks

1）或许 perhaps

例）或许他们已经到北京了，我再打电话确认一下。

Maybe they are already in Beijing. I'll phone again to /confirm/i.

例）或许还有其他的办法，我们再想想看。

Maybe there are some other solutions. Let’s think about it some more.

2）随后 one action following after another

例）你先去吧，我随后就到。

You go first. I'll be there right after you.

例）我们先去了故宫，随后还去了后边的景山。

We went first to the Forbidden City. Afterwards, we went to Coal Hill behind the Forbidden City.

3）走（个）过场 to go through the moves

例）别太认真，这么做只是走个过场而已。

Don't be too serious. We're just going through the moves.

例）就算是走过场，我也要认真把这件事儿做好。

Even if we're just going through the moves, I want to be serious and do a good job.

Substitution and Extension

宁可（肯）……，也要…… even if A, still choose B

例）她宁可挨饿，也要减肥。

She wants to lose weight even if it means she goes hungry.

例）他宁可熬夜，也要把工作干完。

He wants to finish the job even if it means he has to stay up all night.