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81
voiceless minority but that also has changed as Americans have be-
come increasingly aware of their rights and culture.
TEXT THREE THE AMERICAN DREAM
If you were to ask any American what his dream might be most would
probably say that his dream is to become rich and famous. Wealth and
fame are not necessarily goals in themselves, but rather they are per-
ceived as the rewards of achievement. Americans are taught at an early
age that with perseverance and patience anything is possible and that
wealth and fame crown one with both esteem and recognition. Children
in elementary schools are taught that Abraham Lincoln is the foremost
example of the American dream and a model to emulate. Here was a
man who lived in poverty and spent his youth in a log cabin. His thirst
for knowledge and desire for self-fulfillment were motivating forces
which made his dream come true. Being self-taught, he studied at night
by candlelight, became a lawyer and later was elected president of the
United States. His life was the success story of a self-made man. Some
of the greatest contributors to American society were simple people
who had a driving force to make something of their lives. It is not sur-
prising that many of those who fulfilled the American dream were im-
migrants. The vast number of immigrants who came to America very
often had nothing to their name. They arrived in their new home with
only a few bags of clothing and a suitcase which contained the sum
total of all their possessions. In addition to their poverty and frugal life
they nourished the dream to make a better life for themselves and their
children. For them the American Dream was empowered by self-
respect, determination and hard work. There are other in America,
however, who are less motivated and less self-sufficient. Their dream
is fostered by fantasy and they believe that their dream can be real-
izedby sheer luck. The popularity of game shows on prime time TV
and state lotteries in local communities emphasize the possibility of
being an instant winner.
Also, the ever increasing lure of the casinos tempt people with the
glamour of getting rich quick. Las Vegas and the myth of the casino
tempt people to become overnight millionaires with the lucky throw of
82
the dice. The people who play such games also have a dream but it is
much different from that which inspired Lincoln or the early immi-
grants. Theirs is to get rich as quickly as possible and with the least
amount of effort. All they need is a little bit of luck.
TEXT FOUR JAZZ AND COUNTRY-WESTERN
Among the many contributions Americans have made to the arts, one
of the most significant contributions has been in the field of music.
During her short history America has evolved several musical forms
which really capture the American Spirit.
The first of these is jazz. Around the turn of the century the American
public began to tire of the sentimentality of ballads. Negro bands were
forming throughout the country beginning in the South and moving to
cities up North. These musicians brought with them their skill on the
piano, trumpet and drums and their wonderful changing improvised
rhythms.
Emerging from the depths of the black man’s soul which yearned for
freedom, jazz is one of the freest of all musical forms with its numer-
ous impromptu variations. The jazz musician, as if almost hypnotized,
lets his soul dominate the path of the journey the music will take. No
two pieces are ever played alike and no one piece is ever played the
same. For this reason it remains one of the most difficult types of music
to perform and many a well-trained professional musician cannot play
jazz well unless he can ‘feel’ rather than ‘read’ the music. Being born
of the black man’s captivity it flourished in the south finding a home in
the French Quarter of New Orleans. When it moved up north its cul-
tural center was located in Harlem and today it is widely performed and
appreciated throughout the world. From being the music of a localized
area, it has truly become international. Although there are many jazz
vocalists, it is the instrumental aspect of the music which has the great-
est appeal.
Jazz is not so much a “kind’ of music as it is a “way” of playing music.
Almost any music can become jazz if it is played with a jazz treatment.
voiceless minority but that also has changed as Americans have be- the dice. The people who play such games also have a dream but it is come increasingly aware of their rights and culture. much different from that which inspired Lincoln or the early immi- grants. Theirs is to get rich as quickly as possible and with the least TEXT THREE THE AMERICAN DREAM amount of effort. All they need is a little bit of luck. If you were to ask any American what his dream might be most would TEXT FOUR JAZZ AND COUNTRY-WESTERN probably say that his dream is to become rich and famous. Wealth and fame are not necessarily goals in themselves, but rather they are per- Among the many contributions Americans have made to the arts, one ceived as the rewards of achievement. Americans are taught at an early of the most significant contributions has been in the field of music. age that with perseverance and patience anything is possible and that During her short history America has evolved several musical forms wealth and fame crown one with both esteem and recognition. Children which really capture the American Spirit. in elementary schools are taught that Abraham Lincoln is the foremost example of the American dream and a model to emulate. Here was a The first of these is jazz. Around the turn of the century the American man who lived in poverty and spent his youth in a log cabin. His thirst public began to tire of the sentimentality of ballads. Negro bands were for knowledge and desire for self-fulfillment were motivating forces forming throughout the country beginning in the South and moving to which made his dream come true. Being self-taught, he studied at night cities up North. These musicians brought with them their skill on the by candlelight, became a lawyer and later was elected president of the piano, trumpet and drums and their wonderful changing improvised United States. His life was the success story of a self-made man. Some rhythms. of the greatest contributors to American society were simple people who had a driving force to make something of their lives. It is not sur- Emerging from the depths of the black man’s soul which yearned for prising that many of those who fulfilled the American dream were im- freedom, jazz is one of the freest of all musical forms with its numer- migrants. The vast number of immigrants who came to America very ous impromptu variations. The jazz musician, as if almost hypnotized, often had nothing to their name. They arrived in their new home with lets his soul dominate the path of the journey the music will take. No only a few bags of clothing and a suitcase which contained the sum two pieces are ever played alike and no one piece is ever played the total of all their possessions. In addition to their poverty and frugal life same. For this reason it remains one of the most difficult types of music they nourished the dream to make a better life for themselves and their to perform and many a well-trained professional musician cannot play children. For them the American Dream was empowered by self- jazz well unless he can ‘feel’ rather than ‘read’ the music. Being born respect, determination and hard work. There are other in America, of the black man’s captivity it flourished in the south finding a home in however, who are less motivated and less self-sufficient. Their dream the French Quarter of New Orleans. When it moved up north its cul- is fostered by fantasy and they believe that their dream can be real- tural center was located in Harlem and today it is widely performed and izedby sheer luck. The popularity of game shows on prime time TV appreciated throughout the world. From being the music of a localized and state lotteries in local communities emphasize the possibility of area, it has truly become international. Although there are many jazz being an instant winner. vocalists, it is the instrumental aspect of the music which has the great- est appeal. Also, the ever increasing lure of the casinos tempt people with the glamour of getting rich quick. Las Vegas and the myth of the casino Jazz is not so much a “kind’ of music as it is a “way” of playing music. tempt people to become overnight millionaires with the lucky throw of Almost any music can become jazz if it is played with a jazz treatment. 81 82
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