The Cellist of Sarajevo

1. The Cellist of Sarajevo By Jessica Li 2013

2. “The Cellist of Sarajevo” ▲ The music began, stealing into the hushed hall and creating a shadowy, empty universe. ▲ Slowly the music grew into an agonized, screaming, and slashing furor, gripping us all before subsiding into a hollow death rattle and eventually, back to silence. Climax ________ rising falling _________ Expositionresolution

3. Phrase and Vocabulary ∆ stealing into the hushed hall ---- sneaking into the tranquil hall quietly ∆ shadowy, empty universe ---- mysterious and secret universe ∆ an agonized, and slashing furor ---- such is the furor that it can cut sth in a violent way ∆ gripping us all ---- attracted all of us/ all of us were intoxicated with the piece of music

4. ∆ subside (V) (1) become weaker, less violent Ex 1. The pain should subside in an hour. Ex 2. By morning, the storm had subsided. (2) sinks to a lower level Ex. With the over pumping of underground water, the buildings on the site are likely to collapse in years because the land will subside as a result.

5. ∆ subsiding into a hollow death rattle ---- the music became weaker and ended up with a short, sharp knocking sound as if a dying person let out a short, sharp cry with the his shaking body. ∆ rattle (1) (V) make short, sharp knocking sound as sth moves or shakes Ex. The house shook and the door and windows rattled. (2) (N) a short, sharp knocking sound

6. Paragraph I ▲ The performance on the opening night consists of/ is comprised of / is composed of works for the unaccompanied cello. ∆ accompany (V) keep sb company/ 伴奏/ to come along with sth Ex. A skin rash may be accompanied by fever. ▲ (On the stage) was(a solitary chair.) --- (A solitary chair) was (on the stage) ∆ a solitary/ sole chair

7. ▲ music stand ▲ conductor’s podium

8. Paragraph II ▲ distribute (V) distribution (N) Ex1. Medical supplies and daily necessities are being distributed to the victims in the typhoon-stricken areas. Ex2. Backpacks are believed to distribute more pressure on the back than shoulder bags. Ex3. The distribution of rainfalls is so uneven that some regions suffer from severe droughts while some suffer from tremendous floods.

9. ▲ war-torn city --- a city that was devastated by war ▲ Flesh, blood, bone and rubble were splattered over the city.

10. Paragraph III ▲ (Not far away) lived (a distinguished cellist named Vedran Samailovic.) ∆ a distinguished/ famous cellist ▲ No soonerhad he seen the massacre outside his window than a feeling of anguish overwhelmed him. --- He had seen the massacre outside his window no sooner than a feeling of anguish overwhelmed him.

11. --- As soon as he sawthe massacre outside his window, a feeling of anguish overwhelmed him. --- Uponseeing the massacre outside his window, a feeling of anguish overwhelmed him. ∆ No sooner had S+ PPthan S + Ved. Ex.No sooner had I explained my failure to complete the task on timethanmy boss stormed away.

12. ▲ a feeling of anguish overwhelmed him. ---- he felt extremely sorrowful for the massacre/ brutal killing of human lives. ∆ overwhelm (V) (1) affect sb in a very powerful way Ex. Helen’s extraordinary beauty overwhelmed Prince Paris.

13. (2) to surprise sb a lot Ex. We were overwhelmed the unexpected result. (3) to exist in great numbers Ex. She was overwhelmed by great expenses. (4) to defeat Ex. The government troops have overwhelmed a rebel encampment. ∆ overwhelming (a) larger, stronger Ex. An overwhelming majority voted against his proposal.

14. ▲ resolve (V) (1) to solve Ex. The crisis was resolved by negotiation. (2) to make a formal/firm decision Ex. The committee resolved to review the overall spending. ∆ resolve (n) = resolution/ firm determination Ex. The minister vowed the issue of adulterated oils would not weaken his resolve to impose food security measures.

15. Paragraph IV ▲ --- and walked out of his apartment into the midst of the battle raging around him. --- He put himself in the battlefield. ∆ rage (V) to continue with a lot of force Ex. Outside the shelter, the storm raged on for days.

16. ▲ he played ---mournful and haunting pieces in his repertoire. ---- The pieces sound so sorrowful that they would be always on people’s mind. ▲ He played to the abandoned streets, smashed trucks, and ----, and to the terrified people----.

17. ▲ With masonry exploding around him, he courageously fought for human dignity, for those who had been lost to war,for civilization, for compassion, and for peace.

18. Paragraph V ▲ After newspaper picked up the story ---, an English composer named David Wilde was so moved that he wrote a composition ---entitled/ which was entitled “The Cellist of Sarajevo,” into which he poured --- outrage and love and brotherhood ---. ∆ pour A into B

19. Paragraph VII ▲ When Ma had finished, he remained bent over his cello, with his bow restingon the strings. ▲ It wasas though we had witnessed the massacre ourselves. (與過去相反的假設)

20. ▲ Ma stood up,----, stretched out his hand, beckoning/signaling someone to come ---- ▲An indescribable feeling swept over us as we realized who it was -----. Ex. A realization swept over Lora when she found the missing necklace in her best friend’s drawer.

21. Paragraph VIII ▲ Samilovic rose from his seat and walked down the aisle, and Ma left the stage to meet him. (details about people’s acts) ▲Everyone erupted in chaotic, emotional excitement ---- clapping, shouting, and cheering. (details about people’s acts)

22. ▲ Yo Yo Ma, an elegant cellilst of classic music, flawless in appearance and performance, and Vedran Samilovic, dressed in a stained, tattered leather motorcycle Jacket. ---- The striking contrast between them can’t affect their brotherhood.

23. ▲ His wild, long hair and huge mustache framed a face that looked old beyond his Years, soaked with tears and lined with pain. ---- The face was soaked with tears shedding for the victims in the war, and was lined with wrinkles caused by sufferings. ▲ Now that we had encountered the man, who had shaken his cello like a fist in the face of bomb ----, we were all stripped down to our deepest humanity.( What does this line mean ?)

24. ---- We removed all of our disguise and revealed our deepest humanity, the compassion for others’ sufferings. ∆ strip down (V) to remove clothes Ex. The mischievous stripped down to his underwear and jumped into the pool to enjoy the cool water.

25. Paragraph IX ▲ It was then that I realized that music is a gift that we all share equally. ---- Music is without boundary. ▲ ----, especially when we need it most--- and expect it least. ---- Vedran Smailovic is the only person to play music in the battlefield to soothe people’s sorrow and pain.