(单词翻译:单击)
perch - peruse The percussion player
打击乐演奏者
Perching on the periphery of every orchestra is a percussion player.
坐在每支管弦乐队外围 的是打击乐演奏者。
He is a permanent, but underappreciated member of this elite group of musicians.
在这群音乐精英中, 他是一位固定但得不 到充分赏识的成员。
Because he only plays periodically,
由于他只是偶尔 演奏一下,
I have often thought
所以我常想
that he must really be spending time back there perusing periodicals,
他大部分时间肯定是在 后面翻阅报刊杂志,
or listening to the basketball game
或是听篮球比赛,
while all of the other instruments are singing away furiously.
其他乐器在这个时候 则演奏得正起劲。
Perish the thought, however,
但是千万不要以为
of that percussion player missing a cymbal crash or timpani bang!
打击乐演奏者会错过 敲一下钹或锤一下 定音鼓的时间!
Then every personality in the orchestra would look back at him angrily,
否则乐队里的每个人 都会转过身愤怒 地看着他,
critiquing his performance!
对他的演奏加以评论!
He may not be essential most of the time,
大多数时候他可能 不是重要角色,
but he darn well better keep the timing and come in at the right place!
但他还是掌握好时间为 妙,该敲就敲。
I would guess that, in that situation where a percussion player misses a crash,
我想如果一名打击乐演 奏者错过了该敲的点,
orchestra office personnel would once again hear
乐队办公室人员 就会再次听到
the perennial comments of perplexed violinists and cellists
那些困惑的小提琴手和 大提琴手一年四季都在 提的意见-
asking for permission to eliminate the "lesser elegant instruments."
要求获准取消那些 "不甚高雅的乐器"。
They would not permit it, of course,
办公室人员当然 不会允许,
but the percussion player better not have a perishable character,
但是打击乐演奏者最好 不要性格脆弱,
or such complaints might permeate his little head
否则他的小脑袋里就会 充满了这种怨言,
and change his perspective about hitting a drum every fifteen minutes
从而改变对每15分钟
for a bunch of people who are experts at rubbing horsetail strings!!!
为一帮善于揉马尾弦的 人敲一下鼓的看法!!!
If he had a strong character,
如果他性格刚烈,
I would even guess that those string-rubbers
我甚至认为那些 揉琴弦的家伙们自己
might have a little peril to face themselves!
可能也要面临一点儿 危险了!
Ah well, the orchestra will always perpetuate itself.
不过,管弦乐队 还是会永久存在的。
Regardless of the infighting between beauty and booms,
无论美妙的旋律与 隆隆的声音之间有 多么激烈的混战,
the audience will be persistent;
观众们是很执着的,
they will never cease their demand for the orchestra.
他们对管弦乐队的要求 永远不会停止。
People love the contrast,
人们就是喜欢有对比,
the flying of the strings, the blasting of the horns,
有琴弦的飞舞, 有小号的吹奏,
and, of course, the persistence of the percussion player!
当然还有打击乐演奏者 的坚持不懈。