原文
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译文
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THE sound of the bagpipes is as familiar to the Scottish as wearing a kilt and climbing mountains. But the sad sound of the Scottish bagpipes will send a shiver down your body, whether you love the sound, or hate it.
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对于苏格兰人来说,风笛的声音就如同穿苏格兰方格呢短裙或爬越高山一样亲切而熟悉。当苏格兰风笛那忧伤的声音响起,不管你喜欢还是讨厌,你的身体都会掠过一丝震颤。
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Most modern Scottish bagpipes are made up of three wooden pipes, which come out of the top of a bag made of sheep or elk skin. When the piper blows into the pipes, a long sound is heard, rather like that of a Chinese erhu. Tunes are created when the piper puts his fingers over the nine holes on the pipes.
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现代苏格兰风笛大多有三根木质音管,从一个羊皮或鹿皮风袋的上方伸出来。风笛手吹奏吹管,发出悠长的声音,听上去就象中国的二胡。风笛手用手指堵在音管的9个小孔上以变化音调。
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If the piper wants to take a breath, he can press on the bag with his arm, and the bagpipe music does not stop.
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如果风笛手想休息一下,就用胳膊夹住风袋,风笛会一直响下去。
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Bagpipes have been played for thousands of years. They don't originally come from Scotland, although many people think they do. A piper is always needed at Burns-suppers. Burns-night started 200 years ago as a tribute to the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. A Burns-Supper starts when a haggis is brought in to dinner to the sound of the bagpipes. A haggis consists of sheep meat, oatmeal, onions and spices, and is cooked by boiling it inside a bag.
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风笛已有千百年的演奏历史。很多人以为它起源于苏格兰,但事实并非如此。风笛手最早经常在“彭斯之夜”上演奏。“彭斯之夜”始于200年前,是向苏格兰的著名诗人罗伯特·彭斯致敬的节日。在风笛的乐声中,随着羊杂碎布丁被端上桌,彭斯之夜就拉开了序幕。羊杂碎布丁是将羊肉、燕麦、洋葱和各种调料包在袋子里烹制而成。
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The British royal family employ a bagpiper to play for them. When the Queen stays at her Scottish castle, Balmoral, the royal piper plays every morning after breakfast, as well as at special dinners and balls.
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英国皇室也邀请风笛手去为他们演奏。在女王下榻苏格兰城堡巴尔莫勒尔堡时,皇家风笛手在每天早饭后、特别的餐宴或者舞会上为她演奏。
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So whether the sharp sound of the bagpipes thrills you or not, there is no sign that the popularity of this strange and ancient instrument is fading.
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所以,不管风笛清脆嘹亮的乐音是否撩你心弦,这种奇特又古老的乐器没有任何衰落的迹象。
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