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Subjects | Fact sheet | Samples
Arts, media, and entertainment: Sample audio clips
All audios are in Real Audio™ format. Most media players will play this streamed media format quite happily. If you experience any difficulties, you can download a Real Audio™ player from www.realaudio.com. There are a variety of media players on offer at this site at varying costs. However, the basic player, which is fine for all our audio content, is available free of charge.
blues
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An example of fast blues with a 'boogie woogie' bass, alternating between octaves played in a 'swing' rhythm.
(Audio © Helicon)
Chaucer, Geoffrey The Canterbury Tales
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General Prologue, from The Canterbury Tales
Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licour
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halve cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye
(So priketh hem nature in hir corages);
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages,
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes,
To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
(Audio © Helicon)
Cooper, James Fenimore The Last of the Mohicans
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The Last of the Mohicans, Ch. 33
'Why do my brothers mourn!' he said, regarding the dark race of dejected warriors by whom he was environed. 'Why do my daughters weep! That a young man has gone to the happy hunting grounds; that a chief has filled his time with honor? He was good: he was dutiful; he was brave. Who can deny it? The Manitto had need of such a warrior, and he has called him away. As for me, the son and
the father of Uncas, I am a blazed pine, in a clearing of the palefaces. My race has gone from the shores of the salt lake, and the hills of the Delawares. But who can say that the serpent of his tribe has forgotten his wisdom? I am alone – '
'No, no,' cried Hawk-eye, who had been gazing with a yearning look at the rigid features of his friend, with something like his own self-command, but whose philosophy could endure no longer. 'No, Sagamore, not alone. The gifts of our colors may be different, but God has so placed us as to journey in the same path. I have no kin, and I may also say, like you, no people. He was your son, and a redskin by nature; and it may be that your blood was nearer – but if ever I forget the lad who has so often fought at my side in war, and slept at my side in peace, may He who made us all, whatever may be our color or our gifts, forget me! The boy has left us for a time; but, Sagamore, you are not alone.'
(Audio © Helicon)
Debussy, Claude Prélude á l'après midi d'un faune
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The famous opening to Debussy's Prélude á l'après midi d'un faune/Prelude to 'The Afternoon of a Faun'. Due to its impressionism and ambiguous tonality it is often cited as the first truly modern piece of music.
(Audio © Helicon)
Owen, Wilfred Strange Meeting
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Strange Meeting, from Poems
It seemed that out of battle I escaped
Down some profound dull tunnel, long since scooped
Through granites which titanic wars had groined.
Yet also there encumbered sleepers groaned,
Too fast in thought or death to be bestirred.
Then, as I probed them, one sprang up, and stared
With piteous recognition in fixed eyes,
Lifting distressful hands as if to bless.
And by his smile, I knew that sullen hall,
By his dead smile I knew we stood in Hell.
(Audio © Helicon)
saxophone
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The sound of a tenor saxophone.
(Audio © Helicon)
turn
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An example of various turns.
(Audio © Helicon)
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