Leisure and Sports
Primary 6 · English
Leisure and Sports
Lesson 3 of 5
40 min
At a wedding in Nyanza, the drummers begin to play. Within a minute, nobody is sitting down. Grandmothers clap, children jump, and the intore dancers stamp their feet. Music does that to people.
Today you will read a story in which musical instruments argue about which of them is the greatest. You will learn words to describe music, and small words that tell us how much and how many.
This story from Uganda was written by Athieno Gertrude and Owino Ogot for the African Storybook. Every character in it is a musical instrument. The story itself gives you clues about what each one is.
Bul, Fumbo, Teke, Tongoli, Milege, Sos and Gwara were great friends who made beautiful music together. They lived at the foot of faraway hills. All of them were skilful musicians. Everyone enjoyed listening to their melodies and dancing to their rhythms!
One day, the musicians decided to choose a leader. The greatest among them would be their king. To be chosen as the greatest, a musician had to do many things well. He had to be loud enough to be heard from near and far.
Tongoli spoke first. “I am the greatest. I sing high and I sing low. I have many strings of different pitches. I can sing alone and in groups. The young and the old love dancing to my music.”
“You are right, Tongoli,” Fumbo agreed. “But you are not better than me. You are too soft. I am loud and clear. My sound reaches near and far. In times of joy and in times of sorrow, I make people dance!”
“You are both great,” said Milege. “My work is simple. Dancers tie me round their ankles. They stamp their feet in rhythm, and I make a mix of loud and sharp sounds. Friends, aren't I great?”
“That is great!” said Bul. “I am only a piece of skin stretched over a hollow wooden cylinder. I give rhythm to songs, and my sound sends many messages. But I cannot change my pitch like some of you. I don't think I am great.”
“Bul, you do great things!” Gwara disagreed. “You call people to meetings, to worship and to community work. You announce sad news, and you warn people when there is danger. You sound at ceremonies and make people dance in joy and in sorrow. To me, you are the greatest.” Gwara gave a loud blast. “I am loud and I attract attention. But I am not better than Bul. So I propose him as our king.”
The musicians looked at one another in surprise and silence. Then Tongoli said, “Bul is too simple to be our king. I am the greatest, because I can play from low to high with ease.”
Sos had been quiet all along. Now he spoke. “Friends, I have always sung with all of you. You are all skilful musicians. But the best choice for our king is Bul. A person who cannot feel the music of Bul is like dead wood! Bul brings people to him and cares for them with his music, in sorrow and in joy.”
Finally, the skilful musicians chose Bul as their king. Ever since then, Bul has been the king of music. That is why there is a Bul in every home at the foot of the faraway hills.
Answer each question in your head or in your exercise book first. Then tap Show answer to check.
Why did the musicians want a leader?
They wanted to choose the greatest among them to be their king.
What can Tongoli do that Bul cannot?
Tongoli can change pitch: it sings high and low with its many strings.
Give two jobs Bul does for the community.
Bul calls people to meetings, worship and community work; warns of danger; announces news; sounds at ceremonies.
Bul said, “I don't think I am great.” Why do you think the others chose him anyway?
Possible answer: Bul was humble, and he served everybody in joy and in sorrow. Being useful to everyone mattered more than being loud or clever.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| melody / tune | a line of musical notes that people remember and hum |
| rhythm | the regular beat that makes you clap or dance |
| pitch | how high or low a sound is |
| lyrics | the words of a song |
| verse / chorus | a verse tells part of the song's story; the chorus is the part that is repeated |
| compose / composer | to write a new piece of music / the person who writes it |
| instrument | a thing you play to make music: a drum, a guitar, a flute, an inanga |
| folk or traditional music | old music of a people, passed on from parents to children |
| popular, gospel, jazz, classical | other kinds (styles) of music |
First ask: can I count it? You can count songs, drums and singers (one song, two songs). You cannot count music, noise, rhythm or time. Different quantity words go with each kind.
| Word | Goes with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| many | things you can count | Tongoli has many strings. How many songs do you know? |
| much | things you cannot count (mostly in questions and negatives) | We don't have much time before the concert. How much practice do you need? |
| a lot of | both kinds | A lot of people danced. There was a lot of noise. |
| several | countable: more than two, but not many | Several musicians spoke before Sos. |
| a few | countable: a small number (a good thing) | A few children sang along. |
| few | countable: almost none (a disappointing thing) | Few people came, because it was raining. |
| a little | uncountable: a small amount | Add a little rhythm with your hands. |
| little | uncountable: almost none | There was little noise when Sos spoke. |
| most of | the biggest part of a group | Most of the musicians praised Bul. |
Watch the little word “a”. A few friends came sounds happy: some came. Few friends came sounds sad: almost nobody came.
Tip
Can you count it? Then think many and (a) few. Can't count it? Think much and (a) little.
Not sure? A lot of is safe with both.
Choose the right word, then check.
___ people danced to Bul's rhythm. (Much / Many)
Answer: Many (people can be counted)
How ___ noise does a horn make? (many / much)
Answer: much (noise cannot be counted)
There is only ___ water left in the jerrycan, so let's fetch more. (a little / a few)
Answer: a little
___ musicians spoke before Sos: Tongoli, Fumbo, Milege, Bul and Gwara. (Several / Much)
Answer: Several
Describe a song you like in two sentences. Use one music word and one quantity word.
Answer: Example: My favourite song has a slow melody and a lot of drums. Many people at church sing its chorus.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
Quick check
Match each music word to its meaning.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
