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Story-Lives of Great Musicians
Story-Lives of Great Musicians

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Story-Lives of Great Musicians is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Francis Jameson Rowbotham • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Story-Lives of Great Musicians
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.
| | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.
For a complete list, please see the end of this | | document.
| | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.
TO THE MEMORY OF FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Story-Lives of Great Musicians

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Story-Lives of Great Musicians is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.
Line 2
| | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.
/ˈɑːbviəs ˌtaɪpəˈɡræfɪkəl ˈerərz hæv bɪn kərˈektəd ɪn ðɪs tekst/
Line 3
For a complete list, please see the end of this | | document.
/fɔːr ə kəmˈpliːt lɪst pliːz siː ðə end ʌv ðɪs ˈdɑːkjəment/
Line 4
| | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.
Line 5
TO THE MEMORY OF FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

authors noun US /ˈɔːθərz/

plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading “| | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
corrected adjective US /kərˈektəd/

having something undesirable neutralized

From this reading “| | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
document noun US /ˈdɑːkjəment/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading “+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
errors noun US /ˈerərz/

plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading “| | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
frederick noun US /ˈfredrɪk/

a town in northern Maryland to the west of Baltimore

From this reading “TO THE MEMORY OF FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
symbols noun US /ˈsɪmbəlz/

plural of “symbol” — an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance

From this reading “+--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
text noun US /tekst/

the words of something written

From this reading “| | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
typographical adjective US /ˌtaɪpəˈɡræfɪkəl/

relating to or occurring or used in typography

From this reading “| | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 46

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AUTHORnounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AUTHORSnounUS /ˈɔːθərz/

plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
completeverbUS /kəmˈpliːt/

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading For a complete list, please see the end of this | | document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
correctedadjectiveUS /kərˈektəd/

having something undesirable neutralized

From this reading | | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
documentnounUS /ˈdɑːkjəment/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading For a complete list, please see the end of this | | document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
errorsnounUS /ˈerərz/

plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading | | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ETC

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

Pending verification
flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
FRANCIS

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

Pending verification
FREDERICKnounUS /ˈfredrɪk/

a town in northern Maryland to the west of Baltimore

From this reading TO THE MEMORY OF FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
GREATadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading | | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JAMESON

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

Pending verification
listverbUS /lɪst/

give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of

From this reading For a complete list, please see the end of this | | document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MnounUS /em/

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading TO THE MEMORY OF FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MEMORYnounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading TO THE MEMORY OF FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.

Velmora curated lexicon
musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/

characterized by or capable of producing music

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ObviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/

easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind

From this reading | | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
pleaseverbUS /pliːz/

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading For a complete list, please see the end of this | | document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
PLUTARCHnoun

Greek biographer who wrote Parallel Lives (46?-120 AD)

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RnounUS /ɑːr/

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading TO THE MEMORY OF FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ROWBOTHAM

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

Pending verification
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading For a complete list, please see the end of this | | document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sharpadjectiveUS /ʃɑːrp/

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
STORY-LIVES

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

Pending verification
symbolsnounUS /ˈsɪmbəlz/

plural of “symbol” — an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TALESnounUS /teɪlz/

plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading | | | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ BY FRANCIS JAMESON ROWBOTHAM AUTHOR OF 'STORY-LIVES OF GREAT AUTHORS,' 'TALES FROM PLUTARCH,' ETC.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
textnounUS /tekst/

the words of something written

From this reading | | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading For a complete list, please see the end of this | | document.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TOparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading TO THE MEMORY OF FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
transliterated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading +--------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | | | A small number of musical symbols (flat, sharp and natural) | | have been transliterated for this document.

Pending verification
typographicaladjectiveUS /ˌtaɪpəˈɡræfɪkəl/

relating to or occurring or used in typography

From this reading | | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected in this | | text.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WESTLAKE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading TO THE MEMORY OF FREDERICK WESTLAKE, R.A.M.

Pending verification

Chapter 1 of Story-Lives of Great Musicians by Francis Jameson Rowbotham holds 417 sentences, grouped into 84 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Story-Lives of Great Musicians contain?

Chapter 1 holds 417 sentences of Story-Lives of Great Musicians, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Story-Lives of Great Musicians by Francis Jameson Rowbotham exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 417 sentences, grouped into 84 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Story-Lives of Great Musicians?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Story-Lives of Great Musicians

Common questions about reading Story-Lives of Great Musicians by Francis Jameson Rowbotham on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Story-Lives of Great Musicians?

Yes. All 4082 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19748 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Story-Lives of Great Musicians is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #19748, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Story-Lives of Great Musicians take to read?

About 340 minutes of reading across 817 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Story-Lives of Great Musicians section by section

How to work through Story-Lives of Great Musicians section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 10 chapters of Story-Lives of Great Musicians to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Story-Lives of Great Musicians

Words and structures a reader meets early in Story-Lives of Great Musicians, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Small
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Story-Lives of Great Musicians; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Number
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Story-Lives of Great Musicians; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Musical
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Story-Lives of Great Musicians; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Symbols
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Story-Lives of Great Musicians; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.