take up?

Question

What does 'take up' mean in the following context?

One of Mendelssohn's friends in his youthful days was Edward Devrient, a good musician and excellent singer. These friends used to explore the music of “Old Bach” and enjoy the learning displayed there. One day they took up the old cantor's “Passion Music,” which had not been heard for a hundred years and which was, even to such good musicians as they, known by name only. They were fascinated by the beauties of this noble masterpiece, and Devrient enthusiastically declared it ought to be given in public.

Thank you in advance!

Teechr · Accepted Answer

Who wrote that text? It seems that "picked up" is more likely in that context.

James Hwang · Answer

I think it's rewritten by non-native. What is it trying to tell? I still don't understand when replaced it to "pick up" either.. It's really difficult for me to grasp the meaning of phrasal verb. Does it mean that they discovered the old piece of music and spent time with it or that they played the old piece of music using instrument?

Teechr · Answer

James HwangDoes it mean that they discovered the old piece of music and spent time with it

Yes, that's what I meant.

James Hwang · Answer

May I ask the difference between "take up" and "pick up"?

Could you give me some examples?

Teechr · Answer

Check the dictionary first, and post back if you still need help.

James Hwang · Answer

I aksed the publisher about this. Don't fully trust them because they are not native. They said that considering Mendelssohn and his friend, Edward Devrient have been learning Old Bach's music comprehensively for a long time, it's more appropriate to use "took up" than "picked up" because they chose a specific subject, Passion Music, in the study of Old Bach's music. The publisher also said that "took up"' meant 'to deal with" as in "Let's take up each problem one at a time."

I looked up dictionary as well. I think "pick up" is used when you learn things informally and by hands-on experience. For "took up", I think it's used when you learn something because you are interested in. As a non-native learner and by just looking up the dictionary, the latter seems more likely because they could study Passion Music because they are interested in.

I'd like to know why you found "picked up" more likely but "took up." Did you mean "took up" is not acceptable becuase it seems too unnatural or did you mean both are acceptable but "picked up" sounds more native?

Teechr · Answer

That entire passage is badly written, and I still think "picked up" is (logically) more likely. I don't think took up (= learned/adopted) works well in the given context.

CalifJim · Answer

James HwangOne day they took up the old cantor's “Passion Music,”

I would paraphrase this thus:

One day they got a copy of the "Passion Music" (out of storage or out of a library) and began to study the score. I get the impression that they took it up as their personal project.

CJ

take up?

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