A brief discussion of the structure, style and historical status of "Yellow River Cantata".

"Yellow River Cantata" is Xian Xinghai's most important and influential masterpiece. It was created in March 1939 and reorganized and processed in the Soviet Union in 1941. This work, written by the poet Guang Weiran and set against the backdrop of the Yellow River, passionately praises the long and glorious history of the Chinese nation and the unyielding fighting spirit of the Chinese people, laments the brutality of the invaders and the severe disasters suffered by the people, and broadly displays the Anti-Japanese War. The magnificent picture and the battle cry for national liberation were sent to the whole of China and the world, thereby creating a giant and heroic image of the Chinese nation.

"Yellow River Cantata" was written during the Anti-Japanese War. In the autumn and winter of 1938, the author marched with the anti-Japanese troops to the bank of the Yellow River in the northwest. China's majestic mountains and rivers and the heroic figures of the soldiers inspired the author's creative inspiration. The call of the times prompted him to compose a large-scale recital poem "Yellow River Ode" with high patriotic enthusiasm, which was later rewritten into "Yellow River Cantata" lyrics. The work consists of eight movements. It expresses the heroic spirit of the children of the Yellow River with rich artistic images, magnificent historical scenes and majestic momentum.

Structure introduction

The whole song consists of "Overture" (band), "Yellow River Boatman Song" (chorus), "Ode to the Yellow River" (male solo), "Yellow River Water Coming from the Sky" (poetry recitation with music), "Yellow Water Ballad" (female chorus), "Riverside Dialogue Song" (duet, chorus), "Yellow River Resentment" (female solo), "Defend the Yellow River" (singing in unison, rotation) and "Roaring" Bar! "Yellow River" (Chorus) and other 9 movements. Each movement is relatively independent and forms a sharp contrast with each other in terms of performance content, singing form and musical image. At the same time, the whole piece is closely connected by the basic theme that expresses the struggle for liberation of the Chinese nation. Several basic tones run through the entire chorus. In terms of musical layout, the "Overture" presents the basic theme, with echoes in the first and last choruses, and alternate movements in the middle. and the summary of the last movement, as well as the recitation before each movement, etc., make the whole work have a high degree of unity. The music language is bright and concise, easy to understand and has a distinctive national style. The chorus technique is rich and colorful, the orchestra's symphonic performance, the grand scale of the whole piece and the heroic spirit displayed constitute the original artistic characteristics of this work. . "Yellow River Cantata" embodies Xian Xinghai's outstanding talent and outstanding creativity, and is considered a musical epic reflecting the Chinese national liberation movement.

History

After the fall of Wuhan in November 1938, the famous poet Guang Weiran led the three anti-enemy drama teams to cross the Yellow River eastward from near Hukou in Yichuan County, Shaanxi Province, and transferred to Luliang Mountain Anti-Japanese Base Area. On the way, I witnessed the Yellow River boatmen fighting against the strong winds and waves, and listened to the high-pitched and melodious boatmen's chants. After arriving in Yan'an in January of the following year, he wrote the lyrics for "Yellow River" and recited this poem at the New Year's Eve party of that year. Xian Xinghai was very excited after hearing this and expressed his intention to compose "Yellow River Cantata" for the theater troupe. In a simple earthen kiln in Yan'an, Xian Xinghai wrote continuously for six days despite his illness, and completed this historic large-scale vocal work "Yellow River Cantata". Afterwards, it premiered in the auditorium of Northern Shaanxi Public School in Yan'an, causing a huge response and soon spread throughout China.

The "Yellow River Cantata" provides a shining example of my country's modern large-scale vocal music creation. In the late 1960s, it was also adapted as a piano concerto.

"Ode to the Yellow River" is the lyrics of a solo song in the famous symphony "Yellow River Cantata" during the Anti-Japanese War. The author's creative intention was to inspire people's love for the Chinese nation during the Anti-Japanese War. and the national consciousness of defending our homeland to the death. Although the era of its creation is far away from ours, the unrestrained, heroic, sonorous and powerful poems and strong emotions can still arouse our cries and arouse our thoughts when we read them today. The pride of the descendants of the Chinese nation, Yan and Huang.

Author introduction

Xian Xinghai was born on June 13, 1905 (the 11th day of the fifth lunar month). Panyu, Guangdong, his father Xian Xitai was a boatman and died when he was born, and his mother Huang Suying was a rural woman. Xian Xinghai relied on his grandfather since he was a child. His grandfather died when he was six years old. He followed his mother to Nanyang and entered an old school to study the Four Books and Five Classics. Later, he transferred to an English school run by the British to study English. At the age of eleven, he transferred to a higher elementary school run by overseas Chinese and studied there for two years. He then returned to Guangdong and entered the high school attached to Lingnan University, and then went to university. He has been working part-time to support himself.

In 1924, Xian Xinghai finished his studies and worked as a typist, worker, night school teacher and music teacher at Lingnan University. At the age of 21, he went to Beijing to study theory and violin at the Music Transmission Institute of Peking University, and worked part-time as an assistant at the Peking University library. The following year, he went to study at the Shanghai National Conservatory of Music. In 1929, he left the National Conservatory of Music and joined the Southern Chinese Opera organized by Tian Han. society.

In 1930, the 25-year-old Xian Xinghai went abroad to Paris, France, to study violin with Oberdorfer. During his six years in Paris, he attended the Conservatoire National de Paris and the Dandy Conservatoire. (Vincent d'Indy) founded the music school, and worked as a waiter and musician in restaurants, manicures and coffee shops. His early works such as "Wind" (Trio) were obviously influenced by Paul Dukas and Dandy, whom he followed at that time.

Xian Xinghai returned to China in the late summer of 1935, changed his creative direction, participated in the surging national defense music movement, began to write the First Symphony, and worked at EMI Records, but soon he was He resigned due to disagreements with the company and transferred to Xinhua Film Company as the music director of "Top Gun", "Midnight Song", "Youth March" and other films.

In 1937, Xian Xinghai composed and dubbed music for dramas such as "Sunrise" and "Thunderstorm". After the "August 13th" Incident, he joined the Second Shanghai National Salvation Drama Team and went to Zhejiang, Henan, Hubei and other places to promote; at the end of the year, he stayed in Wuhan and worked in the Third Department of the Political Department of the Military Commission, co-hosting with Zhang Shu and other *** Wuhan Anti-Japanese War Music Movement. In November of the following year, his work in the Third Hall was hindered and he went to Yan'an to serve as the director of the music department of Lu Xun Academy of Art. In early 1937, he composed works such as "Yellow River Cantata", "Production Cantata" and "Sacrifice Alliance Cantata".

In May 1940, Xian Xinghai left Yan'an to study music in the Soviet Union. In April 1945, he completed his final work "Chinese Rhapsody" while ill. He died in Moscow on October 30. , died at the age of forty. In the last five years of his stay in the Soviet Union, Xian Xinghai completed many instrumental works, including Symphony No. 1 "National Liberation", Symphony No. 2 "Holy War", Orchestral Suite No. 1 "Rear Front", and Suite No. 2 "Herding Horses" Lyrics", the third suite "Celege", the fourth suite "Man Jiang Hong", the symphony "Chinese Life", three Chinese dances, violin and two piano ensemble "Armangelder", and "Chinese Rhapsody" Misfortune became his "swan song."

The story behind the introduction to "Yellow River Cantata"

"Yellow River Cantata" is Xian Xinghai's most representative and most familiar work. The music was born in the most tragic days before the Japanese War. It was after the fall of Wuhan in November 1938. The famous poet Guang Weiran (Zhang Guangnian) retreated with the three anti-enemy drama teams and passed the Yellow River, triggering the poet creative inspiration. When he arrived in Yan'an in January of the following year, his long-simmering poetic passion exploded. He wrote the Yellow River Poems and gave a recitation performance on the Lunar New Year's Eve. In a small cave dwelling, I wrote for six consecutive days while ill. It was completed on March 31 of the same year. On April 13, Wu Xiling commanded the Third Anti-Enemy Team to premiere at the Northern Shaanxi Auditorium, and again on May 11. The Lu Xun Performance Troupe was performed by Xian Xinghai.

The famous composer Li Huanzhi, who is now the chairman of the Chinese Musicians Association, recalled the performance of the "Yellow River Cantata" in Yan'an and had this very vivid description: "In the border area where material conditions are extremely scarce, It was impossible to form a complete band. At that time, all the instruments were used as much as possible. In addition to three or four violins, they were erhu, sanxian, dizi, six-stringed harp and percussion instruments. If there was no music stand, wooden boards were used. He set it up as a music stand. If he didn’t have a bass instrument, he made it by himself. Look at the new “weapon” standing in the right corner of the band, which is a bass harp modified from a gasoline iron barrel. The sound of metal guns singing the majesty of the Yellow River; if you look at the side of this new "weapon", there is another new "weapon". It is a large enamel jar with more than a dozen pots in it. Twenty spoons for eating. When the "Yellow River Boatman Song" is recited, "Then you listen! "As soon as he finished, the conductor waved his arm, and this new percussion instrument made a "crash, clatter, clatter" sound, singing in unison with the orchestra, gongs and drums, and matching the chorus's "Ahem, row!" ...", highlighting the momentum of thousands of horses galloping.

"Yellow River Cantata" is an epic large-scale vocal suite, divided into eight movements. Lyrics are written by Guang Weiran, and music is composed by Xian Haixing. Works It shows the suffering and tenacious struggle of the Chinese people during the Anti-Japanese War, and also shows the great spirit and invincible strength of our nation. It uses the birthplace of our nation, the Yellow River, as the background, and shows what happened on the banks of the Yellow River. The work is magnificent, fresh, simple and beautiful in tone, and has a distinctive national style, which strongly reflects the spirit of the times in the history of modern music in my country. The significance of the song had a huge and far-reaching impact on later cantata and other genres of music creation.

The first performance of "Yellow River Cantata" was divided into eight sections, but for some reason it used three-string accompaniment. The third part of the vocal recitation, "The Water of the Yellow River Comes from the Sky," was often omitted. It is said that it was difficult to find actors who could perform the recitation during the war, and it became a common practice over time. In terms of creative techniques, Xian Xinghai used the Western "cantata" form and choral harmony writing techniques to create "Yellow River"; in terms of subject matter, he artistically processed reality and people's lives. This makes "Yellow River Cantata" a work of art with Chinese style, Chinese style and sense of the times. Although today in the 1990s is completely different from the era and life background when "Yellow River" was born half a century ago, this work has a profound impact on the world. The spiritual inspiration of the Chinese nation still exists. Every time I sing it and listen to it, I am still excited. This is why.

Perhaps today we can review the creation process of "Yellow River Cantata" written by Xian Xinghai in the Soviet Union between 1943 and 1945, so as to appreciate this work. You will have a deeper understanding:

"This cantata was written on March 26, 1939 and completed on March 31. It was written in Lu Xun Art in Yan'an, the anti-Japanese base area in northern Shaanxi. College. The third team of Shiji Drama came to Yan. Comrade Guang Weiran wrote the lyrics of Yellow River and handed it over to me to compose. After writing, the third team Wu Xiling conducted it. On April 13th, it was the first time in Yan'an, northern Shaanxi. Performed in the public school auditorium, and then held two performances at the Luyi Anniversary Gala on May 11th and 12th, both of which were well received by all walks of life in Yan'an.

In the future, there will be great success in Yan'an. The evening party, such as the welcome to Vice Chairman Zhou, Commander-in-Chief Zhu, General Deng Baoshan, Mao Dun, Shen Zhiyuan and the Mongolian representatives as well as the National Government's investigation team, condolences team, northwest photography group, etc., all centered on the song "Yellow River Cantata". It was written in a small cave in Luyi (the former site of Luyi). In order for the third team to leave, I wrote the score and chorus in five or six days, because everyone in the front line and the rear welcomed this chorus. , so I had long been interested in writing it into a five-line notation, with a symphony orchestra accompanying the chorus, which was better than the simplified notation. However, I was busy with academic affairs and creation, and was unable to write it for a while. But in the spring of 1941, I successfully completed it. It is completed. This orchestration method can be used in Europe, America and other countries. It is more international than the previous simplified music, but at the same time this work is a national form and has advanced techniques.

This cantata was performed in Yan'an. I have conducted it many times, and the choir has grown from 100 to 500, and the orchestra has more than 20 people, mostly using Chinese instruments. The auditorium can barely accommodate it, and the sound can be heard far away in Yan'an. When I was in the Xi'an office in the summer of 1940, people told me that "Yellow River Cantata" was mentioned in various newspapers in Chongqing and China as a pioneering work of new music during the Anti-Japanese War. My wife saw an English newspaper report about me and "Yellow River Cantata" in Moscow; the famous Soviet journalist and photographer Kalmen wrote an article in "International Literature" and "Flag" published in Moscow in 1940, titled "In "A Year in China", which also contains comments about me and "Yellow River Cantata". Of course I will not be satisfied with this, especially when one day Comrade Wu Yuzhang talked about my efforts and "Yellow River Cantata" when all the Lu art students and teachers gathered. "Yellow River Cantata" received international praise. After listening to it, I began to feel ashamed, because the works I have wanted to create over the years must be both prolific and concise. The success of "Yellow River Cantata" does not count for me. What, I have to work harder and contribute my energy and efforts to the great Chinese nation. I am increasingly ashamed that my writing is not good enough and not enough for the people's requirements!

Therefore, I wrote the First Symphony "National Liberation" and other works, but I will continue to write until my last breath. I have never forgotten that Dan told us before he died at the age of 83 that he wanted to. Writing, still wanting to finish his article on Richard Wagner! Romain Rolland still wanted to learn Russian when he was seventy-three years old, because he discovered the treasures of Russian literature. Beethoven said when he was dying: "I just wrote a few notes..." What am I? You are much worse than them, why don't you work harder? ”

Creative background

Xian Xinghai returned to China and felt deeply about the seriousness of the nation’s peril and the suffering of the people. At the critical moment of the nation’s peril, he stood at the front of the national struggle. He firmly believed that China The Communist Party is the mainstay of the Chinese nation. He joined the Communist Party of China and wrote songs to "roar for the war of resistance" for national liberation. In 1939, he visited the young poet Guang in his bed. Before long, listening to him reciting "Ode of the Yellow River" and listening to him describe the magnificent scene of the roaring Yellow River stirred up his emotions. He wrote it for a week, and completed the eight movements of the work and its accompanying music within half a month. All musical scores. This is the musical epic of the Chinese nation in this era.

Lyrics of "Yellow River Cantata"

1. "Yellow River Boatman Song" (recitation)

Friend!

Have you been to the Yellow River?

Have you crossed the Yellow River?

Do you still remember the boatmen on the river

fighting for their lives

against the rough waves? Scene?

If you have forgotten,

Then just listen!

(Lyrics)

Ahem! Row yo ...

Dark clouds cover the sky!

The waves are as high as mountains!

The cold wind blows on my face!

Waves, break into the boat!

Ahem! Row...

Partner, open your eyes!

Helmsman, hold your wrist! < /p>

Be careful, don’t be lazy!

Work hard, don’t be timid!

Cough! Row! Cough! Row!

Cough ! Row! Cough! Row!

Don’t be afraid of those thousand-foot waves as high as mountains!

Don’t be afraid of those thousand-foot waves as high as mountains!

Sailing a boat is like getting on the line of fire, < /p>

We unite and rush forward!

Cough! Row! Cough! Row!

Cough! Row! Cough! Row!

Ahem! Go ahead -...

Go ahead! Go ahead! Go ahead! Go ahead!

Go ahead! Go ahead! Go ahead! Go ahead! In front!

Cough! Cough!

Hahahaha...

We saw the river bank,

We boarded the river bank ,

Have peace of mind,

Take a breath.

Look back,

Face the roaring waves of the Yellow River again< /p>

A fight to the death! A fight to the death!

A fight to the death!

A fight to the death!

Ahem! Row...

"The Yellow River" Cantata" Album Introduction

Lyrics: Guang Weiran

Composer: Xian Xinghai

Arrangement: Li Huanzhi

Chorus: General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Song and Dance Ensemble

Conductor: Shi Lemeng

Recitation: Lin Zhonghua Recording time: 1955

"Yellow River Cantata"; under the baptism of the flames of the Anti-Japanese War, it quickly It has grown into a clarion call for Chinese people to patriotism and save the nation; at the same time, with its spiritual power and national personality, it has been widely recognized by overseas Chinese and the world's anti-fascist front. In peacetime, like a hero with numerous military exploits, it continues to dominate the music scene at home and abroad, becoming a proud artistic wealth of the Chinese nation.

As soon as the "Yellow River Cantata" came out, it was quickly sung across the land of China and became the spiritual clarion call for the war of resistance and national salvation. And promoted the development of the situation of unity against Japan. At the premiere, the band only had two or three violins and about twenty national instruments. The bass string instruments were made of kerosene barrels, and the percussion instruments had washbasins and large spoons placed in enamel jars to shake to create the effect... This one The original band supported more than 40 powerful young people singing loudly. From then on, the "Yellow River Cantata" spread throughout Yan'an, spread throughout China, and flew to the world. It has been echoed one after another, shocking and enduring. Chairman Mao was very happy after watching the performance. He stood up and applauded vigorously, saying repeatedly: "Good! Good! Good!" Premier Zhou also wrote an inscription for Xian Xinghai: "Roar for the War of Resistance and express the heartfelt voice for the masses!"

In the following decades, the "Yellow River Cantata" has been performed in many countries and regions as a symbol of the power of justice. With its great charm that travels through time and space, it will be sung forever among the descendants of Yan and Huang!

In 1985, on the 40th anniversary of the death of Comrade Xian Xinghai, Hong Kong held the 14-day "Yellow River" Music Festival. The entire "Yellow River Cantata" only lasted 40 minutes, but the curtain call that day lasted more than 20 minutes. In Taiwan, "Yellow River Cantata" has been banned for more than 40 years. However, when more and more Taiwanese people went to Hong Kong to listen to the "Yellow River Cantata", the calls for lifting the ban on the performance of the "Yellow River Cantata" became louder and louder. Many people tried their best to get the "Yellow River Cantata" to be performed in Taiwan. Various newspapers also appealed in different forms. The "Yellow River Cantata", which had been imprisoned in Taiwan for more than 40 years, was finally performed.

On April 14, 2001, Broadway in New York, USA was full of spring. The "Sounds of the Yellow River" Chinese classic music concert attracted Chinese people from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China in the United States, as well as many Americans. The New York Times, the most influential English-language newspaper in the United States, introduced the concert twice.

In the second half of the concert, Americans sang the powerful "Yellow River Cantata" in Chinese. The opening song "The Song of Boatmen on the Yellow River" is intense and tense. The tempo of this song is relatively fast and the lyrics are convoluted. It is very difficult for American singers to pronounce the words. However, their attitude of "pronunciation" and unambiguous word for word, on the contrary Make the music more powerful.

The female voice of the American chorus has clear and beautiful sound quality, is extremely flexible, and has accurate pronunciation of Chinese. The blond ladies with blue eyes expressed the most common human emotion of loving their hometown, and performed the "Yellow Water Ballad" in the chorus like a spring wave. Tactfully, it reflects the farmland and cottages on both sides of the Yellow River. The last movement of the chorus, "Roar the Yellow River," pushed the concert to the peak of the Yellow River. When the "Yellow River Cantata" was repeated many times by more than 80 members of the chorus, it "sent a battle cry to the oppressed people all over the world." When it ended with high-pitched singing, the excited audience all stood up and expressed their inner feelings and heartfelt gratitude to the Chinese and American artists with thunderous applause and enthusiastic cheers. The Americans in the audience also understood "Yellow River" from the English introduction in the program and the music performed by the actors. They were as high-spirited as the Chinese audience and applauded enthusiastically. The entire cast, who had taken their final bow several times, sang "Defend the Yellow River" again at the strong request of the audience. At this time, the audience was in high spirits and joined the majestic march with rhythmic applause, and many people sang along. When the song ended, the excited audience was still reluctant to leave and responded with endless warm applause. Finally, the actors sang "Defend the Yellow River" three times, and the concert slowly came to an end.

In May 1956, the Central Broadcasting Bureau held a recording professional meeting in Beijing, and the meeting decided to establish the China Record Society as soon as possible.

On June 27, 1957, the Central Broadcasting Bureau decided to establish the China Record Club Preparatory Office.

On June 17, 1958, China Record Society was officially established. Zhou Xinwu, deputy director of the Central Broadcasting Bureau, also served as president, and Xu Shu served as vice president. The record editing team was separated from the Central People's Broadcasting Station and placed under the China Record Company. China Record Club has four groups: music, opera, culture and education, and export. In the same year, the record publishing group located in Shanghai People's Broadcasting Station moved back to China Record Factory, and merged with the recording materials group to form the Record Publishing Department, with four groups: music, opera, recording, and publishing. Xu Yili serves as director of the record publishing department. On September 28, China's record factory successfully developed it on its own. Medium density record (33 rpm, capacity 17 minutes per side). The first batch of medium-density records published include "Yellow River Cantata" and six other types.

On December 23, 1982, the State Council promulgated the "Interim Provisions on the Management of Audio and Video Products." We made stereo recordings of large-scale vocal works such as "Yellow River Cantata" and "Long March Suite" and republished them.

This performance was recorded in 1955, not long after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the war to resist U.S. aggression and aid to Korea had just ended, and New China was in desperate need of rebirth. Therefore, the conditions at that time were still very crude, and the entire performance was The accompaniment is only an old Soviet-made "Baltic" piano and a few simple musical instruments. Recitation is a special form of the Yellow River Cantata, which runs throughout the entire performance. Lin Zhonghua, who was the reciter, was only 24 years old at the time.

The first version of "Yellow River Cantata" produced in 1958 has only more than 400 copies in existence. This album was transferred from the LP record that was re-edited and re-released by China Singing Company in 1982 with sound effects processing. .