Xiong Qi photographer

The Yellow River Cantata is the most important and influential representative work of Xian Xinghai. /kloc-0 was made in March, 1939, and was rearranged and processed in the Soviet Union in June, 1994/kloc-0. With the Yellow River as the background, William. J, a poet, enthusiastically eulogized the glorious history of the Chinese nation and the indomitable fighting spirit of the people of China, denounced the brutality of the invaders and the profound disasters suffered by the people, widely displayed the magnificent picture of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, sent a warning signal of national liberation to the whole China world, and shaped the heroic image of the giant of the Chinese nation.

The Yellow River Cantata was written in the period of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, 1938 autumn and winter. The author marched with the anti-Japanese troops to the northwest bank of the Yellow River. China's magnificent mountains and rivers and heroic soldiers inspired the author's creation, and the call of the times prompted him to write a large-scale recitation poem Ode to the Yellow River with high patriotic enthusiasm, which was later rewritten into the lyrics of the Yellow River Chorus. The work consists of eight movements, showing the heroic spirit of the sons and daughters of the Yellow River with rich artistic images, magnificent historical scenes and majestic momentum.

Structural introduction

The whole song consists of overture (band), yellow river boatman song (chorus), yellow river song (male solo), how the water of the yellow river moves out of the sky (recitation of music poems), yellow water songs (female chorus), riverside duet singing (duet, chorus), yellow river resentment (female solo) and so on. Yellow River (chorus) and other nine movements. Each movement is relatively independent, and there is a sharp contrast in performance content, singing form, music image and so on. At the same time, the whole song closely follows the basic theme of China's national liberation struggle. Several basic tones run through the whole chorus. In the music layout, the overture presents the basic theme, the chorus echoes from beginning to end, the alternate development of the middle movement and the summary of the last movement, as well as the recitation before each movement, which makes the whole work highly unified. Music language is bright and concise, easy to understand, and has a distinctive national style. The rich chorus techniques and symphonic performance of the band, the grand scale of the whole song and its heroic spirit constitute the unique artistic characteristics of this work. The Yellow River Cantata embodies Xian Xinghai's outstanding talent and creativity, and is known as a musical epic reflecting the liberation movement of the Chinese nation.

history

1938165438+10 After the fall of Wuhan in October, the famous poet Guang William. J led the third team of anti-Japanese drama to cross the Yellow River eastward from Hukou, Yichuan County, Shaanxi Province, and transferred to Luliang Mountain Anti-Japanese base area. On the way, I witnessed the Yellow River boatman struggling forward in the stormy waves, listening to the sonorous boatman's horn. After arriving in Yan 'an in June+the following year 10, 5438, he wrote the poem Yellow River and recited it at this year's New Year's Eve party. Xian Xinghai was very excited after hearing this, and said that he would create The Yellow River Cantata for the crew. In a crude earthen kiln in Yan 'an, Xian Xinghai persisted in writing for six days, and finished this historic large-scale vocal work The Yellow River Cantata. After that, it premiered in Yan 'an Northern Shaanxi Public School Auditorium, which caused great repercussions and soon spread all over China.

The Yellow River Cantata provided a brilliant example for China's modern large-scale vocal music creation. In the late 1960s, it was also adapted into a piano concerto.

Ode to the Yellow River is the lyrics of a solo song in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression's famous symphony The Yellow River Cantata. The author's creative intention is to arouse people's love for the Chinese nation and national consciousness of defending their homeland to the death in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Although its creation date is far from us, its heroic, powerful poems and strong feelings can still resonate with us and arouse our pride as descendants of the Chinese nation.

Brief introduction of the author

Xian Xinghai was born on June 1905 13 (the 11th day of the fifth lunar month), and his ancestral home is Panyu, Guangdong. His father, Xian Xitai, was a boatman and died at birth. His mother Huang Suying is a rural woman. Xian Xinghai lived on his grandfather since he was a child. His grandfather died when he was six years old. He went to Nanyang with his mother and studied the Four Books and Five Classics in an old school. Then I transferred to an English school run by the British to study English. When I was eleven years old, I transferred to a higher primary school run by overseas Chinese, studied for two years, returned to Guangdong, entered the middle school affiliated to Lingnan University, and went to college. In order to make a living, I have been working part-time.

1924, Xian Xinghai completed her studies and worked as a typist, worker, evening teacher and music teacher in Lingnan University. At the age of 21, I went to Beijing to study the theory and violin learned by Peking University Conservatory of Music, and worked as an assistant in Peking University Library. The following year, I went to Shanghai National Conservatory of Music to study. 1929 left the national conservatory of music and joined the south China drama club organized by Tian Han.

1930, 25-year-old Xian Xinghai went abroad to Paris, France, where she studied violin under Obedover. During his six years in Paris, he studied at the National Paris Conservatory of Music and the Conservatory of Music founded by Vincent d''Indy, and worked as a handyman and musician in a restaurant, a nail salon and a coffee shop. His early works, such as The Wind (Trio), were obviously influenced by Paul Duca and Dandy who he followed in those years.

Xian Xinghai returned to China in the late summer of 1935, changed his creative direction, took part in the surging national defense music movement, and began to compose the first symphony, working for EMI record company. However, he soon resigned due to disagreement with the company and was transferred to Xinhua Film Company as the music director of Top Gun, Midnight Singing and Youth March.

1937, Xian Xinghai created and dubbed plays such as Sunrise and Thunderstorm. After the "August 13th Incident", he joined the Second Team of Shanghai National Salvation Drama and went to Zhejiang, Henan and Hubei for publicity. He stayed in Wuhan at the end of the year, worked in the Third Hall of the Political Department of the Military Commission, and co-chaired the Wuhan Anti-Japanese War Music Movement with cutie and others. In the following year 1 1 month, the work of the three museums was blocked and he went to Yan' an to serve as the director of the music department of Lu Xun Art College. At the beginning of 1937, he created works such as The Yellow River Cantata, Production Chorus and Ximeng Chorus.

1940 In May, Xian Xinghai left Yan 'an to study music in the Soviet Union. 1in April, 945, he finished his last work Rhapsody of China due to illness.1died in Moscow on October 30th at the age of 40. During his last five years in the Soviet Union, Xian Xinghai completed many instrumental works, including the first symphony National Liberation, the second symphony Jihad, the first orchestra suite Rear, the second orchestra suite Lyle, the third suite Lyle, the fourth suite Red River, the third symphony Life in China and Chinese Dance.

The story behind the profile of the Yellow River Chorus.

The Yellow River Cantata is the most representative and well-known work of Xian Xinghai. Music was born on the worst day before the Anti-Japanese War, 1938 1 1 month after the fall of Wuhan. The famous poet Guang William. J (Zhang Guangnian) led three teams of anti-enemy dramas to retreat and cross the Yellow River, which inspired the poet's creative inspiration. Arriving in Yan 'an in January of the following year, the long-simmering poetry broke out, written as Yellow River poems, and performed in recitation on New Year's Eve. At that time, Xian Xinghai, who was the director of the Music Department of Lu Xun Art College in Yan 'an, was deeply moved before the recitation took place. In a small hole, he wrote for six days. Completed on March 3 1 day of the same year. On April 13, Wu Xiling conducted the premiere of The Third Anti-Japanese Team in the Northern Shaanxi Auditorium, and on May 1 1 day, Xian Xinghai conducted the performance of Lu Xun's performance team.

Li Huanzhi, a famous composer who has now become the president of China Musicians Association, recalls his performance of The Yellow River Cantata in Yan 'an, and has such a vivid description: "It is impossible to form a complete band in the border area where material conditions are extremely scarce. At that time, all musical instruments were used as much as possible, except three or four violins, namely erhu, sanxian, flute, lyre and percussion instruments. If you don't have a music stand, make a music stand with boards. If you don't have a bass instrument, do it yourself. Look at the right corner of the band, there is a new "weapon", which is a bass huqin transformed from a gasoline drum. It makes a sonorous metallic sound and sings the magnificence of the Yellow River. Look at the profile of this new "weapon". It is a new "weapon". It's a big enamel jar with a dozen or twenty spoons for eating. When the Yellow River Boatman Song is recited, "Then listen!" As soon as he finished singing, the conductor waved his arm, and this new percussion instrument made a "crash" sound, echoing the orchestra and gongs and drums, and cooperating with the chorus's "Cough, paddle! "...", set off the trend of galloping horses.

The Yellow River Cantata is an epic large-scale vocal suite, which is divided into eight movements. Writer: Guang William. J, composer: Xian Haixing. The works show the suffering and tenacious struggle of the people of China in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression era, and also show the great spirit and invincible strength of our nation. It takes the Yellow River, the birthplace of our nation, as the background, and shows what happened along the banks of the Yellow River, so as to enlighten people to defend the Yellow River, North China and China as a whole. The works are magnificent, fresh in color, simple and beautiful, with distinctive national style, which strongly reflects the spirit of the times. It is of great significance in the history of modern music in China, and has a great and far-reaching influence on the later chorus and other genres of music creation.

The first performance of the Yellow River Chorus was divided into eight sections, but somehow the third section, "How the Yellow River Water Moves Out of the Sky", was accompanied by three strings and recited by human voices, which was often omitted. It is said that it is difficult to find an actor who is qualified for this kind of recitation in wartime, so it is omitted and it has become a practice over time. In terms of creative techniques, Xian Xinghai used the western "chorus" form and chorus and harmony writing skills to create The Yellow River. As far as the subject matter is concerned, it has artistically shaped the reality and people's life, making The Yellow River Cantata a work of art with Chinese style, China style and sense of the times. Today in the 1990s, although it is completely different from the birth time and life background of the Yellow River half a century ago, the spiritual inspiration of this work to the Chinese nation still exists, and it is still exciting every time it sounds. That's the reason.

Perhaps today, we will have a deeper understanding of the appreciation of this work by revisiting the Creation Notes written by Xian Xinghai 1943 to 1945 in the Soviet Union.

"This chorus was written on March 26th 1939 and completed on March 3rd1day. Written in Lu Xun Art Academy in Yan 'an, an anti-Japanese base area in northern Shaanxi. The third team of the cross-time drama came to postpone. Comrade Guang William. J wrote the lyrics of Yellow River and gave them to me for music. After the writing, Wu Xiling, the third team, conducted the first performance in Yan 'an Northern Shaanxi Public School Auditorium on April 13. Then two Lu Yi anniversary parties were held on May 1 1 Sunday and 12, which were well received by all circles in Yan 'an.

Later, there was a big party in Yan 'an, such as welcoming Vice President Zhou, Commander-in-Chief Zhu, General Deng Baoshan, Mao Dun, representatives of Shen Zhiyuan and Mongolia, and the investigation group, condolence group and northwest photography group of the National Government, all centered on The Yellow River Cantata. This song was written in a small cave in Lu Yi (the former site of Lu Yi). For the departure of the third team, I spent five or six days writing the soundtrack and chorus. Because this choir is popular everywhere in front and behind, I have long been interested in writing as a staff, and it is best to have a symphony orchestra to accompany the choir, but I am busy with educational affairs and creation, so I can't write it for the time being. But in the spring of 194 1, I successfully completed it. This orchestration method can be used in Europe, America and other countries, which is more international than the previous notation, but at the same time, this work is a national form with progressive skills.

This choir was repeatedly conducted by me when I was performing in Yan 'an. The choir increased from 100 to 500, with more than 20 bands, mostly using Chinese musical instruments. The audience could hardly hold on, and the sound could be heard far away.

When I was still in Yan 'an, people told me that both Chongqing and domestic newspapers mentioned that The Yellow River Cantata was the pioneer of new music during the Anti-Japanese War. 1940 When I was in Ann's office in the summer, Xiaosan told me that his wife saw an English newspaper reporting The Yellow River Cantata and me in Moscow. Kars Gheit 1940, a famous journalist and photographer in the Soviet Union, wrote articles in International Literature and Flags published in Moscow, including comments about me and The Yellow River Cantata. Of course I won't be satisfied with this. Especially one day, all the teachers and students of Luyi got together. Comrade Wu said that my efforts and The Yellow River Cantata won international praise. After listening to this, I began to feel ashamed, because the works I want to create over the years should be fruitful on the one hand and concise on the other. The Yellow River Cantata's success means nothing to me. I will redouble my efforts to contribute my energy and painstaking efforts to the great Chinese nation. I am gradually ashamed that my writing is not good enough for the people!

So I wrote the first symphony "National Liberation" and other works, but I will write my last breath. I never forget that Dan told us before he died at the age of 83 that he wanted to write and still wanted to finish his article on Richard Wagner! At the age of seventy-three, romain rolland still wanted to learn Russian because he discovered the treasure of Russian literature. When Beethoven died, he said,' I just wrote a few notes ...' What am I? Compared with them, it is much worse. Don't you work harder? "

Creation background

Xian Xinghai's return to China was deeply painful for the nation's peril, and he knew the sufferings of the people. At the critical moment of national peril, he stood in front of the national struggle. Convinced that China is the mainstay of the Chinese nation, he joined China. For the sake of national liberation and "roaring for the war of resistance", he wrote songs with a vertical pen. 1939, he visited the young poet in his hospital bed, listened to him recite Ode to the Yellow River, and listened to him describe the magnificent scene of the roaring and flowing Yellow River, which resonated with him and made him happy. In a week and a half, I finished eight movements and all the music scores. He wrote the musical epic of the Chinese nation in this era.

Lyrics of Yellow River Chorus

A. Yellow River boatman song (recitation)

Friend!

Have you ever been to the Yellow River?

Have you ever crossed the Yellow River?

Do you remember the boatman on the river?

Fight for your life.

What about the stormy sea?

If you forget,

Then listen!

(Lyrics)

Ahem! Rowing yo ...

Dark clouds cover the sky!

The waves are as high as mountains!

The cold wind blows on my face!

Spray, get on the boat!

Ahem! Rowing yo ...

Partner, open your eyes!

Helmsman, hold your wrist!

Be careful, don't be lazy!

Despair, don't be afraid!

Ahem! Row! Ahem! Row!

Ahem! Row! Ahem! Row!

I am not afraid of mountains and waves!

I am not afraid of mountains and waves!

Sailing is like going to the fire line.

Let's unite and go forward!

Ahem! Row! Ahem! Row!

Ahem! Row! Ahem! Row!

Ahem! Row yo-

Row! Go ahead! Row! Go ahead!

Row! Go ahead! Row! Go ahead!

Ahem! Ahem!

hahahaha ...

We saw the river bank,

We boarded the river bank,

Heart, peace and security,

Take a deep breath.

Come back,

Then he was angry with the Yellow River.

Either you succeed or you die! Either you succeed or you die!

Either you succeed or you die!

Either you succeed or you die!

Ahem! Rowing yo ...

Introduction to The Yellow River Cantata's album

Lyrics: Before it happened.

Composer: Xian Xinghai

Finishing: Li Huanzhi

Chorus: Song and Dance Troupe of China People's Liberation Army General Political Department

Conductor: Lemmon

Recitation: Lin Zhonghua Recording Time: 1955

Yellow River Chorus; Under the baptism of the beacon fire in the war of resistance against Japan, it quickly grew into the horn of patriotism and national salvation for Chinese children; At the same time, it has been widely recognized by overseas Chinese and the world anti-fascist front for its spiritual strength and national personality. In times of peace, like a founding father with many meritorious military achievements, it continues to gallop in the music scene at home and abroad and has become an artistic wealth that the Chinese nation is proud of.

As soon as The Yellow River Cantata came out, he quickly sang the land of China, which became the spiritual horn of the Anti-Japanese War and saving the nation. Promoted the development of unity and resistance to Japan. At the premiere, the band only had two or three violins and twenty national musical instruments. Bass stringed instruments are made of kerosene barrels, percussion instruments are washbasins and a large number of spoons swaying in enamel jars ... This original band set off more than 40 potential young people and sang loudly. Since then, the Yellow River Chorus has spread all over Yan 'an, China and the world, one after another, reverberating, shocking and enduring. Chairman Mao was very happy after watching the performance. He stood up and clapped hard, repeatedly saying, "Good! All right! Good! " Premier Zhou also wrote an inscription for Xian Xinghai: "Shout for the war of resistance and speak for the people!"

Since then, the Yellow River Chorus, as a symbol of justice, has been performed in many countries and regions for decades. With its great charm across time and space, it will be sung among the descendants of the Chinese people forever!

1985 40th anniversary of the death of Comrade Xian Xinghai, and the "Yellow River" Music Festival lasted 14 days. The Yellow River Chorus sang the whole song for only 40 minutes, but the curtain call that day actually lasted more than 20 minutes. In Taiwan Province province, The Yellow River Cantata was banned for more than 40 years. However, when more and more Taiwan Province residents go to Hong Kong to listen to the Yellow River Chorus, the voice for lifting the ban on the performance of the Yellow River Chorus is getting louder and louder. Many people tried to win the performance of the Yellow River Chorus in Taiwan Province Province, and various newspapers appealed in different forms. The Yellow River Chorus imprisoned in Taiwan Province Province for more than 40 years can finally be performed.

20065438+0 April 14, Broadway, New York, USA is full of spring. The Chinese classical music "Yellow River" concert attracted Chinese living in the United States from Hongkong, Taiwan Province Province and the mainland, and also attracted many Americans. The New York Times, the most influential English newspaper in the United States, introduced the concert twice.

In the second half of the concert, Americans sang "Yellow River Chorus Swallowing Mountains and Rivers" in Chinese. The opening of The Yellow River Boatman Song is intense. The rhythm of this song is fast, and the lyrics are wordy, which is quite difficult for American singers to pronounce, but their "speaking like a book" and unambiguous attitude make the music more powerful. The female voice part of Bel Canto chorus has beautiful sound quality, and Chinese pronunciation is extremely flexible and accurate. Blonde-haired and blue-eyed ladies, with the common feelings of human beings who love their hometown, make the chorus "Yellow Water Ballad" show the waves of spring, reflecting the farmland and cottages on both sides of the Yellow River. The last movement of the chorus, Roaring the Yellow River, pushed the concert to the crest of the Yellow River. When The Yellow River Cantata ended up singing "Warming the Oppressed People in the World" repeatedly by more than 80 members of the choir, the excited audience all stood up and expressed their inner feelings and heartfelt thanks to Chinese and American artists with thunderous applause and warm cheers. Americans in the audience also learned about the Yellow River from the English introduction in the program and the music performed by the actors. They are as high-spirited as the domestic audience and applaud warmly. After many curtain calls, under the strong demand of the audience, all the actors sang "Defending the Yellow River". At this time, the audience was in high spirits and joined this magnificent March in rhythmic applause. Many people sang along. At the end of the song, the excited audience didn't want to leave. They applauded warmly for a long time. Finally, the actors sang "Defending the Yellow River" three times, and the concert slowly came to an end.

1956 in may, the central broadcasting bureau held a professional recording conference in Beijing, and decided to set up the China recording club as soon as possible.

1On June 27th, 957, the Central Broadcasting Bureau decided to set up the preparatory office of the China Recording Society.

1958 June 17 China Record Club was formally established, with Zhou, deputy director of the Central Broadcasting Bureau, as the president and Xu Shu as the vice president. The Record Editors Group was separated from china national radio and placed under the Chinese Record Club. There are four groups in Chinese record clubs: music, opera, culture and education, and output. In the same year, the Record Publishing Group, headquartered in Shanghai People's Broadcasting Station, moved back to China Record Factory and merged with the recorded materials to form the Record Publishing Department, which consists of four groups: music, opera, recording and publishing. Xu Yili is the director of the record publishing department. On September 28th, China Record Factory successfully developed it by itself. Medium density records (33 revolutions per side, 17 minutes). The Yellow River Cantata and other six kinds of dense records were published in the first batch.

1982 65438+On February 23rd, the State Council promulgated the Interim Provisions on the Administration of Audio-visual Products. Stereo recording and reprinting of large vocal works such as Yellow River Chorus and Long March Songs.

This achievement was recorded in 1955. The Republic had just been founded, the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea had just ended, and New China was in ruins, so the conditions at that time were still very poor. The whole performance was accompanied by an old Soviet-made Baltic piano and a few simple musical instruments. Recitation is a special form of the Yellow River Chorus, which runs through the whole performance. Lin Zhonghua was only 24 years old.

The first edition of The Yellow River Cantata produced in 1958 has only over 400 copies in the world. This album was converted from LP records released by China Film Company 1982.