[1]
Capriccio on "Third Sister Liu"
Liu Yuan
The graceful and lyrical Capriccio on "Third Sister Liu" is divided
into five sections -Love Song, Tea Song, Love Song, Duet and Mountain Song –
derived from five pieces in the film-score for Third Sister Liu. The well known
Third Sister Liu theme is subtly concealed, to be revealed fully towards the
end of the work. The music reflects Sister Liu's love of song and the noble
simplicity of the people of Guangxi.
[2]
Fishing Song in Poyang Lake
Tu Chuanyao
Poyang in Western Jiangxi is famous as a town of fish and rice. Fishermen,
living in a place of great natural beauty, sing in praise of their home.
[3]
Camel Train
Zhang Jingcong
In the middle of the Gobi Desert of Inner Mongolia a camel train moves slowly
forward. The sound of the camel-bells and the pastoral music bring hope to the
wilderness. When resting, the people join in traditional dances, to refresh
themselves in their long journey. Then they prepare to move on, resuming their
journey and disappear slowly in the distance.
[4]
Happy Village
Zhou Zhongkang
Happy Village was written in the early 1950s and is based on North-Eastern
seedling song (yangko) melodies, reflecting the changes taking place in village-life
at the time. The simple music illustrates the relative simplicity of earlier
music for the Chinese transverse flute.
[5] That
Mountain, That Water, That Earth
Liu Bin
The extended melody that opens That Mountain, That Water, That Earth expresses
a love of the natural beauty of the composer's home, with a lively middle section,
expressing the cheerful optimism of the people.
[6] New
Song of the Water Town
Gu Guanren
Written in the late 1970s, New Song of the Water Town has flowing and lyrical
melodies, bright, happy and expressive.
[7]
Mountain Dream-Talk
Ye Guohui
In the summer of 1988 the Lord of the Clear Sea went to the mountains, covered
with flowers, and day and night could be heard the sound of the mountain, from
its depths, like the speech of a dream.
[8]
Beyond the Frontier
Ancient Pipa Music
Beyond the Frontier is arranged from an ancient composition for the pipa
(Chinese lute) and is in five sections, Spring Thoughts in the Palace, Lament
of Zhaojun, Tears of Lady Xiang, Autumn Thoughts at the Dressing-Table, Thinking
of Her Husband. The music expresses the feelings of the exiled Wang Zhaojun,
compelled to leave her homeland and marry a barbarian for reasons of state.
