FULLORCHESTRA
Flowing Waters
Peng Xiu Wen
1. Prelude
2. Streams
3. Meandering Waters
4. Shoals
5. River
6. Coda
Based on-guqin music, this work portrays a vast, awe-inspiring panorama of
the river through the use of western style orchestration. The music begins with
images of trickling rivulets, slowly merging into pouring torrents, then surging
across the dangerous shoals and finally the rushing of water into a tidal river.
Based on a simple melody embodying a heroic spirit, this musical piece expresses
the composer's admiration for the river.
ERHUCONCERTO
Story of the River Zheng Bing
1. Adagio
2. Moderato
3. Presto
4. Adagio
Soloist'
Zhu Xiao Sheng
Adapted from a folk music of north-eastern China, the composer explores a
new acoustic arrangement and erhu performing techniques through the form of
a concerto. The music has four movements. It is based on an ancient folk legend
of a woman's separation from her husband during the turmoil and chaos of war.
The woman searches desperately for her husband along the river, and though plagued
by starvation and cold, her memory of her happy past with her husband consistently
gives her a sense of hope. Her desperate cries blend and become one with the
sounds of the gushing river.
FULL ORCHESTRA
Caprice on the Yellow River
Wang Hui Ran
1. An Ancient River
2. A Suffering River
3. A Lively River
The music has three movements. The first movement describes the trickling
brooks gradually merging into a vast magnificent watercourse. In the second
movement, special sound effects are created to describe the overflow of the
Yellow River which causes floods and hardship to the people. Finally, the lively
pace and smooth-flowing melody portrays a flourishing sight of the river to
its people.
GUANZI AND ORCHERSTRA
Haozi Tune at Changjiang River (Premiere)
Liu Bing
Performers:
Wu Xiao Zhong, Ng Chang Hung, Lee Heng Quee.
Yong Phew Kheng & Boo Chin Kiah
Haozi is a
type of folk song sung by workers. Mr Liu Bing was commissioned to compose this
music for the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. The music is a new form of concerto
with one leading guanzi accompanied by four others. This piece of music paints
a magnificent view of the Changjiang River-slow moving at one moment and
torrential the next. It also describes the bravery of the boatsmen and their
optimistic and cheerful disposition.
YANGQIN CONCERTO
Rain by Night (Premiere)
Xu Jing Xin
Soloist Li
Xiao Yuan
Written
especially for yangqin player, Li Xiao Yuan for this concert, this composition
is named after a poem by Du Pu of the Tang Dynasty. The music, with a joyous
theme, opens on a closely knitted notes played on the yangqin. It paints a
vivid picture of a drizzling breezy spring night. The lyrical part of the music
portrays the earth in full vitality after being refreshed by the rain. The music
finally fades out with the patter of the rain.
