Hong Kong City Hall, Central｜GuZheng Odyssey Concert

Description

Overture - "Song of the Fishermen"

"Song of the Fishermen"is the theme song of the 1930s movie of the same name. Composed by Mr. Ren Guang, it is widely sung in China because of its gentle and lyrical melody, as well as its leisurely rhythm. When the moonlight gently shines upon the sleepy fishing boats as the fishing nets sway, the tenderness of the music will guide us back to the serene night of Jiangnan water towns. 

I. "The Bustle of the Lantern Festival"

"The Bustle of the Lantern Festival" was created by Mr. Cao Dongfu, Master of the Zhongzhou Zheng School, during the Lantern Festival in 1956. Inspired by the festive atmosphere of the Lantern Festival and created in the style of Henan Major Tune, this joyful masterpiece is beyond well-known at home and abroad due to its unparalleled influence. This particular performance is a restored version of Master Cao’s very own live performance recordings. 

II. "Eternal Regret of Lin'an"

The guzheng and piano concerto "Eternal Regret of Lin'an" was originally a Zhongruan solo piece composed by Mr. Lin Jiliang, and was later adapted into a concerto by Mr. He Zhanhao. The music is based on the traditional music "Man Jiang Hong" which is based on the epic yet tragic story of the legendary patriot General Yue Fei, a national hero fighting against seemingly unstoppable invaders in the Southern Song Dynasty. The deep dialogue between the guzheng and the piano resonates throughout the entire piece with immense strength, making both the players and the audience shuttle through intense emotions of sorrow, remembrance, resentment, sadness, and passion.

III. "The Bitter Tears of Jiang Nu"

"The Bitter Tears of Jiang Nu", also known as "The Great Wall’s Tune", is a definitive example of the Qin School Guzheng Music, created by Mr. Zhou Yanjia. This piece is based on the legend of Lady Meng Jiang (Jiang Nu), whose defiant tears crumbled the mighty Great Wall. Through the rolling white and the slow tempo that personify her weeping and complaints against oppression, and the grief and indignation coming from the fast tempo, it unveils the desolation and dramatics of old Qin Music. 

IV. "Mongolian Customs" (two pieces)

The free wind of the grassland carries the fragrance of grass over great distances while sheep flocking like clouds over the hillside; a long table banquet begins as children singing grassland nursery rhymes; silver bowls collide in joy and kumis splashes as soon as an old man begins singing a toast song in his deep voice. All in all, "innocent" and "heroic" are the fundamental characteristics of the Mongolian People. 

V. "Night Mooring at Maple Bridge"

"Night Mooring at Maple Bridge" was created by Mr. Wang Jianmin, inspired by the poem of the same name by the great Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji, showing the tranquility and loneliness of Suzhou Hanshan Temple in the autumn night. The song translates the characteristic blank aesthetics of traditional Chinese ink painting into musical language, using the overtones and shaking fingers of the guzheng to depict the bell of Hanshan Temple, with the piano drawing the tranquil scene of ripples forming from a passenger ship quietly gliding across the sleepy water at midnight. This song, which reconstructs the artistic conception of ancient poetry with modern musical language, is a representative work of the contemporary 21st century genre known as “Chinese Literati Music”. 

VI. "Mukham Preface and Dance"

"Mukham Preface and Dance" originated from the indigenous Uyghur Mukham Suite Music. This song pioneered the traditional pentatonic tuning of the guzheng and incorporated the wanderer’s musical style of the Western Regions (modern-day Western China and parts of Eurasia), hence successfully merging classic guzheng with the exotic Western touch. Mukham Music is a musical form of the regional Muslim ethnic groups that incorporates singing, dancing, and instruments in unison. The first half of this song, the long "Preface", is a monologue singing of the Uyghurs; the second half, the "Dance", features music developing from a cheerful solo dance to a passionate group dance. After the climax, the song ends with a long aftertaste. 

VII. "General's Order"

"General's Order" is an exemplar piece of Zhejiang Zheng School. The music shows both the tension and mystery of war drums and horns on the ancient battlefield, wise and brave generals recruiting troops to go to war, rapidly advancing formations, the fierce fighting between two armies, and finally a victorious return. The tune of "General's Order" was first seen in "Thirteen Sets of Strings" compiled by the Mongolian scholar Rong Zhai in the Qing Dynasty. Although it was originally a string instrument ensemble, the guzheng version was developed from the guzheng score of "General's Order" printed by Hangzhou National Music Society in the first half of the 20th century. The score at that time had already utilized the powerful technique of "grasping the guzheng with both hands". 

VIII. "Dance of the Yi Tribe"

"Dance of the Yi Tribe" is an extremely popular pipa solo composed by Mr. Wang Huiran in 1965. The music is based on the "Haicai Tune" and "Cigarette Box Dance" of the Yi Tribe in Yunan. This song is deeply loved by the public for its lyrical, romantic melody that goes surprisingly well with its rough and strong rhythm. It was later swiftly adapted to be played on guzheng, sanxian, ruan, guitar and many other instruments. 

IX. "Ambushed From All Sides"

"Ambushed From All Sides" depicts the fabled "Chu-Han Contention/War" in which great warlords Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, once brothers in arms, fought for the throne to Imnperial China at Gaixia in 202 BC. The music describes the process of the treacherous war in detail through a series of subtitles, such as setting up camps, horns and drums, appointing generals, arranging formations, marching, ambushing, the minor battle of Jiming Mountain, the major battle of Jiuli Mountain, the defeat of Xiang Yu, his eventual suicide at Wujiang River, the Han Army’s victory, and finally their victorious return. The music expresses the solemnity of war, the thundering drums, and the neighing of swords and horses. This song has a lasting charm because of its exhaustive tension. 

X. "The Fisherman's Song at Dusk"

"The Fisherman's Song at Dusk" is a famous traditional guzheng solo. The artistic conception is taken from the "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng" by the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Bo: "The Fisherman's Song at Dusk, the sound reaches the shore of Pengli". The music depicts a scene of harmony created by rippling water, tranquility and leisure, fishing boats full of catch, and fishermen happily sailing home in the sunset’s golden glow. The Chinese artistic conception of this song has aroused widespread resonance and was later adapted into a duet of erhu and guzheng. This very performance is an ensemble version of erhu and guzheng.