Post updated Dec 2009 with a better image of the cover.
Jiangnan sizhu (Jiangnan silk and bamboo music):
Shanghai traditional ensemble - Moon and Lanterns, Jiangnan Sizhu, Bailey Record Co, NRS-33 (1981)
Album title, English: Moon and Lanterns, Jiangnan Sizhu (Silk and Bamboo Music of East China)
Chinese: dēng yuè jiāo huī, jiāngnán sīzhú 灯月交辉 江南丝竹
Performer: Shanghai traditional ensemble Silk and Bamboo Music group
shànghǎi mínzú yuètuán 上海民族乐团 (Shanghai traditional ensemble)
Bailey Record Co NRS-33 (1981) vinyl 12inch LP
A1. chūn jiāng huā yuè yè 春江花月夜 (Spring on a Moonlit River)
A2. yún qìng 云庆 (Celebrating the Cloud) (2.9 pc slow)
A2. yún qìng 云庆 (Celebrating the Cloud)
A3. xíng jiē 行街 (Wedding Procession) (2.9 pc slow)
A3. xíng jiē 行街 (Wedding Procession)
A4. dēng yuè jiāo huī 灯月交辉 (Moon and Lanterns)
B1. ní cháng qǔ 霓裳曲 (Rainbow Skirts)
B2. zhōng huā liù bǎn 中花六板 medium ornamented six beats
B3. huān lè gē 欢乐歌 (Song of Good Cheer)
B4. sān liù 三六 three six
shànghǎi mínzú yuètuán 上海民族乐团 (Shanghai traditional ensemble)
dízi 笛子, xiāo 箫: Zhèng Zhènghuá 郑正华
èrhú 二胡: Zhōu Hào 周皓
pípá 琵琶: Mǎ Shènglóng 马圣龙
yángqín 揚琴: Zhōu Huì 周惠
There are extra versions of A2. Yun Qing and A3. Xing Jie with the speed and pitch very slightly adjusted so that A=440hz, so 10 tracks in total.
Vinyl rip:
Link: 70MB, mp3, inc cover and notes (in English and Chinese)
Saturday, 13 December 2008
Jiangnan sizhu, (Chinese Melody 3), 1986 cassette tape, Shanghai Traditional Ensemble
Jiangnan sizhu:
Shanghai traditional ensemble (Shanghai Minzu Yuetuan)
"Chinese Melody 3, Music of Southern Yangtze"
1986 cassette tape
Performer: Shanghai Traditional Orchestra (shànghǎi mínzú yuètuán 上海民族乐团)
Cassette title: Chinese Melody 3, Music of Southern Yangtze (1986)
zhōngguó xuán lǜ 3, jiāngnán sīzhú 中国旋律 (三) 江南丝竹
A1. huān lè gē 欢乐歌 song of joy
A2. xíng jiē 行街 walking in street
A3. zhōng huā liù bǎn 中花六板 medium ornamented six beats
A4. dēng yuè jiāo huī 灯月交辉 lanterns and moon both shine
B1. sān liù 三六 three six
B2. yún qìng 云庆 cloud celebration
B3. chūn huī qǔ 春晖曲 spring sun
B4. hán jiāng cán xuě 寒江残雪 Lingering of Snow on Frozen River
From cassette tape: Chinese Melody 3, Music of Southern Yangtze
zhōngguó xuán lǜ 3, jiāngnán sīzhú 中国旋律 (三) 江南丝竹
China Records HL-466 (1986)
Link: 45MB, 130 variable bitrate mp3, inc cover and notes (in Chinese)
NOTE: there is a pinyin mistake in the track list text file and the mp3 tags: "Zhong1 Guo2 Lv3 Lv4 (3)" should be "Zhong1 Guo2 Xuan2 Lv4" (Zhōng guó xuán lǜ 中国旋律)
Friday, 12 December 2008
Jiangnan Sizhu - "Sihe Ruyi (Bridge) " 1982 cassette tape
Jiangnan Sizhu "Silk and Bamboo Music of East China" - "Sihe Ruyi (Bridge) "
1982 cassette tape, China Records
A1. Si4 He2 Ru2 Yi4 (Qiao2), four together as you please, "bridge" is another name for this piece)
B1. Hua1 San1 Liu4 , decorated "three six"
B2. Man4 Liu4 Ban3, slow "six beats"
Dizi/xiao: Lu Chunling (陆春龄 lu4 chun1 ling2)
Erhu: Zhou Hao (周皓 zhou1 hao4)
Pipa: Ma Shenglong 马圣龙 (ma3 sheng4 long2)
Yangqin: Zhou Hui (周惠 zhou1 hui4)
Transferred rom cassette tape: Si4 He2 Ru2 Yi4 (Qiao2), Jiang1 Nan2 Si1 Zhu2, China Records HL-103 (1982)
These three are the longest and the least often performed pieces from the "eight great pieces" of Jiangnan sizhu. The first piece takes up the whole of side A of the casssette!
Link: 59MB, 130 variable bitrate mp3, inc cover and notes (in Chinese)
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Jiangnan Sizhu: "eight great pieces"
江南丝竹八大曲 Jiangnan Sizhu: "eight great pieces" (in pinyin alphabetical order):
Format: pinyin, characters, (English translation)
huā sān liù 花三六 (ornamented three six)
huān lè gē 欢乐歌 (song of joy)
màn liù bǎn 慢六板 (slow six beats)
sān liù 三六 (three six), also called méi huā sān nòng 梅花三弄 (three variations of plum flower)
sì hé rú yì 四合如意 (four combine as you wish or four together as you please)
xíng jiē 行街 (walking in the street, procession or wedding procession)
yún qìng 云庆 (cloud celebration)
zhōng huā liù bǎn 中花六板 (medium ornamented six beats), also called xūn fēng qǔ 薰风曲 (Warm Southerly Breeze)
Format: pinyin, characters, (English translation)
huā sān liù 花三六 (ornamented three six)
huān lè gē 欢乐歌 (song of joy)
màn liù bǎn 慢六板 (slow six beats)
sān liù 三六 (three six), also called méi huā sān nòng 梅花三弄 (three variations of plum flower)
sì hé rú yì 四合如意 (four combine as you wish or four together as you please)
xíng jiē 行街 (walking in the street, procession or wedding procession)
yún qìng 云庆 (cloud celebration)
zhōng huā liù bǎn 中花六板 (medium ornamented six beats), also called xūn fēng qǔ 薰风曲 (Warm Southerly Breeze)
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Jiangnan sizhu (Jiangnan silk and bamboo music) , Chenghuangmiao, 1988 cassette
Jiangnan sizhu : (江南丝竹 Jiāngnán Sīzhú)
Old Chenghuang Temple Lake Pavilion Ensemble, Dizi (flute): Dong Kejun - Huan Le Ge (Song of Joy), Pop Art Cassette (1988)
Track list:
A1. huān lè gē 欢乐歌 song of joy
A2. zhōng huā liù bǎn 中花六板 medium ornamented six beats
A3. sān liù 三六 three six
B1. yún qìng 云庆 cloud celebration
B2. xíng jiē 行街 wedding procession
Performed by:
shànghǎi lǎo chénghuángmiào húxīntíng yuèduì 上海老城隍庙湖心亭乐队
Lit. Shanghai old city god temple mid-lake pavilion ensemble
Dizi: Dǒng Kèjūn 董克钧
Recorded by the Arts Development Section of Shanghai Conservatory
Jointly produced by Yunnan Audio And Video Co, and Pop Art Productions Co Ltd
Transferred from cassette tape (Sony Walkman Pro) > wav (Edirol R09) > flac > LAME 190 variable kbps mp3.
Link: 74MB, 190 variable bitrate mp3, inc cover and notes (in English and Chinese)
Update:
Better scans of liner notes, click on thumbnail for full sized version, note these are large image files of 1MB each. Spelling mistakes have been corrected.
English:
Chinese (traditional characters):
Jiangnan Sizhu "Jiangnan Si Yun" (1995 CD)
"The Charm of Southern Yangzi Ensemble"
Lu, Ma, Zhou, Zhou - Jiangnan Si Yun (1995 CD)
Jiangnan silk and bamboo music
01. Zhong Hua Liu Ban
02. San Liu
03. Yun Qing
04. Yang Ba Qu (Fan Wang Gong 梵王宫 fan4 wang2 gong1)
05. Huan Le Ge
06. Deng Yue Jiao Hui (灯月交辉 deng1 yue4 jiao1 hui1)
07. Ni Chang Qu (霓裳曲 ni2 chang2 qu3)
08. Xing Jie
Shanghai Sheng Xiang Chubanshe, CD-0019 (Shanghai Audio and Video Publishing House)
Dizi/xiao: Lu Chunling (陆春龄 lu4 chun1 ling2)
Erhu: Zhou Hao (周皓 zhou1 hao4)
Pipa: Ma Shenglong 马圣龙 (ma3 sheng4 long2)
Yangqin: Zhou Hui (周惠 zhou1 hui4)
Link: 73MB, 160 variable bitrate mp3, inc covers and booklet
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Jiangnan Sizhu - Ode to the South, Central Conservatory (1989 CD)
Jiangnan Sizhu - Central Conservatory (1989 CD)
Ode to the South
Awarded Works at the First Jiangnan Silk and Bamboo (Jiangnan sizhu) Composing and Performing Contest from China and Abroad
China Record Co CCD-89/043 (1989)
Tracks:
01. yǒng nán 咏南 Ode to the South by Zhu Yi
02. xíng jiē sì hé 行街四合 Xing Jie Si He (four together as you wish)
03. sān liù 三六 San Liu (three six)
04. zhōng huā liù bǎn 中花六板 Zhong Hua Liu Ban (medium ornamented six beats)
05. huān lè gē 欢乐歌 Huan Le Ge (song of joy)
06. yún qìng 云庆 Yun Qing (cloud celebration)
07. chūn jiāng huā yuè yè 春江花月夜 Spring Flowers on the Moonlit River arr by Qin Pengzhang & Luo Zhongrong
Performed by Central Conservatory Ensemble:
Èrhú 二胡: Féng Zhìhào 冯智皓
Dízi 笛子/ Xiāo 箫: Zhān Yǒngmíng 詹永明
Pípá 琵琶: Liú Guìlián 刘桂连
Yángqín 揚琴: Huáng Hé 黄河
Shēng 笙: Wáng Yǒng 王勇
Zhōnghú 中胡: Yè Qiáng 叶强
Sānxián 三弦: Zhào Tàishēng 赵太生
Zhēng 筝: Zhōu Wàng 周望
Dǎjīyuè 打击乐: Lǐ Cōngnóng 李聪農
Art Advisor: Lín Shíchéng 林石诚 [sic] (林石城)
Link: 65MB, 190 variable bitrate mp3, inc covers and booklet
Jiangnan sizhu (Playasound CD)
Jiangnan Sizhu (silk and bamboo music of the Jiangnan region):
China, Classical Music - Southern Minorities Music - Regional Tale - Peking Opera
(Playasound PS 65048) 1989 CD
Various Artists - Chine - Classique-Minorites-Conte-Opera
Track list:
01. Music of Yangtze Region, Jiangnan Sizhu (xíng jiē 行街 street procession) - Ensemble
02. Music of Yangtze Region, Jiangnan Sizhu (píng hú qiū yuè 平湖秋月 Autumn Moon on a Calm Lake) - Ensemble
03. Music of Yangtze Region, Jiangnan Sizhu (huān lè gē 欢乐歌 song of joy) - Ensemble
04. Music of southern minorities, Cock Dance - Percussion ensemble
05. Music of southern minorities, Lusheng Dance - Yao ensemble
06. Music of southern minorities, Dance of the cat and the mouse - Ensemble
07. Music of southern minorities, Dance of bamboos - Ensemble
08. Music of southern minorities, Dance of drums - Ensemble
09. Chinese tale (Suzhou tan ci) - Vocals with sanxian & pipa
10. Jing She [sic] (4 laureates of the imperial prize) - Beijing Opera
CD booklet has inconsistent or incorrect romanisation of Chinese names and words.
Contains little or no information about the performers or location of the recordings.
The tracks on the CD appear to be live field recordings.
Only tracks 1,2 and 3 are Jiangnan sizhu, although track 2 (ping hu qiu yue) is ususally catagorised as Guangdong Music, it is a piece played by Jiangnan sizhu musicians. The recordings here seem to be the Jiangnan sizhu heard in teahouses played by amateur musicians. Some might argue that this is "authentic" Jiangnan sizhu, in contrast to the type of Jiangnan sizhu performeded by conservatory trained professionals who play from notation.
Link: 97MB, 190 variable bitrate mp3, inc covers and booklet
China, Classical Music - Southern Minorities Music - Regional Tale - Peking Opera
(Playasound PS 65048) 1989 CD
Various Artists - Chine - Classique-Minorites-Conte-Opera
Track list:
01. Music of Yangtze Region, Jiangnan Sizhu (xíng jiē 行街 street procession) - Ensemble
02. Music of Yangtze Region, Jiangnan Sizhu (píng hú qiū yuè 平湖秋月 Autumn Moon on a Calm Lake) - Ensemble
03. Music of Yangtze Region, Jiangnan Sizhu (huān lè gē 欢乐歌 song of joy) - Ensemble
04. Music of southern minorities, Cock Dance - Percussion ensemble
05. Music of southern minorities, Lusheng Dance - Yao ensemble
06. Music of southern minorities, Dance of the cat and the mouse - Ensemble
07. Music of southern minorities, Dance of bamboos - Ensemble
08. Music of southern minorities, Dance of drums - Ensemble
09. Chinese tale (Suzhou tan ci) - Vocals with sanxian & pipa
10. Jing She [sic] (4 laureates of the imperial prize) - Beijing Opera
CD booklet has inconsistent or incorrect romanisation of Chinese names and words.
Contains little or no information about the performers or location of the recordings.
The tracks on the CD appear to be live field recordings.
Only tracks 1,2 and 3 are Jiangnan sizhu, although track 2 (ping hu qiu yue) is ususally catagorised as Guangdong Music, it is a piece played by Jiangnan sizhu musicians. The recordings here seem to be the Jiangnan sizhu heard in teahouses played by amateur musicians. Some might argue that this is "authentic" Jiangnan sizhu, in contrast to the type of Jiangnan sizhu performeded by conservatory trained professionals who play from notation.
Link: 97MB, 190 variable bitrate mp3, inc covers and booklet
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Lang Guoren (better known as Lang Lang's father)
This is a video clip from a Lang Lang recital from the Proms series of concerts in London in August 2008. Lang Lang's father, Lang Guoren, joined him on stage for the final piece, "Horse Race" (Sai Ma).
Link 23MB 5 min avi
There is also a similar clip of them playing Sai Ma in Carnegie Hall, New York, on Youtube.
Lang Guoren's erhu is a Beijing 8 sided type with a circular back, and brass machine tuners.
Also, a very short clip of him playing from a TV documentary about Lang Lang.
Link to video clip (6.8MB 1 min avi)
Link 23MB 5 min avi
There is also a similar clip of them playing Sai Ma in Carnegie Hall, New York, on Youtube.
Lang Guoren's erhu is a Beijing 8 sided type with a circular back, and brass machine tuners.
Also, a very short clip of him playing from a TV documentary about Lang Lang.
Link to video clip (6.8MB 1 min avi)
Friday, 29 August 2008
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Children of the Chinese Circus
Another off-topic post.
Link, 261MB, avi video, 80 min
Alternative links:
92MB
92MB
83MB
All parts are needed, use WinRar to extract.
Unfortunately the first 2 minutes are missing. Also, quite a lot of the programme is in Shanghai dialect and there are only sub-titles in English, so Chinese people who are not from Shanghai and the surrounding region will probably not understand most of the film.
More info:
www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/yoursay/chinese-circus.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007m47h
Link, 261MB, avi video, 80 min
Alternative links:
92MB
92MB
83MB
All parts are needed, use WinRar to extract.
Unfortunately the first 2 minutes are missing. Also, quite a lot of the programme is in Shanghai dialect and there are only sub-titles in English, so Chinese people who are not from Shanghai and the surrounding region will probably not understand most of the film.
More info:
www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/yoursay/chinese-circus.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007m47h
Labels:
BBC,
BBC4,
China. Chinese society,
Off-topic post,
TV Documentary,
video,
zhonghu
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Chun Shi (spring poem) 春诗
Note: this post has dead links which have to be up-dated.
春诗 chūn shī
Chun Shi - erhu: Jiang Jianhua
Link, 7.8MB
This is from a LP recorded whilst she was still a student in 1982.
Chun Shi - erhu: Wang Yijie
Link, 9.3MB
春诗 chūn shī
Chun Shi - erhu: Jiang Jianhua
Link, 7.8MB
This is from a LP recorded whilst she was still a student in 1982.
Chun Shi - erhu: Wang Yijie
Link, 9.3MB
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Qianjin: how to fit it without a knot, and no loose ends
千斤 or 千金, qiānjīn or qianjin, sometimes mispelt as "qianjing" or "qian jing" (without tones)
The photo should make it clear how you do it, you then pull the end of the string on the left. Obviously when you actually do it, you wrap the string tightly around the neck without any spaces in between the windings. The photo shows a 150cm string, with 8 windings around the neck, then 3 around the neck and strings, then finally 8 around the neck again. The string is the string used to seal 10kg and 25kg bags of rice!
In my opinion, you should not have too many windings around the neck and erhu strings. In theory, if you had a unbreakable qianjin string, you would only have 1 winding because the contact area where the qianjin and erhu strings meet should be clear and sharp as possible, at least on the vibrating side of the strings. I use 3 and it seems to be strong enough.
A variation of this method is to use 2 pieces of string: the main length and a separate short elongated "U" bit. Actually this is better because both ends of the string on the finished qianjin will be completely hidden under the windings, whereas if you use the 1 string method in the photo, you have to cut off the last bit of string.
A further refinement maybe is to dampen the string, when it's dried it should end up tighter on the neck, although I haven't tried it.
The photo is not a square on side view of the neck, so the erhu strings appear to be closer to the neck than they actually are.
The photo should make it clear how you do it, you then pull the end of the string on the left. Obviously when you actually do it, you wrap the string tightly around the neck without any spaces in between the windings. The photo shows a 150cm string, with 8 windings around the neck, then 3 around the neck and strings, then finally 8 around the neck again. The string is the string used to seal 10kg and 25kg bags of rice!
In my opinion, you should not have too many windings around the neck and erhu strings. In theory, if you had a unbreakable qianjin string, you would only have 1 winding because the contact area where the qianjin and erhu strings meet should be clear and sharp as possible, at least on the vibrating side of the strings. I use 3 and it seems to be strong enough.
A variation of this method is to use 2 pieces of string: the main length and a separate short elongated "U" bit. Actually this is better because both ends of the string on the finished qianjin will be completely hidden under the windings, whereas if you use the 1 string method in the photo, you have to cut off the last bit of string.
A further refinement maybe is to dampen the string, when it's dried it should end up tighter on the neck, although I haven't tried it.
The photo is not a square on side view of the neck, so the erhu strings appear to be closer to the neck than they actually are.
Monday, 21 July 2008
Tan Yue by Sun Wenming
弹乐
This is called "Tán Yuè", literally "playing music" or "plucked string music", but apparently actually means pingtan music or a tune of pingtan. Pingtan is a type of storytelling music from Suzhou in Jiangsu province in China.
This erhu piece is composed and played by Sun Wenming (孙文明, 1928-1962).
This piece is unique in the erhu reportoire, as it is played, apparently, on an erhu without a qianjin (a loop of string which acts as a nut). According to a CD liner notes, it's influenced by the playing style of the sanxian (3 string lute) used in Pingtan.
Link: http://flameupload.com/files/BNZNXLZT/t__n_yu__________A_Tune_of_Pingtan_-_S__n_W__nm__ng__________.mp3
tán yuè 弹乐 A Tune of Pingtan - Sūn Wénmíng 孙文明.mp3, 4MB mp3 file
Videos
Played by Sun Huang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqW37xoq8js
Played by Song Fei:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMhVTtzlgJE
This erhu piece is composed and played by Sun Wenming (孙文明, 1928-1962).
This piece is unique in the erhu reportoire, as it is played, apparently, on an erhu without a qianjin (a loop of string which acts as a nut). According to a CD liner notes, it's influenced by the playing style of the sanxian (3 string lute) used in Pingtan.
Link: http://flameupload.com/files/BNZNXLZT/t__n_yu__________A_Tune_of_Pingtan_-_S__n_W__nm__ng__________.mp3
tán yuè 弹乐 A Tune of Pingtan - Sūn Wénmíng 孙文明.mp3, 4MB mp3 file
Videos
Played by Sun Huang:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqW37xoq8js
Played by Song Fei:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMhVTtzlgJE
Han Gong Qiu Yue (Han palace autumn moon)
汉宫秋月
Note: this post has dead links which have to be up-dated.
This is the "Han4 Gong1 Qiu1 Yue4" from Guangdong Yinyue, not the solo erhu piece of the same name arranged by Jiang Fengzhi(蔣风之).
Hangong Qiuyue, gaohu:Yu Qiwei, and ensemble
Link
This recording has a non-traditional accompiment to the gaohu solo. I mean "non-traditional" in the sense they are not all playing variations of the same tune together. Maybe because of this, the sound of the gaohu seems to stand out in front.
Han Gong Qiu Yue - huqin: Lu Wencheng, & unknown guzheng player
Link
Lu Wencheng (吕文成 Lǚ Wénchéng) is the musician who "invented" the gaohu in the 1920s, the lead instrument in Guangdong Music, and the composer of many, many of the pieces in the reportoire. This is a transfer from LP to wav then compressed to mp3, I think the recording is from the 50s but I am not sure. This version is more densely played than Yu Qiwei's recording.
Skip the next bit if you don't play huqin:
Most Guangdong Music pieces including this one are played in the key of C (1=C), with the gaohu tuned to G, D. The open strings would be sol, re (5 with dot under, 2). The version by Yu Qiwei above is in this standard tuning. However this recording by Lu Wencheng as transfered from the LP has the key of approx G sharp or A flat (assuming A=440hz).
For the convenience of playing along with the recording without having to re-tune your instrument, I have slowed down the recording and the pitch has dropped about a semitone to 1=G (assuming A=440hz):
Han gong Qiu Yue - huqin: Lu Wencheng, & unknown guzheng player, lower in pitch and slowed
Link
You can play along on the erhu in standard (gaohu) fingering (sol, re), or you can play along on the gaohu, yehu or zhonghu tuned to G, D, but with different fingering (open strings: do, sol).
This is the "Han4 Gong1 Qiu1 Yue4" from Guangdong Yinyue, not the solo erhu piece of the same name arranged by Jiang Fengzhi(蔣风之).
Hangong Qiuyue, gaohu:Yu Qiwei, and ensemble
Link
This recording has a non-traditional accompiment to the gaohu solo. I mean "non-traditional" in the sense they are not all playing variations of the same tune together. Maybe because of this, the sound of the gaohu seems to stand out in front.
Han Gong Qiu Yue - huqin: Lu Wencheng, & unknown guzheng player
Link
Lu Wencheng (吕文成 Lǚ Wénchéng) is the musician who "invented" the gaohu in the 1920s, the lead instrument in Guangdong Music, and the composer of many, many of the pieces in the reportoire. This is a transfer from LP to wav then compressed to mp3, I think the recording is from the 50s but I am not sure. This version is more densely played than Yu Qiwei's recording.
Skip the next bit if you don't play huqin:
Most Guangdong Music pieces including this one are played in the key of C (1=C), with the gaohu tuned to G, D. The open strings would be sol, re (5 with dot under, 2). The version by Yu Qiwei above is in this standard tuning. However this recording by Lu Wencheng as transfered from the LP has the key of approx G sharp or A flat (assuming A=440hz).
For the convenience of playing along with the recording without having to re-tune your instrument, I have slowed down the recording and the pitch has dropped about a semitone to 1=G (assuming A=440hz):
Han gong Qiu Yue - huqin: Lu Wencheng, & unknown guzheng player, lower in pitch and slowed
Link
You can play along on the erhu in standard (gaohu) fingering (sol, re), or you can play along on the gaohu, yehu or zhonghu tuned to G, D, but with different fingering (open strings: do, sol).
Liu Yao Jin 柳搖金
Note: this post has dead links which have to be up-dated.
Liu Yao Jin (柳搖金 liu3 yao2 jin1)
This is one of my favourite pieces of Guangdong Music (guangdong yinyue). "Guangdong Yinyue", literally Guangdong music, as a descriptive name is actually a misnomer, as there are many types of traditional music in Guangdong.
Recording of ensemble lead by the gaohu played by Yu Qiwei
Link, 8MB
Liu Yao Jin - erhu: Yu Qiwei
Link, 6.5MB
This is one is also played by Yu Qiwei, but on the erhu.
Liu Yao Jin (柳搖金 liu3 yao2 jin1)
This is one of my favourite pieces of Guangdong Music (guangdong yinyue). "Guangdong Yinyue", literally Guangdong music, as a descriptive name is actually a misnomer, as there are many types of traditional music in Guangdong.
Recording of ensemble lead by the gaohu played by Yu Qiwei
Link, 8MB
Liu Yao Jin - erhu: Yu Qiwei
Link, 6.5MB
This is one is also played by Yu Qiwei, but on the erhu.
Chinese in Britain (2007 BBC Radio 4)
This is going to be an off-topic post.
This is a radio programme first broadcast on Radio 4 in the UK by the BBC in 2007, consisting of ten 15min parts broadcast in the afternoon on each weekday over two weeks. This is a ground-breaking and important programme about the history of the largely unnoticed and little documented ethnic Chinese in the UK, who make up the third largest "visible" minority in the UK, after the Afro-Carribeans and (south) Asians.
This is the omnibus edition broadcast in 2008. The 10 parts have been edited into two 1 hour programmes, broadcast over two fridays.
More details and episode guide: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/chinese_in_britain.shtml
One mp3 file and one Real Audio file:
Dead link, 66MB
Alternative link, 66MB
Or:
Two mp3 files:
Download link: parts 1 to 5 (omnibus edition part 1), 40MB mp3 file
Download link: parts 6 to 10 (omnibus edition part 2), 30MB mp3 file
Dead link, 69MB
This is a radio programme first broadcast on Radio 4 in the UK by the BBC in 2007, consisting of ten 15min parts broadcast in the afternoon on each weekday over two weeks. This is a ground-breaking and important programme about the history of the largely unnoticed and little documented ethnic Chinese in the UK, who make up the third largest "visible" minority in the UK, after the Afro-Carribeans and (south) Asians.
This is the omnibus edition broadcast in 2008. The 10 parts have been edited into two 1 hour programmes, broadcast over two fridays.
More details and episode guide: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/chinese_in_britain.shtml
One mp3 file and one Real Audio file:
Dead link, 66MB
Alternative link, 66MB
Or:
Two mp3 files:
Download link: parts 1 to 5 (omnibus edition part 1), 40MB mp3 file
Download link: parts 6 to 10 (omnibus edition part 2), 30MB mp3 file
Dead link, 69MB
Yue Ye (moon night) 月夜
Note: this post has a lot of dead links which have to be up-dated.
Yue Ye (moon night, Yuè Yè 月夜) is a composition for the erhu by Liu Tianhua (Liú Tiānhuá 刘天华). The date given on the score is 1924, I assume this is the year of publication.
Here are 4 different recording of the piece. All are erhu only, which I prefer. It seems many if not most recordings have accompiment, ranging from just with yangqin to a small ensemble to the large modern Chinese orchestra.
Wang Yijie
Link, 7.2MB
This is my favourite of these four. The erhu tone is big, rich and full-bodied.
Liu Changfu 刘长福
Link, 5MB
This one is more reflective, less intense, with a sweeter and gently beautiful tone.
Xu Ke
Link, 8MB
The first thing that strikes me about this recording is that the player is playing the piece like a violin player.
Wang Guotong
Link, 9.8MB
This recording is noticeably slower than the other ones here. The erhu is tuned one semitone lower than the standard tuning (assuming A = 440hz), to D flat and A flat. So I wonder if it has been slowed down. All the other tracks on the CD this recording is from have the same open string tuning.
Zhang Rui
Link, 6.2MB
This is from a 1982 cassette released by the China Records Company(HL 113).
Yue Ye (moon night, Yuè Yè 月夜) is a composition for the erhu by Liu Tianhua (Liú Tiānhuá 刘天华). The date given on the score is 1924, I assume this is the year of publication.
Here are 4 different recording of the piece. All are erhu only, which I prefer. It seems many if not most recordings have accompiment, ranging from just with yangqin to a small ensemble to the large modern Chinese orchestra.
Wang Yijie
Link, 7.2MB
This is my favourite of these four. The erhu tone is big, rich and full-bodied.
Liu Changfu 刘长福
Link, 5MB
This one is more reflective, less intense, with a sweeter and gently beautiful tone.
Xu Ke
Link, 8MB
The first thing that strikes me about this recording is that the player is playing the piece like a violin player.
Wang Guotong
Link, 9.8MB
This recording is noticeably slower than the other ones here. The erhu is tuned one semitone lower than the standard tuning (assuming A = 440hz), to D flat and A flat. So I wonder if it has been slowed down. All the other tracks on the CD this recording is from have the same open string tuning.
Zhang Rui
Link, 6.2MB
This is from a 1982 cassette released by the China Records Company(HL 113).
Friday, 18 July 2008
San Liu (three six) 三六
Note: this post has a lot of dead links which have to be up-dated.
San Liu (san1 liu4, three six) is one of the "eight great pieces" (ba1 da4 qu3) from Jiangnan sizhu (江南丝竹 Jiāngnán sīzhú).
"Jiangnan Sizhu" is a type of traditional Chinese instrumental music from the Jiangnan region of China, commonly translated as "Jiangnan silk and bamboo music". The Jiangnan region is made up of southern Jiangsu province, Shanghai and northern Zhejiang province.
Jiangnan Sizhu is performed by a small ensemble of up to about nine or ten instruments, with the dizi, erhu, pipa and yangqin being the main instruments.
Here are several different recorded versions of San Liu:
Shanghai Traditional Ensemble (Shanghai Minzu Yuetuan):
Link, 5.6MB, 6min8sec, 128kbps
Shanghai Traditional Ensemble (Shanghai Minzu Yuetuan):
Link, 8.2MB
Another recording by the Shanghai Minzu Yuetuan. This one is from a 1981 LP.
Lu Chunling (dizi), Zhou Hui (yangqin), Zhou Hao (erhu), Ma Shenglong (pipa):
Link, 5.6MB, 6min10sec, 128kbps
Chen Yonglu (erhu), Lu Chunling (dizi), Lin Shicheng (pipa):
Link, 6.3MB, 6min57sec, 128kbps
A traditional ensemble:
Link, 6.7MB, 7min24sec, 128kbps
Two erhu, one in standard D,A tuning, the second in a lower tuning:
Link, 5.3MB, 5min48sec, 128kbp
The earliest published notation of San Liu is in a collection of pipa pieces of 1895 by Li Fangyuan. According to Witzleben, that version is structurally different to the the present day San Liu performed by Jiangnan sizhu musicians.
There is also a version of San Liu for solo pipa (3.3MB, 3min37sec, 128kbps) and the large modern Chinese orchestra (available on youtube). It sounds very different to the San Liu as played within the Jiangnan Sizhu tradition. Perhaps this version is derived from Li Fangyuan's 1895 pipa score collection.
Further reading:
Witzleben, J. Lawrence (1995). "Silk and Bamboo" Music in Shanghai: The Jiangnan Sizhu Instrumental Ensemble Tradition. Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press
The definitive work (in English) on Jiangnan Sizhu, essential reading for anyone interested in this music.
San Liu (san1 liu4, three six) is one of the "eight great pieces" (ba1 da4 qu3) from Jiangnan sizhu (江南丝竹 Jiāngnán sīzhú).
"Jiangnan Sizhu" is a type of traditional Chinese instrumental music from the Jiangnan region of China, commonly translated as "Jiangnan silk and bamboo music". The Jiangnan region is made up of southern Jiangsu province, Shanghai and northern Zhejiang province.
Jiangnan Sizhu is performed by a small ensemble of up to about nine or ten instruments, with the dizi, erhu, pipa and yangqin being the main instruments.
Here are several different recorded versions of San Liu:
Shanghai Traditional Ensemble (Shanghai Minzu Yuetuan):
Link, 5.6MB, 6min8sec, 128kbps
Shanghai Traditional Ensemble (Shanghai Minzu Yuetuan):
Link, 8.2MB
Another recording by the Shanghai Minzu Yuetuan. This one is from a 1981 LP.
Lu Chunling (dizi), Zhou Hui (yangqin), Zhou Hao (erhu), Ma Shenglong (pipa):
Link, 5.6MB, 6min10sec, 128kbps
Chen Yonglu (erhu), Lu Chunling (dizi), Lin Shicheng (pipa):
Link, 6.3MB, 6min57sec, 128kbps
A traditional ensemble:
Link, 6.7MB, 7min24sec, 128kbps
Two erhu, one in standard D,A tuning, the second in a lower tuning:
Link, 5.3MB, 5min48sec, 128kbp
The earliest published notation of San Liu is in a collection of pipa pieces of 1895 by Li Fangyuan. According to Witzleben, that version is structurally different to the the present day San Liu performed by Jiangnan sizhu musicians.
There is also a version of San Liu for solo pipa (3.3MB, 3min37sec, 128kbps) and the large modern Chinese orchestra (available on youtube). It sounds very different to the San Liu as played within the Jiangnan Sizhu tradition. Perhaps this version is derived from Li Fangyuan's 1895 pipa score collection.
Further reading:
Witzleben, J. Lawrence (1995). "Silk and Bamboo" Music in Shanghai: The Jiangnan Sizhu Instrumental Ensemble Tradition. Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press
The definitive work (in English) on Jiangnan Sizhu, essential reading for anyone interested in this music.
Monday, 7 July 2008
A good introduction to music played on various huqin instruments
Treasury of Chinese Musical Instruments
Vol.2 Bowed String Instruments
This is a recording released by the China Record Company in 1989. Each track features a huqin soloist with backing from a traditional Chinese ensemble.
Track list:
1. Moon Reflects in the Er Quan (Er Quan Ying Yue, Erhu: Zhu Changyao)
2. Regret (Shuang Sheng Hen, Gaohu: Yu Qiwei)
3. The Setting Moon of Early Dawn (Yue Ya Wu Geng, Banhu: Shen Cheng)
4. Birds Sing in the Empty Hills (Kong Shan Niao Yu, Erhu: Zhu Changyao)
5. Deep Night (Ye Shen Chen, Jinghu: Zhang Suying)
6. A Paizi Tune of Shaanxi (Qinqiang) Opera (Qinqiang Paizi Qu, Banhu: Shen Cheng)
7. Waves (Liu Bo Qu, Erhu: Zhu Changyao)
8. Autumn Moon on A Placid Lake (Ping Hu Qiu Yue, Gaohu: Yu Qiwei)
9. On Grassland (Cao Yuan Shang, Zhonghu: Zhu Changyao)
Track list, Titles and performers in Chinese and English:
01. èr quán yìng yuè 二泉映月 Moon Reflects in the Er Quan (erhu 二胡) - Zhū Chāngyào 朱昌耀, Shanghai trad ensemble
02. shuāng shēng hèn 双声恨 Regret (gaohu 高胡) - Yú Qíwěi 余其伟, with Guangdong song and dance ensemble quartet
03. yuè yá wǔ gēng 月芽五更 The Setting Moon of Early Dawn (banhu 板胡) - Shěn Chéng 沈诚 (banhu), Shanghai trad ensemble
04. kōng shān niǎo yǔ 空山鸟语 Birds Sing in the Empty Hills (erhu 二胡) - Zhū Chāngyào 朱昌耀
05. yè shēn chén 夜深沉 Deep Night (jinghu) - Zhāng Sùyīng 张素英, Shanghai trad ensemble
06. qínqiāng páiziqǔ 秦腔牌子曲 Paizi tune of Shaanxi opera (banhu 板胡) - Shěn Chéng 沈诚 (banhu), Shanghai trad ensemble
07. liú bō qǔ 流波曲 Waves (erhu 二胡) - Zhū Chāngyào 朱昌耀, Shanghai trad ensemble
08. píng hú qiū yuè 平湖秋月 Autumn Moon on a Placid Lake (gaohu 高胡) - Yú Qíwěi 余其伟, with Guangdong song and dance ensemble quartet
09. cǎo yuán shàng 草原上 On Grassland (zhonghu 中胡) - Zhū Chāngyào 朱昌耀, Shanghai trad ensemble
Part 1 link
Part 2 link
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