Spring in Date Garden

 

枣园春色

SPRING IN DATE GARDEN

Music Played on National Instruments
 

China Record Company, ?, M-2097

Since the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911, China has seen major changes in society and culture. Music was concerned also and before the advent of communism some Chinese intellectuals had worked on the modernization and on the revitalization of traditional Chines music. What is called ''Guo Yue'' meaning ''national music'' emerged as a genre during the 1920s in Beijing and Shanghai. Chinese regional music became part of modern education institution. This approach to music was backed by the Maoist regime and many records were issued from 1949 onwards.
Here we have seven tunes composed in that style : a soloist on a ''national instrument'' ie traditional instrument and a full orchestra also made of traditional instruments mainly but with a symphonic kind of sound. It reminds me of the Soviet approach which has probably influenced China's cultural nationalism.
On track A1 the flute dizi is played by Gao Ming accompanied by the Shaanxi Provincial Song and Dance Drama Theatre Folk Band.
Track A2 is a duet of erhu and zheng played by Feng Qianqiang and He Chengyu.
Track A3 is an orchestral piece by the Heilongjiang Provincial Song and Dance Troupe Folk Band.
Track B1 focuses on the suona and percussions of the Shandong Provincial Song and Dance Troupe Folk Band. The title might refer to the Commune of Paris and the revolt of the Parisians in 1871.
Track B2 is a zheng solo by Liu Weishan.
Track B3 gives us a good example of some banhu playing by Ji Che and the Shaanxi Provincial Broadcasting Arts and Crafts Troupe Folk Band.
Track B4 a yuehchin solo by Feng Shaoxian with a folk band. 

Compared to Chinese art music this guoyue music might appear to be not very interesting knowing that it is also part of the communist doxa of the time where the People is happy under the leadership of chairman Mao Zedong. But I think we could listen to these musicians for what they are : prodigious soloists who really love their music whatever the political context.

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