Moment of Glory Reconstructed

PROGRAM INTRODUCTION


1970, Yin performed the piano concerto Yellow River .

The pounding sounds from his piano keys have evoked revolution passion for the countless Chinese people.

Half a century later, the first performers of the two masterpieces meet on the stage in Taiwan.

It is not just an encounter of two masters after 50 years, but also possibly the last performance before Yu seals her violin.

Two masters, true classics, the costar of Yu and Yin guarantees an unforeseen and unrepeatable music event.



PROGRAM


LIANG-HUI LU: TCO 30th Anniversary Commission, World Premiere

ZHANHO HE, GANG CHEN: Concerto for Violin and Chinese Orchestra Butterfly Lovers

YELLOW RIVER COMPOSERS' COMMITTEE: Piano Concerto Yellow River

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     The concerts will perform on this weekend, we rehearsed with two masters today. Both they can being a grandma and a grandpa, I mean, they are really old. The violinist is almost 70 years old, and the pianist is too. They were breathless when they played somewhere excited, it really made me nervous.
     Although their technique are not so fast or accurate, their interpretation are still excellent and moving. When I saw the expression in their eyes during the rehearsing, I can feel the emotions they conveyed, sometimes it was plaintive, and sometimes it can be resolute. I was much moved by their music, not only the sound, but also their attitude to music and life. Hope I can play liuqin during my whole lifetime, just as they are. But~ I do not consider that I can make it. It is toooooooooo difficult!

A Comparison of Two Instruments

A Comparison of Two Instruments

                                                                        by Doris 9721301

     There are two plucking instruments in Chinese music. Although they have similar outside, but there are huge difference between them. The left instrument called "pipa", it is a long history instrument. Pipa's shape looks like a pear. Likewise, the right instrument "liuqin" has the same shape but dimidiate of pipa. They have equal head and axle on the top, and both use four strings. Pipa's skills of left hand are similar to liuqin's, such as push, press, pull, slip the string. However, pipa differs greatly from liuqin in other side.

     One difference is tuning. Pipa's string pitch are la, re, mi, la (A,d,e,a), and liuqin's are sol,re,sol,re (g,d1,g2,d2), this shows the range of pipa's voice is much lower and wider than liuqin, because of the bigger body and longer string.  

     The second area of difference is the playing way. Pipa plays by using five fingers of right hand, players plaster fake nails on gummed tape then wind it around their fingers. On the other hand, because liuqin is much smaller than pipa, the space between liuqin's strings are narrow, and the strings are much shorter and tougher, so liuqin plays by using a pick. In contrast, pipa's skills of right hand are much more abundant and complicated than liuqin.

     Finally, there are many differences in musical composition's style. For example, pipa music's style is close to ancient melody, it is slow and having an aroma, the variation is plentiful. Moreover, pipa can also plays some pieces with powerful and fight strength, such as the famous one "Ambush on All Sides (十面埋伏)". Therefore, pipa has an extensively expression. Liuqin's music style is close to world music. Because it was reformed in 1960s, from two strings to four strings, and from accompaniment of traditional opera to a solo instrument, it's history is much shorter than pipa's. After the reform, liuqin's gamut is similar to violin, so it often play violin's composition. As for liuqin itself's composition are affected by the harmony conception of Western music, it is not convention as pipa. Moreover, liuqin's composition usually appear happy feelings.

     To sum up, there are similarties between pipa and liuqin are about the outward appearance and skills of left hand; and differences betweem them are about tuning, the playing way, and music's style. We can appreciate them both in different point of view. All in all, pipa and liuqin are both superior Chinese plucking instruments.

   

It is not real me!

    The picture was shot on Feburary by Ching Hua bridal art, after this Chinese new year.    
     As a liuqin player, it is much closer to be a professional performer now. Hope I can play my music exquisitely, just like this picture, to become a great soloist.