Jianmin Wang is a contemporary Chinese composer especially known for his works for erhu. He has written 4 Erhu Rhapsodies and incorporates folk songs and musical styles from regional ethnic minorities into his compositions.
Jianmin Wang: First Erhu Rhapsody
Erhu: Mengshan Wu / Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra, Tien-Ku Percussion Group / Chih-Sheng Chen / National Concert Hall, Taipei, Taiwan. 2010.2.6.
First Erhu Rhapsody draws upon the musical style of the Yunnan ethnic minorities. It is a single movement work that has multiple sections. Wang uses changing tone colours that develops and leads the listener through different themes that depict the beautiful scenery of Xishuangbanna, with its tropical rainforests located at the southwest border in Yunnan. The composer uses the expressive erhu to describe his love for this beautiful land that is so full of life.
(Trans: Kiah Mok Goh / Edit: Patty Chan)