The following piece is written for yangqin and Chinese orchestra. The yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer) belongs to the plucked string section of the Chinese orchestra. A trapezoidal shaped instrument, it has hundreds of strings held up by rows of bridges. It is played by striking the strings with bamboo mallets.
Yun Fei Wang: Shanha
Yangqin: Haiying Yu / Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra / Chih-Sheng Chen / National Recital Hall, Taipei, Taiwan. 2019.5.10.
This composition is based on the music of the She people, a Chinese ethnic minority group from Shanha tribe. They are known to be nomadic farmers from the southern regions of China, and have overcome much hardship, eventually migrating to the vast rolling hills of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, where they still live today. The music is both lively and cheerful, depicting the She’s courage, optimism, and a life of happiness.
(Trans: Anthony Ko / Edit: Patty Chan)
