Xian Xinghai 冼星海 - The Yellow River Piano Concerto 黃河鋼琴協奏曲 (Audio + Score)

The Yellow River Piano Concerto (黃河鋼琴協奏曲)
Based on The Yellow River Cantata (黃河大合唱) by Xian Xinghai (洗星海) (1905-1945)
arranged by Yin Chengzong (殷承宗), Chu Wanghua (儲望華), Sheng Lihong (盛禮洪) and Liu Zhuang (劉莊 ).
00:00 1. Prelude. The Song of the Yellow River Boatman ( 黃河船夫曲)
"The Song of the Yellow River Boatmen" describes the momentum of the terrifying waves of the Yellow River and uses the rapid chromatic crescendo and long rolls of the timpani and cymbals typical of the revolutionary operas.
03:44 2. Ode to the Yellow River (黃河頌)
The original heroic tenor solo melody of the "Ode to the Yellow River" is sung in praise of the history and presence of the Yellow River, signifying the cultural pride of the Chinese. This broad Chinese recitative is supported by the deep and rich timbre of the cello, and is considered as an example of the nationalistic style.
08:11 3. The Wrath of the Yellow River (黃河憤)
"The Wrath of the Yellow River", originally sung by a soprano solo, begins with a dizi solo accompanied by the piano. This is obviously inspired by the Jiangnan melody of the Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto, but rewritten in the style of northwest Shanbei folk idioms. In the third movement, the piano brings out the melody taken from the "Ballad of the Yellow Rivers", originally a mellow number sung by female chorus. We then hear the "Lament at the Yellow River" taking over for this movement.
15:10 4. Defend the Yellow River (保衛黃河)
As the finale of this piano concerto, the theme is arranged into a polyphonic canon. It is also apparent that the tune from "The East is Red" is persistent throughout the entire movement; among the various versions of the Yellow River Concerto that are currently in circulation, including Yin Chengzong's film recording, we can hear a recapitulation of the theme of "Defending the Yellow River" played canonically against the strings after the climatic tutti of "The East is Red". Then the first phrase of "The East is Red" is played by the trumpet, and tightly followed by the final phrase of the "Internationale", as an example of thematic writing huan wei (換尾; literally "Changing the end") that is often found in traditional Chinese music.
(source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_River_Piano_Concerto)
Yundi Li (李雲迪), Piano
China NCPA Concert Hall Orchestra (國家大劇院音樂廳管弦樂團)
Zuohuang Chen (陳佐湟), conductor

[@IgnatzKolisch]

Packed to bursting with excellent melodies, exotic soundscape, deliciously spicy orchestration... why the hell isn't this famous??? If this started being played in concert halls, I think it would bring the house down.

[@themusicdiplomat730]

well this concerto is pretty famous in China

[@bitchslappedme]

People don't really like that it is a collaboration by 4 people, based on the work of a 5th one. If this was done by just one person it would be famous.

[@scottw6704]

It may not be in the top 10 but it's fairly known I think, particularly in China (I would label it as the Chinese version of the Gershwin Rhapsody/Concerto in F if that's not being insulting to either party). I hear it a lot as the musical setting for things like figure skating and gymnastics I'm imagining there aren't a ton of pianists even in the top echelon who can pull it off, though.

[@darkagedrifter]

I'd imagine it has something also to do with Chinese copyright and the piece not necessarily being public domain according to my surface level googling.

[@tt-ew7rx]

It contains a number of communist revolutionary themes. No chance it will become popular outside China.

[@tchaffman]

I forgot how good this actually is

[@jaynegrey.edwards]

6:18! So incredibly beautiful!

[@erikrobinson2547]

8:11 Calmest wrath I've ever heard.

[@taihiong]

Xian Xinghai is the original composer for the cantata, which is a great composition by itself. The piano concerto was composed by a group of other musicians based on this cantata.

[@canman5060]

The original cantata could be composed around 1940.

[@canman5060]

there is a recording from Naxos featuring one of the arranger from the central philharmonic society of China on the piano part Mr Yin Sing Chung.

[@canman5060]

I have a old cassettle label said the music is by The Central Philharmonic Society.

[@bobsmith-uj2oh]

If you listen carefully at 7:01, you can hear the theme of the national anthem of our glorious nation China....

[@cloud-dv1wb]

this is so good, I dont even care if it's political

[@natheniel]

8:51 Zheng and Yangqin imitation, including techniques like adding Hua (lit. flower, ie the 32rd sextets) 19:36 “The East is Red” 20:42 Counterpoint between augmented "The East is Red" in the strings, and stretto-esque staccato main theme on the piano with the winds 20:52 Pick up to the "Internationale" played by the brass section

[@LandesHector]

At the extreme end we can hear the French Marseillaise as well.

[@tt-ew7rx]

This being the Cultural Revolution time, using the East is Red as secondary counterpoint must have felt thrillingly risky to the composition group. Fortunately Madame Mao knew nothing about music composition, in spite of being a competent Beijing Opera singer.

[@natheniel]

@@tt-ew7rx you are thinking into it too much

[@tt-ew7rx]

@@natheniel You did not live through the Cultural Revolution I presume. I did and this level is no way thinking into it too much. People were done for much less transgressions.

[@soulight8205]

At the end of this masterpiece, I didn't have enough handkerchief left to wipe my eyes.

[@sicelonkwanyana1982]

It’s such an emotional masterpiece.

[@fumpgarest56]

Full of Passion from the composed melody, talented and skillful. Touching generation after another Respect the recorder and Xinghai Xian.

[@xiaowang3808]

Prächtiges Musikwerk!

[@paulescudero9973]

我喜歡這首鋼琴協奏曲。它創造出極好的聲音。我已經出版了兩部中文小說（保羅·道格拉斯·埃斯庫德羅），並且一直在探索中國。 冼星海真正創造了壯麗的音樂。 I love this piano concerto. It creates sound of utter brilliance. I've published 2 Novels in Chinese Language (Paul Douglas Escudero) and am always exploring China. This is one of my landmark discoveries. Xian Xinghai (冼星海) truly created magnificent music.

[@canman5060]

This is a aound 1965 work for piano concerto arrangment based on Mr Xian Xinghai's The Yellow River Cantata composed much earlier in 1940.

[@canman5060]

Mr Xian Xinghai is a student of Paul Dukas when he was in Paris.

[@zack_120]

Thank you very much for posting!

[@bennyksmusicalworld]

And now we have Rachmaninov's Chinese Concerto

[@canman5060]

Had Rachmaninoff live a little longer to past 90 he will be able o hear it.

[@qingfangzhu8289]

冼星海先生不但會自己作曲，還會自彈西洋重乐器鋼琴能玩得極致！太了不起！上世紀当年盡出艺术頂尖大人物，還有聶耳會作曲又會拉小提琴玩到極致！又太了不起！還有一個華彥鈞又會作曲又會拉二胡及琵琶都全能玩到極致！能三大艺最不得了！還有一個百歲棋聖能做棋譜，又能象棋和又會圍棋，而且全能玩到极致！又是最不得了！当代惟我溫州人獨一個书法藝術貭量：鋼劃金鈎嚇坏神！及:雙金鈎蓋世！狂书盲草勁惊神！等等多首七律五絕詩句為証！(遠超王羲之书圣的中檔的鐵畫銀鈎水平！)兼多面手全能練成健美體魄及能舞兩手雙截棍！全自学能會书詩画印琴，刀槍棒拳棍！只可惜文化被毛家帝制獨裁者所发動文革十年浩劫破壞而辍学連小學未畢業且去打临時工十年！及幼年歷來營養不良所造成后果很嚴重的心身殘缺兼廢。

[@agather8716]

Wow the pianist is sooooo talented !

[@user-gb2rk9zi2y]

He was the champion of Chopin international competition seemingly 2015.😍

[@agather8716]

@@user-gb2rk9zi2y oh Woua no wonders !!!

[@sm30405]

@@user-gb2rk9zi2y 2000，not 2015

[@obiwan88]

@@user-gb2rk9zi2y Incredible you could get this wrong in the age of internet, speaks volumes of your character. Next time don't speak when adults are speaking.

[@australiadigitstar1243]

excellent music! inspirational.

[@guilhermegreffe5063]

The internationale fragment right at the very ending gets me so emotional holy shit

[@sovietunion4875]

11:14 where piano meets the Guzheng, a legend in Chinese classical music. Beautiful!

[@Zcd3751]

现在才明白广州星海厅和星海音乐厅广场，是以冼星海名字命名的。可惜天妒英才，英年早逝。了不起！

[@tt-ew7rx]

If he did not die early, he'd have died later in one of the large number of waves of persecution in the New China. There was a 人艺 play just after the Cultural Revolution in which his family member was harangued (and worse) by Gang of Four henchmen, and the audience and the media had zero problem with this scenario as 1) it likely did happen for real and 2) it did happen to a lot of others so it felt real. Imagine what he himself would have encountered if his family was treated like that. The point of the argument was also very interesting. It was about the original cantata. The guy was denouncing that words in a song described the riverside as being idyllic before the Japanese invaded (the music is in the beginning of part 3 of the concerto, before it got dark in the middle of that part, containing the words 河东千里成平壤). The denouncer was saying that those words were describing progresses under the leadership of the Shanxi warlord Yen Hsi-shan 阎锡山 and denounced 冼星海 as a traitor to support the warlord. This was, of course, standard behaviour of Gang of Four (and all Cultural Revolution) zealots. 冼星海 would have had no chance in front of those people.

[@mediolanumhibernicus3353]

What a wonderful piece. What a discovery.

[@fumpgarest56]

The Yellow River Piano Concerto (黃河鋼琴協奏曲) 集Sibelius西贝柳斯-Chkoviski.歌柴可夫斯基 船歌之基，承多瑙/沃尔塔瓦/顿河之后，创作了激励抗日战争保卫家园的史诗风格 爱国交响乐，inspire generations of people for the career of liberation. also, is the source of defense the river “Oriental Red_Uprise the Sun” 献礼舞蹈史诗, 红旗颂 etc, we can hear the melody of it, many source from this composition.

[@user-ew3tm6pv6x]

What you mention is because, instead of what the title says, this concert is not by Xian Xinghai, but an adaptation made by several Chinese composers, so that is why many styles and influences are noted in this composition.

[@canman5060]

@@user-ew3tm6pv6x Xian Xinghai himself wrote the Yellow River Cantata in around 1940. This particular piano concerto is the later around 1965 arrangement base on four movements from his original cantata.

[@user-ew3tm6pv6x]

@@canman5060 I know 😐

[@pengyigu7164]

壮哉

[@marcellodantedealmeidanune9445]

Um clássico da literatura musical chinesa, com lindas melodias!!!!!

[@chickendonut4668]

Un de le meilleur concert

[@ludwigvanbeethoven1712]

Such a great piece!

[@hanstaeubler]

Great! - I like the musical resolution at 2:20 et seqq.!

[@raphaelmelki6471]

20:51 L'internationa-a-leee

[@OnionIlan]

Ayo what are you doing here??? 🤩

[@thatonewaff2552]

So goog.. I love you Xian Xinghai

[@wpoon1]

I like the music score, good job!

[@tinahuang4576]

Yeah,it is so good!

[@chickendonut4668]

Ja też

[@thatonewaff2552]

Xian Xinghai... I love you Xian Xinghai

[@artershih4834]

冼星海還有一首＜夜半歌聲＞，是同名電影的主題曲。聽說舊昔男低音歌唱家斯義桂錄過音，可惜沒找到。

[@calebhu6383]

11:14

[@Whaijorhujishkomunyk]

Hi

[@delo9997]

중국이 느껴지는 판타스틱한 이 스코어! 음악은 참으로 신기하고 고귀하다 ❤️‍🔥

[@teohct1]

19.43 from The East is Red

[@katiefrisk980]

this makes me want to go join the red army and combat imperialism

[@ritamariekelley4077]

And capitalism!

[@user-ew3tm6pv6x]

@@ritamariekelley4077 Lol

[@LimJoshua1]

don't you mean the People's Liberation Army?

[@Scriabinfan593]

C O M R A D E

[@Scriabinfan593]

@@LimJoshua1 no she means “The People’s Republic Liberation Army”

[@canman5060]

I think Xian Xinghai also wrote a full scale symphony.

[@annulrsolformrkelse4023]

*Personal timestamps:* 8:34 - 10:21

[@stacia6678]

14:16 11:14

[@LucasPianoSalon]

21:25

[@DanChou626108]

where to buy the sheet music?

[@hendomas7435]

9:16

[@briantorres3559]

14:10 (Do not mind me, just a personal marker for myself.)

[@homanning]

如何下載此譜曲

[@cubanm81]

Bravoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.......................................

[@artershih4834]

還有編成合唱曲

[@user-cw9rh2fx3h]

Chinese Rachmaninov

[@user-wm9yd2ts7d]

這首很棒，但知名度真的稍低

[@user-my8vi1ji8l]

虽然但是，在中国没有不知道这首的

[@ilyasozurakov2393]

Main theme for Fruit Ninja

[@qfcbv]

Chinese Rachmaninoff😂❤👍

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

I think it's a poor piano concerto, but it's popular. So I'm wrong. Enjoy everyone. :-)

[@arandompianist7371]

How is it terrible?

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

@@arandompianist7371 Where do I start? It really isn't a very well written concerto in my opinion. There is not enough time to go through it phrase by phrase to support my argument here. He was very popular in China during his life, but Chinese "classical" music has advanced enormously since 1945. However, please read all of my comment.

[@arandompianist7371]

@@DavidA-ps1qr Imo it’s certainly not top tier… But I wouldn’t call it ‘terrible’. It has some exciting bits that provide a lingering sense of anticipation as well as a very bold character overall. Quite attractive

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

@@arandompianist7371 Edited, as a mark of respect to your opinion.

[@arandompianist7371]

@@DavidA-ps1qr Thanks anyways😉

[@carlose1939]

Ah yes, i can hear the contaminated whaters, the pollution, wonderfull

[@abraxasstone]

@J T Let them learn to spell, but until then, they are not worth your time.

[@carlose1939]

@@abraxasstone Fale vários idiomas, scare you karen?

[@abraxasstone]

@@carlose1939 Karen? That's what you resort to? You end up believing you are the greatest product of humanity for knowing how to speak more than one languages, yet you use the term "karen?" And to answer your silly, stupid question: no, you do not scare me, nor does your small intellect. Good day.

[@thomasguo5086]

London used to be “The Fog”. Polution is the price u have to pay for industrialization

[@zachguo6372]

@J T I find anti-china ppl to be mainly conservative?

[@calebhu6383]

14:16

[@user-nv3dk3iq6o]

19:35