Xian Xinghai (1905～1945), a famous musician and Chinese composer in modern China. His previous names were Huang Xun and Kong Yu. His ancestral home is Panyu, Guangdong. Born on June 13, 1905 in a poor boatman's family in Macao, he entered the Middle School Affiliated to Lingnan University to study violin in 1918, and in 1926 studied at the Music Transmission Institute of Peking University and the Music Department of the National Art College. In 1928, he entered the Shanghai National Music Institute to study violin and piano, and published a famous short music treatise "Universal Music". In 1929, he went to Paris for a work-study program and studied under the famous violinist Pani Obedofel and the famous composer Paul Duka. In 1931, he was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire. Studying in Shola Kontorum's composition class. While studying in France, he composed more than ten works such as "Wind", "Wandering Son Song" and "Violin Sonata in D minor". After returning to China in 1935, he actively participated in the anti-Japanese national salvation movement, composed a large number of militant mass songs, and contributed to the progressive film " He composed music for "Top Gun", "Youth March", dramas "Resurrection" and "Thunderstorm". After the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War, he joined the Shanghai National Salvation Drama Team 2, and later went to Wuhan to be responsible for launching the national salvation singing movement with Zhang Shu. From 1935 to 1938, he composed "Army Song of National Salvation", "As long as there is no resistance", "Guerrilla Army Song", "We Open the Road", "The Vast Siberia", "Children of the Motherland", "Going to the Enemy's Rear Lines", "In Taihang" "Mountain" and various types of vocal works. In 1938, she served as the director of the music department of Yan'an Lu Xun Art College and taught part-time at the "Women's University". In addition to teaching, he created immortal masterpieces such as "Yellow River Cantata" and "Production Cantata". In 1940, he went to the Soviet Union to study and work. He died in Moscow on October 30, 1945.
In his short life, Xian Xinghai lived a creative life for about 10 years. He composed hundreds of songs (more than 250 of them exist), 4 cantata, 1 opera, 2 symphonies, and orchestral music. He has 4 suites, 1 rhapsody, and many instrumental solo and ensemble pieces for violin and piano. Among Xian Xinghai's creations, the most numerous and most influential are a variety of mass songs. Among them are the "Army Song of National Salvation", "Youth March", "Defending the Marco Polo Bridge" and "Go to the Enemy's Rear Lines", which are positive expressions of the Chinese people's anti-Japanese struggle and adopt the form of a rallying and combative march; there are also detailed battle scenes showing the magnificence of the People's War , "On the Taihang Mountains", "Guerrilla Army" and "Counterattack", which combine lyricism and agitation or description and generality; there are "Dingding", which expresses the working life of workers and peasants and uses specific labor tones and rhythms. "Hard to Go", "Song of Pulling the Plow", "Movers' Song" and "We Open the Road"; there are also "As long as there is no resistance", "Children of the Motherland" and "March 8th Women's Day" written for the women and children in the Anti-Japanese War. Song" and so on. In these mass songs, Xian Xinghai created musical images with different characteristics according to different contents, or used impactful rhythms and high-pitched, angular melodies to express passionate and generous emotions and majestic momentum; The broad-breathing melody, soothing and calm rhythm and lyrical tones reflect the rich inner world of the revolutionary people.
Xian Xinghai’s four cantata, "Production Movement Cantata", "Yellow River Cantata", "September 18th Cantata" and "Sacrifice Alliance Cantata".
Among them, the "Yellow River Cantata" is the most outstanding cantata and has the widest influence.
"Yellow River Cantata" is Xian Xinghai's most important and influential masterpiece. Introduction to the Yellow River Cantata
The "Yellow River Cantata" is Xian Xinghai's most important and influential masterpiece. It was created in March 1939 and reorganized and processed in the Soviet Union in 1941. This work, written by the poet Guang Weiran and set against the backdrop of the Yellow River, passionately praises the long and glorious history of the Chinese nation and the unyielding fighting spirit of the Chinese people, laments the brutality of the invaders and the severe disasters suffered by the people, and broadly displays the Anti-Japanese War. The magnificent picture and the battle cry for national liberation were sent to the whole of China and the world, thereby creating a giant and heroic image of the Chinese nation.
"Yellow River Cantata" was written during the Anti-Japanese War. In the autumn and winter of 1938, the author marched with the anti-Japanese troops to the bank of the Yellow River in the northwest. China's majestic mountains and rivers and the heroic figures of the soldiers inspired the author's creative inspiration. The call of the times prompted him to compose a large-scale recital poem "Yellow River Ode" with high patriotic enthusiasm, which was later rewritten into "Yellow River Cantata" lyrics. The work consists of eight movements. It expresses the heroic spirit of the children of the Yellow River with rich artistic images, magnificent historical scenes and majestic momentum.