What kind of music is "The Song of Boatmen on the Yellow River" and what story does it tell?

"Yellow River Boatman Song" is the first movement of "Yellow River Cantata" and is a mixed chorus. The tonal material of the Yellow River boatmen's chants is used here. This movement is divided into three parts. The first part depicts the scene of boatmen fighting against the wind and waves, and the music is full of the power of battle. The second part is based on the opening theme melody, broadening the rhythm and slowing down the speed, showing the joy of the boatmen after crossing the rapids and approaching the river bank. This shows that although the Chinese people are in a difficult war of resistance, they have seen the dawn of victory. In the third part, the music returns to the tempo at the beginning of the movement, but gradually weakens from strong to weak, from near to far. This movement symbolizes the increasingly fierce national contradiction between the Chinese people and Japanese imperialism through the struggle of the Yellow River boatmen against the rapid waves and dangerous shoals.

Chinese name

Yellow River Boatman Song

From

Yellow River Cantata

Chapter

Chapter 1

Category

Mixed Chorus

Background

After the fall of Wuhan in November 1938, the famous poet Guang Weiran led the resistance The Third Enemy Theater Troupe crossed the Yellow River eastward from near Hukou in Yichuan County, Shaanxi Province, and transferred to the Luliang Mountain Anti-Japanese Base Area. On the way, I witnessed the Yellow River boatmen fighting against the strong winds and waves, and listened to the high-pitched and melodious boatmen's chants. After arriving in Yan'an in January of the following year, he wrote the lyrics for "Yellow River" and recited this poem at the New Year's Eve party of that year. After hearing this, Xian Xinghai sang his song and expressed his interest in composing "Yellow River Cantata" for the theater troupe. In a simple earthen kiln in Yan'an, Xian Xinghai wrote continuously for six days despite being ill. Within half a month, he completed all the eight movements of the work and the accompanying music, completing this historic large-scale vocal work "Yellow River Cantata" . Afterwards, it premiered in the auditorium of Northern Shaanxi Public School in Yan'an, causing a huge response and soon spread throughout China.

Lyrics

Lyrics: Guang Weiran

Composer: Xian Xinghai

Majestically and rapidly

(Recitation words)

Friends!

Have you been to the Yellow River?

Have you crossed the Yellow River?

Do you still remember the scene of the boatman on the river

fighting for his life against the rough waves?

If you have forgotten,

then, listen!