Yellow River

Here comes another dose of expressive stimulant… to ‘charge up’ – according to our ‘batteries’ theory.. haha!

The Yellow River concerto has always been one of my favourite piece, but it is hard to find performers that can actually bring out its underlying significance and majesty

A little background…
It was adapted from Xian Xinghai’s “Yellow River Cantata” in 1940… The Yellow River is seen as a persistent musical theme and also a metaphor for China – praising the glorious history of the Chinese nationality (zhonghua minzhu) and the persistent struggling spirit of the Chinese citizens; it bitterly criticizes the cruelties of the oppressors and the torment suffered by the Chinese people. Hoping to nourish a sense of belonging and concern, nationalists pulled on the nation’s musical heartstrings. According to Ellen Judd, in China’s cultural redefinition in the 1940s, the performing arts offered the peasantry a “persuasive presentation of a new conception of the world” (Judd 1986, 31). Think the period when this cantata was composed coincides with Mao Zedong’s 1942 Yan’sn Talks on Literature and Art stating the central principle that art should be based on, reflect, and serve “the people”.

I finally found a video of this Yellow River concerto performed in the 70s in China.. I thought the pianist did wonderfully in portraying the underlying musical significance…the historical, political and economical significance. He really has the fire when he plays.. must watch k.. hope you guys will be inspired too!!

The weird thing is this is suppose to be a western orchestra how come there is one pipa player inside

1st movt.: Yellow River Boatman’s Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uopB0QCgEqw

2nd movt.: Ode to the Yellow River
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfdOyOb0Lr8&mode=related&search=

3rd movt.: Wrath of the Yellow River
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gau1pYEhfz8&mode=related&search=

4th movt.: Defend the Yellow River
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK2PyFKh2Ao&mode=related&search=

Anyone knows who is that guy on the portrait at the background can let me know? he dosent look like Mao.. this portrait was captured in the performance of the 4th movt.

Rach's 3rd

I watched the video of Olga Kern performing the 3rd piano concerto by Rachmaninov at the Eleventh International Van Cliburn piano competition and it was really brilliant! virtuosic fingerworks and the passionate artistry aside... what makes it even more admirable is that she played it with minimal pedalling.. which actually makes it even more challenging to produce the shades of colour, considering that there are very chordal passages and relying mostly on hand pedaling to build up the climax and emotions really require remarkable skills

I heard Rachmaninov and he himself played it without (or with very subtle) pedal, as can be discerned by that 'dryness' in his recording... but i wonder why? with pedal the effect could be better and achieved with much less effort... perhaps he desired for that clarity? or maybe the presence of orchestral accompaniment (esp the winds and brass inst.) to a certain extent helped mask that dryness so it is ok it dosent sound so connected between the massive chords?

Oh and Van Cliburn's rendition of the Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody no. 12 was awesome!! It must have been a sensation for those watching him live.. Am sooo excited after watching this that I dont think I will fall asleep anytime soon... haha.. Great performances are always a pleasure to one's senses... Anyone interested can go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAqA2E5D0lI