Home on the string: A musical journey of the Erhu famous song "Xiang Xiang"

58 views · Organized by 陌上花 on 2024-07-28

In the vast star of Chinese folk music, "Xiang Xiang" is a dazzling star. It not only carries the composer's deep yearning for his hometown, but also touches the heartstrings of countless listeners with its unique melody and emotional expression. This solo Erhu by Liu Wenjin, one of Liu Tianhua's students, has become a classic work that Erhu players compete to perform since its birth. Its artistic charm transcends time and space and is ever new.

Home on the string: A musical journey of the Erhu famous song

The inspiration of "Looking Home" comes from composer Liu Wenjin's memories and longing for his hometown. He infuses this intense emotion into the notes, delicately depicting the complex layers of homesickness through the traditional instrument of the erhu. From the melodious beginning, to the climactic middle, to the soulful end, each part is like telling a story, a journey.

The musical structure of "Look Home" is rigorous and varied, using the variation of A-B-A '. The opening part is introduced with a slow rhythm and deep melody, as if a wanderer in a foreign country at night, looking at the direction of his hometown, his heart is full of endless thoughts. With the development of the music, the melody gradually became passionate, the use of fast bow and complex fingering techniques, showing the superb skills of Erhu playing. In the second half, the music returns to calm, but the mood is stronger, just like a wanderer after a long journey, finally arrived in the dream homeland, the heart is full of emotion and relief.

"Looking Home" not only tests the skill of the players, but also requires them to deeply understand the emotional connotation behind the work. Each performer will add their own understanding and emotions to the interpretation, making each performance a unique artistic re-creation. This personalized interpretation is the charm of Chinese folk music, which allows each generation to explore and innovate on the basis of tradition, so that the classics can be passed down.

Reference materials and contributors
民族乐器网

Involving musical instruments

Erhu (Pinyin: Erhu) originated in the Tang Dynasty, called "Xiqin", and has a history of more than a thousand years. It is a traditional Chinese stringed instrument. Erhu, or Erxian Huqin, also known as "Nanhu" and "Omzi", is one of the main bowed and stringed instruments (wiping strings) in the Chinese national musical instrument family.

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