Yellow River Cantata
Aled Jones explores the story behind the Yellow River Cantata, which draws on Chinese folk music and Western form. Plus details of a newly-published novel with a choral twist.
Today Aled Jones looks at the fascinating story behind the creation of the "Yellow River Cantata", which skilfully weaves Chinese folk music into a Western form. The Cantata was written in 1939 by a Chinese composer, Xian Xinghai, who had previously studied in Paris with Vincent d'Indy and Paul Dukas. On his return to China, Xian Xinghai merged choral music with Communist politics to write this homage to the Yellow River, an emblem of national pride, in order to encourage the Chinese to resist Japanese invasion. Also in the programme, details of a newly published novel with a plot that's given a choral twist.
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Music Played
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Fred Rose
Deep Water
Performers: The Deep River Boys
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Beautiful Scenery of Wuxi
Performers: China Central Folk Orchestra Choir
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Jan Sandstr枚m
Biegga luohte-yoik
Performers: Swedish Chamber Choir Conductor: Simon Phipps
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Philippe de Monte
Super Flumina Babylonis
Performers: The Sixteen Conductor: Harry Christophers
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I Stood on the River of Jordan
Perfomers: The Moses Hogan Singers Soprano: Babara Hendricks
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Josquin des Prez
Nymphes des Bois (La deploration de la mort d Johannes Ockeghem)
Performers: Orlando Consort
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Shenandoah
Performers: Kansas City Chorale Conductor: Charles Bruffy
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Wade in the Water
Performers: Mark Kibble Joey Kibble
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Xian Xinghai
Yellow River Cantata
Performers: Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus Conductor: Cao Ding Soloist: Yang Xiaoyong Soloists: Zhang Siming abd Wang Jinghua Soloists: Yu Peimin and Yang Xiaoyong
Broadcast
- Sun 16 Sep 2012 17:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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