Tony:
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Hi there, thanks for tuning in to Music Talks. I am Tony Reid, saying hello from Beijing.
(Sound of the yangqin, fade in)
You may think that this is the piano, but actually it’s the sound of the yangqin, a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument with over four hundred years of history. It has 144 strings stretched over a trapezoidal sound board.
大家好，欢迎收听《音悦中国》节目，我是Tony，在北京向您问好。
您可能会觉得现在听到的是钢琴的声音，实际上这是拥有四百多年历史的中国传统击弦乐器—扬琴。扬琴是梯形的，共有144根弦。
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史玥老师
“The yangqin is nicknamed "the butterfly zither" due to the way musicians strike it with two waving bamboo hammers. It is considered an all-round instrument due to its incredible expressivity and the ability to accompany other instruments in an ensemble.”
“扬琴有蝴蝶琴的美誉，因在演奏的时候，挥舞的琴竹很像是飞舞的蝴蝶而得名。扬琴是一件全能型乐器，表现力丰富，在民族管弦乐队中，基本上能和所有乐器搭配和谐。”
♬..♩—— ♫. ♪ —— ♬..♩..♩—— ♫. ♪ —— ♬..♩..♩—— ♫. ♪ —— ♬..♩..♩—— ♫. ♪ —— ♬..♩
♫. ♪ —— ♬..♩—— ♫. ♪..♩—— ♫. ♪ —— ♬..♩..♩—— ♫. ♪ —— ♬..♩..♩—— ♫. ♪ —— ♬..♩
Tony:
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That is Ms Shi Yue, reputed as the yangqin princess. She is an associate professor from the Capital Normal University’s Faculty of Music.
Today, let's get up-close and personal with the sounds of the butterfly zither handpicked from Shi Yue’s album.
First, we have “Thunder in a Drought”. This piece vividly depicts the sudden claps of thunder and heavy rainfall after a long period without rain.
这位演奏家是被誉为“扬琴公主”的史玥，她是首都师范大学音乐学院的副教授。
今天，我们近距离聆听扬琴的乐音，并欣赏精选于史玥女士专辑中的新编扬琴乐曲。
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《旱天雷》
“‘Thunder in a Drought’ is a representative of Guangdong music genre, which is a synthesis of a number of local Guangdong folk music styles. The piece was first introduced in a songbook in 1921. Later, Yan Laolie (严老烈) , a late influential musician in the late Qing Dynasty, adapted it into the earliest yangqin piece. The version you are hearing is a mix of a live yangqin ensemble playing and MIDI, which means some instrumental sounds were created by software and database.”
“《旱天雷》是广东音乐作品之一，最早见于1921年的《弦歌必读》中，后由已故著名音乐家严老烈在清代末期根据民间传统乐曲改编为早期的扬琴乐曲。您现在听到的版本是扬琴与MIDI的改编版。MIDI意为部分乐器的声音由电脑合成而来，是乐曲界广泛的音乐标准格式。”
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Tony:
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That was “Thunder in a Drought”.
(Lots of feelings here, not sure I get the notion of a storm or rainfall, but perhaps the happiness felt after the rain comes.)
Coming up next, here is “Drum Series: Vigorous”.
您刚收听到的是《旱天雷》。
接下来，为您带来《鼓语•神采飞扬》。
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《鼓语•神采飞扬》
“‘DrumSeries:Vigorous’ was improvisationally composed by Yan Minmin (晏敏敏) for me. Due to the feature of the sound of the yangqin, listeners will be taken to experience the revival of nature, the change of four seasons and the thrill of time travel. Eastern and western musical elements are integrated in the piece. You can also feel the active rhythm and might move your body to the beat.”
“音乐作品《鼓语·神采飞扬》是由作曲家晏敏敏即兴作曲，为我量身打造的扬琴原创曲目。扬琴音乐为穿越的神器，启动着万物复苏的神话，演绎一段以不变应万变的经历春、夏、秋、冬，古、今、中、外，具有穿越性的神化传奇！乐曲融入了东、西方多音乐元素，旋律动感张扬。”
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Tony:
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That was “Drum Series: Vigorous”.
(Very vigorous indeed. In addition to the effects and the zither, a lot of beat here to enjoy.)
Next, we have “Autumn Whispers” and see if you find the music familiar.
您刚收听到的是《鼓语•神采飞扬》。接下来，我为您带来《秋日的私语》，您是否会发现音乐似曾相识呢。
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《秋日的私语》
“‘Autumn Whispers’ is a yangqin version of classic song titled ‘Whisper’ from the French pianist Richard Clayderman. The texture of the sound of the yangqin is quite similar to the piano but with brighter and crisper tonality. Whenever I perform the piece, I feel like I am having a romantic and pleasant dream in a fairytale world.”
“《秋日的私语》是理查德克莱德曼的经典曲目，扬琴的音色与钢琴非常接近但有所不同，它的声音更加清脆明亮。每次我在演奏这个曲目的时候，我仿佛身处于梦幻的童话世界，做了一场浪漫而美好的梦。”
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Tony:
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That was “Autumn Whispers”.
Coming up, let’s listen to another piece of the Drum Series composed by Yan Minmin, titled “Pipa Dance Song”.
您刚收听到的是《秋日的私语》。
接下来，为您带来鼓语系列中的另一首曲子：《琵琶舞曲》，由作曲家晏敏敏作曲。
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《鼓语•琵琶舞曲》
“‘Drum Series: Pipa Dance Song’ was created in 2016 with a communion of the pipa as the leading instrument, yangqin, erhu and percussion. It is fast-paced music. Its energetic melody and rhythm has the ability to get people hyped up and want to dance. The piece describes a harmonious picture that people from 56 ethnic groups in the country are holding hands and dancing together.”
“《鼓语·琵琶舞曲》创作于2016年，由琵琶领奏，穿插扬琴、二胡、鼓互动的旋律。音乐轻快动感，带有舞曲的律动，您一听就会忍不住随之舞动身体。乐曲表达了中华儿女五十六个民族手拉着手一起舞蹈，各民族友好团结。”
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Tony:
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That was “Drum Series: Pipa Dance Song”.
(Another groovy beat to do exactly what the title entails. The zither gives it the Chinese flavor, while the percussion makes you move.
Next up, we have “Childhood Memories”. Let’s enjoy.
您刚刚收听到的是《鼓语•琵琶舞曲》
接下来，为您带来《童年的回忆》。
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《童年的回忆》
“The yangqin version of ‘Childhood Memories’ you are hearing is another representative piano piece from Richard Clayderman. It helps people recall the most beautiful memory about their childhood and the wonderful time they spent with their family. I often feel like I’m looking through a dreamlike crystal ball and see a magical wonderland when performing the piece.”
“《童年的回忆》是理查德克莱德曼的经典曲目，乐曲再现了人们童年的故事、和家人共处的难忘的瞬间，带给人们很多美好的回忆。我每次在演奏这首曲子的时候，仿佛眼前有一个魔法的水晶球，看向它，眼前浮现出奇幻的仙境。”
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Tony:
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That was “Childhood Memories” for those looking to take a trip down memory lane.
Next, here is “Joyful Story”.
您刚收听到的是《童年的回忆》，接下来为您带来《喜讯》。
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《喜讯》
“‘Joyful Story’ is an adaptation of a traditional yangqin piece entitled ‘Joyful News in the Village’, one of the early compositions of yangqin educator Gui Xili (桂习礼). Using elements of Uyghur folk music and dance beats, the piece provides a depiction that people are sharing great news to each other and then singing and dancing to celebrate it. About thirty yangqin musicians performed the piece together, and there is an improvisational segment in it that we incorporated our own interpretation into the music while performing.”
“《喜讯》是扬琴教育家桂习礼教授早期创作的作品之一，原名《边寨喜讯》。乐曲采用新疆民间音调和舞蹈的节奏，描绘人们听到喜讯时奔走相告，欢乐的载歌载舞的情景。30位扬琴演奏者一起演奏、录制的此版本，其中有一部分为大家的即兴表演，加入了个性化音乐表演。”
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Tony:
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That was “Joyful Story”.
(This one was full of spirit with a lot of different tempos to keep you immersed in the experience. A bit different from most of the traditional Chinese pieces we’ve heard.)
Next, we have “Sama Dance: Let’s Dance to the Beat”.
您刚收听到的是《喜讯》。
接下来为您带来《撒麻舞跳起来》。
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《撒麻舞跳起来》
“‘Sama Dance, Let’s Dance to the Beat’ was adapted by Yan Minmin based on a traditional Yi ethnic dance song from Guizhou in the southwest of China. It reflects the farming experience of the local women and their happiness after having a good harvest. You can hear Yi ethnic women are humming when doing the farm work in the piece.”
“舞蹈音乐作品《撒嘛舞跳起来》扬琴版由作曲家晏敏敏根据贵州彝族传统舞蹈音乐改编创作。旋律节奏时而舒缓时而跳跃，反应彝族妇女辛勤耕田种地的过程及丰收后喜悦的心情。您还能听到彝族妇女在劳动过程中情不自禁发出的类似于劳动号子的声音。”
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Tony:
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That was “Sama Dance: Let’s Dance to the Beat”.
(This track sounded like it had some tribal sounds and chants in the melody. I could feel a bit of excitement here. )
Next, we have “Step by Step”, which is often heard during the period of festive seasons in Guangdong province.
您刚收听到的是《撒麻舞跳起来》。
接下来为您带来《步步高》，生活在广东地区的人们常常在节日期间听到此曲。
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《步步高》
“‘Step by Step was another representative piece of the Guangdong music genre, composed by Lv Wencheng (吕文成). The tempo of the piece is fast but steady, similar to how the Cantonese people speak. It expresses wishes for people to have joy and happiness in life and achieve success step by step. You see, getting better step by step reflects people’s value in the past, which longed for a peaceful life without significant changes.”
“《步步高》是广东音乐名家吕文成的代表作，音浪叠起叠落，很像是广东人说话的韵律，轻快而平稳。曲子表达的是一个美好的寓意，希望人们能四平八稳的步步高升，这其实也体现了人们过去的理念，稳中求进。”
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Tony:
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That was “Step by Step”.
(I feel like the yangqin presented the Chinese flavor or element in most of the songs we heard, which would make it a pivotal addition in the genre.)
With that, we come to the end of today’s show. Special thanks to Ms Shi Yue.
If you are interested in our show, you can find us by searching ‘Music Talks’ on Apple podcast, spotify and stitcher.
See you next time.
您刚听到的是《步步高》。
特别感谢史玥女士对本节目的支持。
