Q 2
The Yellow River Piano Concerto using the Eulenburg edition, demonstrates a fusion of both traditional Chinese music and Western art music. The three examples I will be referring to are (i) the use of the Western piano imitating traditional Chinese instruments (ii) the use of tonality and (iii)
Program music elements.
Example (i) is located in the 3 rd movement rehearsal mark 1. Here the piano is imitating the sound of a Chinese zither. Notice the use of the different parts within the two hands of the piano. They sometimes need to hold notes longer against the demi-semi-quavers patterns. Another excellent example of Western piano imitating a tradition Chinese instrument is also in the 3 rd movement at rehearsal mark 6. This time the piano is imitating the Chinese lute. In doing this the piano part consists of tremolo notes (most likely played with two alternative fingers) in the right hand and glissando chords on beat one and three.
Example (ii) is how the Yellow River Piano Concerto is a fusion of traditional Chinese tonality and
Western art tonality. In the 1 st movement from bar 6 onwards the Work Chant melody ‘Hua you, Hou you’ is in D major pentatonic (D-E-F#-A-B) still with a Western use of a key signature of two sharps.
Another example is located in the 2 nd movement when we are in the major pentatonic starting on Bb
(Bb-C-D-F-G). An example of the use of chromaticism is located in the 1 st movement bars 2 and 3.
This use of Western art tonality depicts the movement of the Yellow River.
Example (iii) is how Program music, a Western art device used in the late 19 th century has fused with traditional Chinese music. Program music in its Western art definition is music that paints a picture or tells a story. There are many examples in this work that supports this point of view.
The opening phrase located in the 3 rd movement on a traditional Chinese bamboo flute played against tremolo strings (violin 1 and 2 and viola). This calm and bright melody using bends is based on the folk melody from the Shuanxi Province. This melody is based on the major pentatonic of Eb (Eb-F-G-
Bb-C) is creating a picture of the movement of the water. The inscription depicts the prosperous life of the people along the banks of the Yellow River.
Another example is in the 1 st movement, rehearsal mark 10. This quick ( I = 144) in two – four time suggests the boatsman moving forward bravely and fighting against the torrents and waves.
The final example is located at the start of the 2 nd movement. The lyrical statement in the celli and shared with the piano is based on the major pentatonic starting on Bb. This id depicting a scene of travelling down the Yellow River. Notice the lush harmonies in the clarinets, than supported by the bassoon and string section.
I can support musicologists in that the Yellow River Piano Concerto is a fusion of traditional Chinese music and Western art music through three examples that support this point of view.