Butterfly Lovers Concerto

Christina Hernandez
04/28/11

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai

Chinese folk legend that originated from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-240 AD) Composed by Shanghai Conservatory students He Zhanhao and Chen Gang in 1958. Premiered in 1959 with solo violinist Yu Lina at the Lanxin Theatre in Shanghai.

He Zhanhao -violinist; studied Western Classical Music -also sang in Yueju Opera (Shaoxing)

Chen Gang -composition student -studied Classical piano

They were both given the assignment to compose Chinese music using Western instruments.

Concerto Analysis

Program Music- A piece of instrumental music associated with a story or other extramusical idea. -Violin- Zhu Ying Tai -Cello- Liang Shanbo -Orchestra- at times certain times represents Zhu Ying Tais Father Free form single movement- about 26-30 minutes long Contains three main sections or acts Originally written for a Western orchestra, but it has been transcribed for a traditional Chinese orchestra with traditional instruments, including the erhu as the solo instrument. Musical Characteristics and Embellishments -contains borrowed devices from Chinese folk theatre which include: --vocal techniques of Zhe Jiangs Yu Theatre -- use of glissandos from one note to the next

Story OutlineAct 1 Yingtai is a daughter of a noble family who

disguises herself as a man to study at a school in Hangzhou. While studying there she meets Liang Shanbo, and they become extremely close as friends, and take an oath of brotherhood. Liang Shanbo never once suspected that Zhu Yingtai was a woman. Yingtai falls in love with Shanbo during this time.

Yingtai receives a letter from her father summoning her to return home. Yingtai and Shanbo sadly give their farewells. However, Yingtai proposes to Shanbo that she will act as a matchmaker and give his sisters hand in marriage to Shanbo. They then make plans to meet again in Yingtais hometown.

Act 2

Shanbo rejoices when he discovers that Yingtai is a woman and quickly hastens to meet Yingtai. Unfortunately, Yingtais parents have already betrothed her to a wealthy man. Yingtai gives the bad news to Shanbo when he arrives. Soon afterward Shanbo dies of grief. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA4B16XkOrE&fe ature=related

Act 3
On the day of her marriage, Yingtai learns of Shanbos death. Grieving his death, she visits his tomb during the wedding procession to Mas house.

Seeing Yingtais despair and grief, the Heavens open Shanbos tomb. Without any hesitation Yingtai quickly jumps into the tomb to join Shanbo.
The tomb closes immediately afterward, while Yingtai and Shanbo emerge as two butterflies from the tomb. Reunited, Yingtai and Shanbo are able to be together. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtZZXJVEfI Y&feature=related

Nationalist Music in China

Tian Jing-vocal Chinese Traditional Orchestra (part 1 & 3) Erhu solo

How could we use folk music for the violin? How could we nationalize the violin? -He Zhanhao Cultural Revolution -banning of the concerto -Blacklisting wasnt official, so the orchestra could neither play the piece nor give a reason why they could not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq4P-5bqBTc

The Concerto is now one of the most popular pieces in China and has been transcribed for many different arrangements. Performances are guaranteed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdFi1FgsTgM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gX20e-Z_r4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTL8cn2ynSI

Chinese Culture

Representation of what was occurring culturally in China: Womens Education Marrying for love/arranged marriages

Social Caste
Confucianism- filial piety Reincarnation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SYdkhR1Uv8

Butterfly Lovers Today

Many movies and dramas have been filmed, Pop songs have also been composed based on the melody of the concerto. Chen Gang is now a professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Yu Lina retired from performing but still teaches the violin.