Erhu Chant

Introduction to Music Recorded Idyllic Tune Idyllic Tune was composed in 1928 by Liu Tian Hua and the music was intended to portray a vivid picture of leisurely life. For the first time, the composer, who was familiar with idiomatic violin technique, made use of both unusual harmonies and numerous violinistic techniques. The music begins with an adagio melody, succeeded by a series of variations; the second section returns to an adagio gently tinged by sadness. Born in Jiang Ying of the Jiang Su province of China, Liu Tianhua (b 1895-d 1932) was one of the few pioneers of contemporary Chinese composers as well as one of the founders of Chinese instrumental music notation. He was also an Erhu performing artist and music teacher. After learning to play the violin and becoming acquainted with western musical theory, Liu Tian Hua employed his knowledge of western music for the continued evolution of traditional Chinese instrumental music. Weeping River of Sorrow Weeping River of Sorrow was written for the Guanzi, a type of woodwind instrument similar to the western recorder and oboe. The melancholy sound of the Guanzi is similar to that of the human voice. This composition was later arranged as a very popular Erhu solo piece. The music begins in the Erhu’s low register, and then moves through a series of fourths, introducing a mournful theme suggestive of weeping and ultimately leading to an explosion of grief. The last section of the piece is extremely emotional.