A Performance Guide For Eight Selected Chinese Art Songs Based on Song Cí from the Song Dynasty

Abstract

Chinese ancient poetry is a treasure of Chinese culture with a rich and lengthy history. Its unique artistic expression and rhythmic beauty have inspired many composers from ancient times to the present. The setting of ancient poetry in art songs conserves and passes on Chinese traditional culture of far-back poetry and lyrics.In my document, I will attempt to demonstrate that the eight Chinese art songs based on the ancient poetry form Song Cí [宋词] belong in the canon of Chinese art songs. These songs span from the Song dynasty (960-1279) until today and are mainly divided into three periods. Firstly, there are two songs from the Song dynasty composed by Jiang Baishi: Dark Fragrance [暗香] and The Remorse of the Past [古怨]. Secondly, there are four contemporary art songs from the 20th century, including two songs composed by Qing Zhu: The Yangtze River Goes East [大江东去] and I live at the Headwaters of the Yangtze River [我住长江头]; as well as two songs composed by Huang Tzu: Dian Jiang Chun–Poetry On Ascending [点绛唇–赋登楼] and Nan Xiang Zi–Feelings while Ascending Beigu Tower at the Capital’s Entrance [南乡子–登京口北固亭有怀]. Finally, there are two songs from the current period, Jiang Cheng Zi–The Dream of the Night of the 20th Day of the First Month [江城子–乙卯正月二十日夜记梦] and Qing Yu An– New Year’s Eve [青玉案–元夕] composed by a living composer Changqun Ao. I will also include a performance guide, IPA, and word-for-word translation and, in doing so, contribute tools to help non-Chinese speaking performers with the challenges and intricacies of performing in Chinese.