An Analysis and Performance Guide of the Chinese Song Cycle Ah! How Happy and Two Selected Songs: Night Thoughts, and a Journey in the Snow by Yunqing Zhang

Abstract

This study introduces and analyzes the Chinese song cycle Ah! How Happy (啊! 多快活)and two selected songs–Night Thoughts (夜思) and A Journey in the Snow (雪中游)–by the Chinese female composer Yunqing Zhang. Zhang is known for her contributions to modern Chinese music; her pieces are characterized by her fusion of Chinese folk music elements with Western compositional techniques, resulting in a unique musical style. The research herein offers an in-depth exploration of Zhang’s incorporation of Chinese traditional music elements, including the use of Chinese pentatonic scales, Chinese folk song melodies, and traditional Chinese instruments. Further, background information and performance guidance will be provided for each work, including Chinese pīn yīn (Chinese Phonetic Alphabet) and International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) pronunciation, translation, and singing style to assist performers in achieving more accurate renditions of these pieces. By elucidating the material within Yunqing Zhang’s music, this research might serve as a valuable reference for scholars and performers who are interested in Zhang’s art songs–songs that contribute to the promotion and development of the modern Chinese art song repertoire.