Chinese Mountain Songs
For Treble Chorus, a Cappella
by Chen Yi
SSAA - Sheet Music

Choral SSAA choir

SKU: PR.312418090

For Treble Chorus, a Cappella. Composed by Chen Yi. Arranged by Chen Yi. -. Choral. Performance Score. With Standard notation. Composed 2001. 12 pages. Duration 10 minutes. Theodore Presser Company #312-41809. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.312418090).

ISBN 9781491102725. UPC: 680160051618. Octavo inches.

Commissioned by the women’s chorus Kitka, CHINESE MOUNTAIN SONGS is a compendium of 5 adaptations of folk songs from across China, adapted in Chen Yi’s unique textural and exotic style, for women’s chorus in a variety of divisi textures.
Commissioned by my favorite women’s choir, Kitka, supported by commissioning grants from NEA and Rockefeller Foundation, I arranged five pieces for Chinese Mountain Songs, premiered on June 17, 2001, at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. These mountain songs are among many Chinese folk songs I learned when I studied composition at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. I planned to select songs from the representing provinces in the East, the West, the North and the South of China, from the nationalities Han and others such as Zang (from Tibet), Li (from Hainan Island) and Mongolian/Meng (from Inner Mongolia). Generally, mountain songs are love songs or working songs, praising beautiful landscapes and sweethearts. This set of mountain songs is very well presented in an antiphonal style with the meaning of the text, which also fits well into the venue of the premiere concert.—Chen YiChinese Mountain Songs (original text in Chinese)I. When Will the Scholartree Blossom? (Sichuan, Han)In the high mountain, there is a scholartree,The girl leaning against the fen is looking for her boyfriend.Her mother asks: What are you looking into?I look forward to the blossom of the scholartree.II. A Ma Lei Ho (Tibet, Zang) [only nonsense syllables sung]There are many stars on the sky,Only the Plough is the brightest;There are many friends and relatives,Only the parents are the dearest.III. Gathering in the Naked Oats (Shanxi, Han)The man is gathering in the naked oats on the top of the hill,His girlfriend is digging the taro everywhere in the mountain.(Si Lou is the sound from cutting the naked oat with the sickle; GeBeng is the sound from digging the taro with the shovel.)IV. Mt. Wu Zhi (Hainan Island, Li) [only nonsense syllables sung](Hainan is the name of the province in the south, where the Mt. Wu Zhilocates. Shan means mountain.)V. Ga Da Mei Lin (Inner Mongolia, Mongolian/Meng)The swan geese from the Yangtze River are flying on the sky,Ga Da Mei Lin fought against the feudal authoritiesFor his people and their land. (Ga Da Mei Lin is the name of a Mongolian national hero.)(English translation by Chen Yi).