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04/28/11

Butterfly Lovers ConcertoChristina Hernandez

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Liang Shanbo

and Zhu Yingtai

Chinese folk legend thatoriginated from the Eastern Jin

Dynasty (317-240 AD)

Composed by ShanghaiConservatory students HeZhanhao and Chen Gang in

1958.

Premiered in 1959 with soloviolinist Yu Lina at the LanxinTheatre in Shanghai.

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He Zhanhao

-violinist; studied

Western Classical Music

-also sang in YuejuOpera (Shaoxing)

Chen Gang

-composition student

-studied Classical piano

They were both giventhe assignment to

compose Chinese music

using Western

instruments.

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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 traditionalinstruments, 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

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Story Outline- Act 1 Yingtai is a daughter of a noble family who

disguises herself as a man to study at aschool in Hangzhou. While studying thereshe meets Liang Shanbo, and they becomeextremely close as friends, and take anoath of brotherhood. Liang Shanbo never

once suspected that Zhu Yingtai was awoman. Yingtai falls in love with Shanboduring this time.

Yingtai receives a letter from her fathersummoning her to return home. Yingtai and

Shanbo sadly give their farewells.However, Yingtai proposes to Shanbo thatshe will act as a matchmaker and give hissisters hand in marriage to Shanbo. Theythen make plans to meet again in Yingtais

hometown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTl9gr8fpq4

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Act 2

Shanbo rejoices when he discovers that Yingtai is awoman and quickly hastens to meet Yingtai.

Unfortunately, Yingtais parents have alreadybetrothed her to a wealthy man.

Yingtai gives the bad news to Shanbo when hearrives.

Soon afterward Shanbo dies of grief.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA4B16XkOrE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA4B16XkOrE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA4B16XkOrE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA4B16XkOrE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA4B16XkOrE&feature=related

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On the day of her marriage, Yingtai learns ofShanbos death. Grieving his death, she visits

his tomb during the wedding procession toMas house.

Seeing Yingtais despair and grief, theHeavens open Shanbos tomb. Without anyhesitation Yingtai quickly jumps into the tomb tojoin Shanbo.

The tomb closes immediately afterward, whileYingtai and Shanbo emerge as two butterfliesfrom the tomb. Reunited, Yingtai and Shanboare able to be together.

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

Y&feature=related

Act 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtZZXJVEfIY&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtZZXJVEfIY&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtZZXJVEfIY&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtZZXJVEfIY&feature=related

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Nationalist

Music in China How could we use folk musicfor the violin? How could wenationalize the violin? -HeZhanhao

Cultural Revolution-banning of the concerto-Blacklisting wasnt official, sothe orchestra could neither playthe piece nor give a reason

why they could not.

The Concerto is now one of themost popular pieces in Chinaand has been transcribed formany different arrangements.Performances are guaranteed

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdFi1FgsTgM

Tian Jing-vocal

Chinese Traditional

Orchestra (part 1 & 3)

Erhu solo

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

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq4P-5bqBTchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdFi1FgsTgMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gX20e-Z_r4&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTL8cn2ynSIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTL8cn2ynSIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gX20e-Z_r4&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gX20e-Z_r4&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gX20e-Z_r4&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdFi1FgsTgMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq4P-5bqBTchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq4P-5bqBTchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq4P-5bqBTc

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Chinese

Culture Representation of what was

occurring culturally in China:

Womens Education

Marrying for love/arrangedmarriages

Social Caste

Confucianism- filial piety

Reincarnation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SYdkhR1Uv8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SYdkhR1Uv8http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SYdkhR1Uv8

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Butterfly Lovers

Today

Many movies and dramas have

been filmed, Pop songs havealso been composed based onthe melody of the concerto.

Chen Gang is now a professorat the Shanghai Conservatory

of Music.

Yu Lina retired from performingbut still teaches the violin.