Xian Xinghai: Yellow River Cantata, Op.7

Introduction

The Yellow River Cantata (Chinese: 黄河大合唱; pinyin: Huánghé Dàhéchàng) is a cantata by Chinese composer Sinn Sing Hoi (1905–1945). Composed in Yan'an in early 1939 during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the work was inspired by a patriotic poem by Guang Weiran, which was also adapted as the lyrics. Premiered on April 13 of the same year in the Shanbei Gongxue Hall of Yan'an, the work soon spread to all parts of China.

Historical background

According to official accounts by the Communist Party of China, after the Chinese city of Wuhan fell to Japanese invaders in November 1938, the poet Guang Weiran led the 3rd Squad of the Anti-Enemy Troupe across the Yellow River near the Hukou Waterfall and eastwards into the communist anti-Japanese headquarters in Lüliang Mountains. During his journey, he witnessed the local boatmen battle against heavy gales and torrential waves, and heard their spirit-lifting songs.

Upon reaching Yan'an in January 1939, Guang wrote a patriotic poem entitled Yellow River and recited it during the Chinese New Year celebration. The poem spoke of the oppression of Chinese people under the invaders and called for all to take up arms to defend China. Sinn Sing Hoi, who received his education at the Conservatoire de Paris and returned to China in 1935, was also present at the recital. He went on to write a cantata based on the poem.

According to an account by Xian's daughter, he began work on the composition on March 26, and took merely four days to complete all eight movements. However, he was not satisfied with the Second and Sixth, which he took two more days to amend. Two weeks later, the cantata premiered in the Shanbei Gongxue Hall in Yan'an, performed by a forty-strong choir and a primitive orchestra conducted by Wu Xiling. It soon spread to many parts of China to inspire its listeners to participate in the Anti-Japanese War.

Musical influence

The Yellow River Cantata laid the ground for Chinese contemporary large-scaled vocal music composition. In the late 1960s, it was adapted into a piano concerto entitled the Yellow River Piano Concerto by the pianist Yin Chengzong. This arrangement, together with the violin concerto Liang Zhu by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang, are the two best internationally known musical works that combined source materials that are purely Chinese with Western music methodology.

Versions

There are altogether four different versions of the Yellow River Cantata that had been performed in public. The first was the initial composition by Sinn Sing Hoi while in Yan'an. Accommodations were made for the lack of musical instruments at that time, as the orchestra consisted of only the violin, Chinese flute, harmonica, sanxian, erhu and dahu, along with a few percussion instruments.

A year after Xian departed for the Soviet Union in 1940, he amended his composition for performance by a fully equipped Western orchestra, aided by a few Chinese ethnic instruments. He also made some amendments to the choral arrangement. In addition, a prologue was added, increasing the number of movements to nine.

The third and fourth revisions were respectively made by Xian's students, Li Huanzhi and Yan Liangkun. Li simplified the "Soviet" version for performance by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, while Yan incorporated the prologue into the first movement to return the cantata to its initial arrangement of eight movements for performance by the Central Orchestra during the 1980s. Yan also made heavy amendments to the Third Movement, Water of the Yellow River comes from Heaven, such that the new melody was vastly different from the original. This last revision became the most played and heard version today.

Current arrangement

The current arrangement of the Yellow River Cantata contains eight movements. However, most performances only use seven, omitting the third. The cantata is meant to be performed by a full western orchestra with some Chinese instruments, and a full SATB choir. Soloists include a bass in the second movement, a tenor and baritone in the fifth, and a soprano in the sixth. There is also a male speaker, who recites various political exhortations at the beginning of each movement.

Trivia

• According to an account by Sinn Sing Hoi's daughter, Guang Weiran knew Sinn was Cantonese and had a sweet tooth. Guang then asked someone to buy a kilogram of sugar, a scarcity during wartime, and gave it to Xian, who ate it for snacks while composing the cantata.
• Due to the lack of musical instruments, the orchestra for the premiere of the Yellow River Cantata consisted of only two or three violins and twenty-odd Chinese ethnic musical instruments. The rest were products of innovation: diesel barrels for bass strings and washbasins for percussion.
• Mao Zedong, who was then Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China leading the anti-Japanese resistance in Yan'an, was also present during the premiere.

Lyrics

《黄河船夫曲》

朗诵词：

朋友！

你到过黄河吗？

你渡过黄河吗？

你还记得河上的船夫

拼着性命和惊涛骇浪搏战的情景吗？

如果你已经忘掉的话，

那么你听吧！

歌词：

咳哟！划哟……乌云啊，遮满天！波涛啊，高如山！冷风啊，扑上脸！浪花啊，打进船！咳哟！划哟……伙伴啊，睁开眼！舵手啊，把住腕！当心啊，别偷懒！拼命啊，莫胆寒！咳！划哟！咳！划哟！咳！划哟！咳！划哟！不怕那千丈波浪高如山！不怕那千丈波浪高如山！行船好比上火线，团结一心冲上前！咳！划哟！咳！划哟！咳！划哟！咳！划哟！咳哟！划哟……划哟！冲上前！划哟！冲上前！划哟！冲上前！划哟！冲上前！咳哟！咳哟！哈哈哈哈……我们看见了河岸，我们登上了河岸，心啊安一安，气啊喘一喘。回头来，再和那黄河怒涛决一死战！决一死战！决一死战！决一死战！咳！划哟……

《黄河颂》

朗诵词：

啊！朋友！黄河以它英雄的气魄，出现在亚洲的原野，它象征着我们民族的精神：伟大而崇高！这里，我们向着黄河，唱着我们的赞歌。

歌词：

我站在高山之巅，望黄河滚滚奔向东南。金涛澎湃，掀起万丈狂澜；浊流宛转，结成九曲连环；从昆仑山下，奔向黄海之边；把中原大地劈成南北两面。啊，黄河！你是中华民族的摇篮！五千年的古国文化，从你这发源；多少英雄的故事，在你的身边扮演！啊，黄河！你是伟大坚强，像一个巨人出现在亚洲平原之上，用你那英雄的体魄筑成我们民族的屏障。啊，黄河！你一泻万丈，浩浩荡荡，向南北两岸伸出千万条铁的臂膀。我们民族的伟大精神，将要在你的哺育下发扬滋长！我们祖国的英雄儿女，将要学习你的榜样，像你一样的伟大坚强！像你一样的伟大坚强！

《黄河之水天上来》

朗诵词：

黄河！我们要学习你的榜样，像你一样的伟大坚强。这里，我们要在你的面前，献一首长诗，哭诉我们民族的灾难。

配乐诗朗诵，三弦伴奏：

黄河之水天上来，排山倒海，汹涌澎湃，奔腾叫啸，使人肝胆破裂！它是中国的大动脉，在它的周身，奔流着民族的热血。红日高照，水上金光迸裂。月出东山，河面银光似雪。

它震动着，跳跃着，像一条飞龙，日行千里，注入浩浩的东海。虎口龙门，摆成天上的奇阵；人，不敢在它的身边挨近，就是毒龙也不敢在水底存身。在十里路外，仰望着它的浓烟上升，象烧着漫天大火，使你感到热血沸腾；其实凉气逼来，你会周身感到寒冷。它呻吟着，震荡着，发出十万万匹马力，摇动了地壳，冲散了天上的乌云。啊，黄河！河中之王！它是一匹疯狂的猛兽，发起怒来，赛过千万条毒蟒，它要作浪兴波，冲破人间的堤防；于是黄河两岸，遭到可怕的灾殃：它吞食了两岸的人民，削平了数百里外的村庄，使千百万同胞扶老携幼，流亡他乡，挣扎在饥饿线上，死亡线上！如今两岸的人民，又受到了空前的灾难：东方的海盗，在亚洲的原野伸张着杀人的毒焰；于是饥饿和死亡，像黑热病一样，在黄河的两岸传染！啊，黄河！你抚育着我们民族的成长：你亲眼看见，这五千年来的古国遭受过多少灾难！自古以来，在黄河边上展开了无数血战，让垒垒白骨堆满你的河身，殷殷鲜血染红你的河面！但你从没有看见敌人的残暴如同今天这般；也从来没有看见黄帝的子孙像今天这样开始了全国动员。在黄河两岸，游击兵团，野战兵团，星罗棋布，散布在敌人后面；在万山丛中，在青纱帐里，展开了英勇血战！啊，黄河！你记载着我们民族的年代，古往今来，在你的身边兴起了多少英雄豪杰！但是，你从不曾看见四万万同胞像今天这样团结得如钢似铁；千百万民族英雄，为了保卫祖国洒尽他们的热血；英雄的故事，像黄河怒涛，山岳般地壮烈！啊，黄河！你可曾听见在你的身旁响彻了胜利的凯歌？你可曾看见祖国的铁军在敌人后方布成了地网天罗？他们把守着黄河两岸，不让敌人渡过！他们要把疯狂的敌人埋葬在滚滚的黄河！啊，黄河！你奔流着，怒吼着，替法西斯的恶魔唱着灭亡的葬歌！你怒吼着，叫啸着，向着祖国的原野，响应我们伟大民族的胜利的凯歌！向着祖国的原野，响应我们伟大民族的胜利的凯歌！

《黄水谣》

朗诵词：

是的，我们是黄河的儿女！我们艰苦奋斗，一天天地接近胜利。但是，敌人一天不消灭，我们便一天不能安身；不信，你听听河东民众痛苦的呻吟。

合唱：

黄水奔流向东方，河流万里长。水又急，浪又高，奔腾叫啸如虎狼。开河渠，筑堤防，河东千里成平壤。麦苗儿肥啊，豆花儿香，男女老少喜洋洋。自从鬼子来，百姓遭了殃！奸淫烧杀，一片凄凉，（凄凉）扶老携幼，四处逃亡，（逃亡）丢掉了爹娘，回不了家乡！黄水奔流日夜忙，妻离子散，天各一方！妻离子散，天各一方！

《河边对口曲》

朗诵词：

妻离子散，天各一方！但是，人们难道永远逃亡？你听听吧，这是黄河边上两个老乡的对唱。

对唱、合唱：

张老三，我问你，你的家乡在哪里？我的家，在山西，过河还有三百里。我问你，在家里，种田还是做生意？拿锄头，耕田地，种的高粱和小米。为什么，到此地，河边流浪受孤凄？痛心事，莫提起，家破人亡无消息。张老三，莫伤悲，我的命运不如你！为什么，王老七，你的家乡在何地？在东北，做生意，家乡八年无消息。这么说，我和你，都是有家不能回！仇和恨，在心里，奔腾如同黄河水！黄河边，定主意，咱们一同打回去！为国家，当兵去，太行山上打游击！从今后，我和你一同打回老家去！

《黄河怨》

朗诵词：

朋友！我们要打回老家去！老家已经太不成话了！谁没有妻子儿女，谁愿意遭受敌人的蹂躏？有良心的中国人哪！你听听一个妇人悲惨的歌声。

女高音独唱：

风啊，你不要叫喊！云啊，你不要躲闪！黄河啊，你不要呜咽！今晚，我在你面前哭诉我的仇和冤。命啊，这样苦！生活啊，这样难！鬼子啊，你这样没心肝！宝贝啊，你死得这样惨！我和你无仇又无冤，偏让我无颜偷生在人间！狂风啊，你不要叫喊！乌云啊，你不要躲闪，黄河的水啊，你不要呜咽！今晚，我要投在你的怀中，洗清我的千重愁来万重冤！丈夫啊，在天边！地下啊，再团圆！你要想想妻子儿女死得这样惨！你要替我把这笔血债清算！你要替我把这笔血债清还！

《保卫黄河》

朗诵词：

但是，中华民族的儿女啊，谁愿意像猪羊一般任人宰割？我们抱定必胜的决心，保卫黄河！保卫华北！保卫全中国！

多声部合唱：

风在吼。马在叫。黄河在咆哮。黄河在咆哮。河西山冈万丈高。河东河北高粱熟了。万山丛中，抗日英雄真不少！青纱帐里，游击健儿逞英豪！端起了土枪洋枪，挥动着大刀长矛，保卫家乡！保卫黄河！保卫华北！保卫全中国！

《怒吼吧，黄河》

朗诵词：

听啊：珠江在怒吼！扬子江在怒吼！啊！黄河！掀起你的怒涛，发出你的狂叫，向着全中国被压迫的人民，向着全世界被压迫的人民，发出你战斗的警号吧！

合唱：

怒吼吧，黄河！掀起你的怒涛，发出你的狂叫！向着全世界的人民，发出战斗的警号！啊！

五千年的民族，苦难真不少！铁蹄下的民众，苦痛受不了！

重复：

受不了……

但是，新中国已经破晓；四万万五千万民众已经团结起来，誓死同把国土保！你听，你听，你听：松花江在呼号；黑龙江在呼号；珠江发出了英勇的叫啸；扬子江上燃遍了抗日的烽火！

啊！黄河！怒吼吧！怒吼吧！怒吼吧！向着全中国受难的人民发出战斗的警号！向着全世界劳动的人民，发出战斗的警号！向着全世界劳动的人民，发出战斗的警号！向着全世界劳动的人民，发出战斗的警号！