Folk Songs for Orchestra

Movements:
I. Flower Drum Song from Feng Yang
II. Love Song from Kang Ding
III. Little Blue Flower
IV. The Girl from Daban City

Composer note:

Folk songs reflect the life, culture, and soul of a civilization.

I grew up in China and have always had a fond love for Chinese folk songs. China has more than fifty ethnic groups, each with its own culture, traditions, and folk songs. Folk Songs for Orchestra is an ongoing project, in which I plan over the years to compile and set folk tunes from various part of China into Western orchestral form. The goal is not only to preserve and renew the original folk songs, but also to transform, elaborate, and develop them into new original pieces of art that also contain organic personal voice. I have chosen four of the most well-known Chinese folk songs.

The first one is the “Flower Drum Song from Feng Yang” (鳳陽花鼓). Almost one hundred different songs are performed in Fengyang Flower Drum, which boasts a long history. Known for its flower-drum performances, Fengyang is the birthplace of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. At performances that include singing and dancing in Fengyang County of Anhui Province, "Fengyang Flower Drum" has been passed down over the centuries. In terms of its forms, "Fengyang Flower Drum" can be divided into three parts, Flower Drum Lantern, Flower Drum Play, and Flower Drum Gong. Together, these are entitled "Fengyang Flower Drum," or "Three Flowers of Fengyang."

The second piece is called “Love Song from Kang Ding” (康定情歌). This tune is one of the most popular Chinese folk songs. Its simple melody and vivid rhythm are easy to remember and sing, and its lyrics tell of a timeless theme — love.  This song’s origin is from the Sichuan province.

The third piece, “Little Blue Flower” (蘭花花), is based on a simple, beautiful, and timeless folk song from the northern part of the Shanxi province (陝北) .  The symphonic version is created as a dialogue and interplay between a solo violin (performed by the concertmaster or a soloist) and the orchestra.

The fourth piece is called “The Girl from Da Ban City” (达坂城的姑娘). It is also known as “Carriage Driver’s Song.” It is from the Xinjiang province and is sung by carriage drivers in Turpan. The lively music shows the enthusiastic and colorful characteristics of Uyghur folk song, reflecting its people’s heartfelt admiration for Xinjiang, the “hometown of songs and dances.”

The preferred performance order of the four pieces is: “Flower Drum Song from Feng Yang”, “Love Song from Kang Ding”, “Little Blue Flower”, “The Girl from Da Ban City”.  The entire duration is around 16 minutes. Folk Songs for Orchestra can also be performed by a chamber orchestra as 2-3 parts is the same and can be played by one musician.  Each Folk Song can be performed individually or in any combination and order.

– Huang Ruo