《新 | 琵琶语》 Neo | Pipa Voices (2017)
Adapted from the Theme Of 《琵琶语》 Pipa Voices by 林海 Lin Hai
Approx. Length - 6’20 (or 5'00, Skipping Optional Repeat)
For Chinese Orchestra
Also Available for Chinese Plucked Strings Ensemble (弹拨乐团) or Ruan Trio (Gaoyin Ruan, Zhongruan, Daruan) and Guzheng
New age zen, passion and action - all in one package!《琵琶语》 Pipa Voices is a recent popular instrumental by film composer Lin Hai (used as opening and closing theme of the 2004 movie《一个陌生女人的来信》Letter from an Unknown Woman). This adaptation takes the original zen feel, but slowly morphs it into a passionate tutti moment, and eventually evolving into a high-energy, epic rendition, like a heroic war movie theme.
The zhongruan is the first to state the melody, while the pipa is featured when the passage is repeated. This is a subtle gesture to a little fun fact: the ruan is thought to have a history of over 2000 years and was once known as ‘Qin pipa’, while the pear-shaped pipa, which we know of today, may have been introduced later during the Han Dynasty and was referred to as ‘Han pipa’ - evolution of pipas!
Listen!
Singapore Chinese Orchestra (conductor: Quek Ling Kiong), 2018
Full Instrumentation:
2 Bangdi
2 Qudi
2 Soprano Sheng
2 Alto Sheng
1 Bass Sheng (optional)
2 Soprano Suona
2 Alto Suona
1 Bass Suona (optional)
Yangqin
Liuqin
Pipa
Zhongruan
Daruan
Sanxian (optional)
Guzheng
Vibraphone
Shaker
Suspended Cymbal, Wind Chimes
Congas
Dagu
Timpani
Gaohu
Erhu
Zhonghu
Cello
Double Bass
Approximate Difficulty Levels:
Bowed strings (Huqin): ●●○○○
Bowed strings (Cello/Bass): ●●○○○
Plucked strings: ●●●○○
Winds: ●●○○○
Percussion: ●●○○○
Overall: ●●○○○
Remarks:
- The conductor may choose whether or not to perform the repeat on sections A - D (bars 5 - 22). If the passage will not be repeated, the zhongruan/pipa solo at sections A and B may be allocated to either instrument, or both.
- Very friendly for wind musicians, mainly within the single most comfortable octave of dizi and suona (eg the first octave for suona).
- Taking into consideration that the dizi and suona are generally harder instruments to learn due to tone control and intonation issues, this adaptation allows you to focus on training them in those areas without worrying about other issues like rapid notes.
- The plucked strings section have slightly more challenging parts and really take the limelight on many occasions. Perfect for orchestras with a developing wind section and a more advanced plucked strings section.
- The slow melodic passage provides an often-lacking chance to teach melodic phrasing and handling for the plucked strings section, including taking care to project and sustain notes in a beautiful manner.
- Since 琵琶语 was actually a new age piece, I introduced a one-bar motif in the fast section that is very *reminiscent* of a new age composer very familiar to ruan (or should I say, qin pipa) musicians - Liu Xing. Check it out and you'll know what I mean!