He & Chen The Butterfly Lovers violin concerto
Rhapsody in Red - How Western Classical Music Became Chinese
By Sheila Melvin and Jindong Cai -
Algora Publishing NY 2004
ISBN: 0-87586-179-2 (softcover)
An Excerpt:
But perhaps the most representative piece of this era
is the work of two students at the Shanghai
Conservatory, a violinist named He Zhanhao and a
composition major named Chen Gang. The piece they
composed is formally titled Liang Shanbo and Zhu
Yintai but is more commonly known in English as The
Butterfly Lovers. It is a violin concerto in three
parts based on a much-loved legend that is often
referred to as "China's Romeo and Juliet". In
writing it, the two composers were influenced both by
their study of foreign technique and their familiarity
with China's own music. As He Zhanhao explained it,
I came from folk music and went to the Conservatory.
So, I sang Yueju [Shaoxing opera] but played the
violin. When I got to the conservatory, I studied
foreign technique very hard. But, I asked, who am I
studying this for? Am I going to play Bach and
Beethoven for the peasants? I play it and they
listen. I ask if it's good and they all nod their
heads. I ask if they understand, they all say no.
But they love to hear Yueju! Of course, the violin
is very special and beautiful. So, this influenced
our thinking "How could we use folk music with the
violin? How could we nationalize the violin?"
He Zhanhao studied Western technique by day and
listened to local opera at night. Thinking to raise
the level of Chinese music and bring Western and
Chinese music together, he and several classmates
began to adapt folk music to violin. They then went
to factories and villages to play them and see how
they were received. The welcome they received from
their audiences encouraged them to write more, as did
the support they got from fellow classmates and such
professors as Ding Shande, who supervised their work.
"Sometimes we tried lots of different things," He
Zhanhao continued. "Of course, inside we felt so
young and not ready for this, but the leaders
encouraged us. They told us, you all think Beethoven
and Mozart are very great, but remember much of their
music came from folk music, too."
Mr. He and Mr. Chen finally completed The Butterfly
Lovers in 1959. The music they composed was unique in
the way the violin uses the singing technique of
yueju, which involves much portamento and different
vibrato. They also adapted many other instrumental
techniques from Chinese instruments and applied them
to violin. Originally, they changed the ending of
the story, when the two star-crossed lovers die and
then turn into butterflies and fly off together,
because they thought it was silly and superstitious,
but their professors told them they were wrong to do
this, since it was a romantic legend that came from
the people. In May, The Butterfly Lovers was
performed for the public in Shanghai's Lyceum
Theater.
"And then suddenly everyone liked it" recalled Mr.
He. "The people welcomed it. People's Daily wrote
an article called, "Our Own Symphonic Music" on May
27."
Of course, not everyone liked it as some considered
its way of harmonizing Chinese melodies to be too
simple and sentimental while some leftists decried the
use of the "feudal" legend as inspiration.
Nonetheless, audiences did love it, and the piece has
stood the test of time. It is now a standard in the
repertoire of Chinese orchestras and has also been
performed by many orchestras around the world.
THIS IS LATER, IN 1964: (The context is a Central
Philharmonic effort to popularize symphonic music
partly as a means of saving itself. Mr. Li is Li Delun the conductor.)
This road show was well-received by audiences and
seemed certain to help ensure the orchestras
survival, except for one unfortunate incident. The
single piece of symphonic music which was known and
loved by nearly all the peasants and workers for whom
they performed was The Butterfly Lovers. But, by 1964
the piece that had just five years earlier been
praised as China's "own symphonic music" was
already black-listed right alongside the music of
Tchaikovsky and Debussy because it was viewed as a
love story for rich people. However, since none of
this black-listing was official, audiences did not
know about it and the Central Philharmonic was not
allowed to say anything. This meant that when the
crowds shouted to hear The Butterfly Lovers, the
orchestra could neither play it nor explain why.
Usually Mr. Li was able to distract the audience in
some way or another, but on one occasion the peasants
were so determined to hear the piece that they grew
angry and began throwing rocks, forcing the musicians
to flee for safety. When word of the incident got to
higher level officials, it was not the rock-throwers
who got in trouble, but Mr. Li and the orchestra. To
make amends for making the peasants unhappy, they were
forced to go back and apologize even though they
still couldn't play The Butterfly Lovers, and still
couldn't say why.
E-mail received by Clinton Nieweg from Sheila Melvin 30 June 2004.
{The e-mail continues if anyone needs to know more about He Zhanhao, who is now living in poverty in China as no royalties are paid on the work.}
Replies (11)
Clint, thank you for this information. There was already discussion of the concerto before, and since that time I wanted to know more about this music and composer(now I know about two composers). Do you know some source where I could find this concerto (music or CD, doesn't matter)?
not different type of vibrato, but different type of slides
He/Chen - Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto Research
For those who have had trouble finding the sheet music to this work, research has come up with these references as of April 2005.
1.The Violin/Piano reduction is for sale
2.The Full conductor score is for sale
3.The orchestra parts are only on rental from the publisher.
Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto by He Zhanhao (a.k.a. Ho Zhanhao) and Chen Gang (a.k.a. Chen Kung [Kang]). [1959] dur 27'
(Chinese Title= Liang Zhu Xiao Ti Qin Xie Zou Qu) [ also listed as Liang Shan-Bo and Zhu Ying-Tai]
The instrumentation is: 2-2-2-2 - 4-2-3-0 - timp, 3 perc(Gu Ban,Cym,Tam-tam), hp, piano, strings, solo Violin (The percussion includes a part for Gu Ban; two Chinese wooden clappers which can be substituted by playing on woodblocks)
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From: Klaus Heymann
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 5:44 PM
HNH International Ltd. is the publisher for the 50% of the Butterfly Lovers that belong to Chen Gang. We just published a new score and parts and can sell the score and rent the parts … we will pay the other publisher, Universal Music Publishing, the 50% belonging to Ho Zhan Hao.
Shanghai Music Press Ltd. has rights only in China and Yih Mei Book Company in Hong Kong has no rights at all.
Klaus Heymann
Level 11 * Cyberport 1
100 Cyberport Road
Hong Kong SAR
Tel: 852-2760 7818 + Fax: 852-2760 1962
E-Mail: Klaus.Heymann@Naxos.Com
[CEO Naxos Records]
-----------------------------------------
From emusicQuest (Music in Print) These are older listings.
Composer: Chen, Gang & He, Zhan Hao
Edition: BUTTERFLY LOVERS, THE, FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA [28'] !2.2.2.2. 4.2.3.0. timp, 3 perc, harp, pno, strings, vln solo HONG KONG perf mat rent
Publisher: Hong Kong Music Media Publishing Co., Ltd
Kai It Building, 9th Floor 58 Pak Tai Street
Tokwawan, Kowloon Hong Kong
Composer: Chen, Gang
Edition: BUTTERFLY LOVERS, THE, FOR PIANO [??] AND ORCHESTRA 3.2.2.2. 4.2.3.1. timp, perc, harp, strings, pno solo [?? cfn]HONG KONG perf mat rent [This may be a mistake in the entry. There may not be a version for Piano solo with orchestra cfn]
Publisher: Hong Kong Music Media Publishing Co., Ltd.
------------------------------------
snip from a web site;
Looking for the Score? If you are a resident in Singapore - hurry to the National Library at Stamford Road, they have several copies there in the section of Music Scores.
If you reside outside Singapore, or wish to purchase an original copy for yourself, the publisher is Shanghai Music Press Limited, People's Republic of China. This may be tricky to find and I am equally helpless here. I suggest you approach a very large bookstore that carry Chinese Books and therefore have dealings with Chinese Publishers or go to your local Music Score Reseller for help.
Good Luck. - Yeuk Fan
[ This company has the rights in China only per e-mail from Klaus Heymann ]
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From Johnson Strings a USA dealer http://www.johnson-inst.com/catalog/index.htm
11 John Street - Newton Centre, MA 02459, 617-964-0954, 800-359-9351
[This dealer, as can any other dealer, will import the violin/piano edition and the full score.]
Butterfly Lovers Concerto; Chen/He [Violin/Piano] (the publication notes are in Chinese) $14.00 The violin part and the piano part are both computer engraved.
“The Butterfly Lovers Concerto, composed in 1959 and said to be the most recorded music in China, is based on melodies derived from an operatic tale of star-crossed lovers. Printed in China, this lovely concerto is scored for violin with accompaniment transcribed for piano.”
Butterfly Lovers Concerto; Chen/He; SCORE [Full Orchestra Score] $24.00
The score is printed.
-------------------------------
From an e-mail [This is a dealer who sells the violin/piano edition. They are not the publisher]
snip> It is published by Yih Mei Book Co. in Hong Kong.,7 Tin Lok Lane,G/F,Wanchai,Hong Kong, China, Phone: (852) 25740564
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http://inkpot.com/classical/butterflylovers.html
A long article about the piece and some suggestions on how to get the score in China.
-----------------------------
http://www.wku.edu/~yuanh/China/love.html
The story of Liangshan Bo and Zhu Yingtai (Butterfly Lovers) is based upon a historical legend known to every Chinese.
--------------------------------
http://inkpot.com/classical/butterflyloversr.html
Record reviews.
Snip; the notes included are very informative, pointing out how the sonata form of this concertante work fits in just nicely with the program and that there exists a second version of the Concerto, a revision by Chen Gang. [Does any one have the music of the revision?]
Recordings; One site gives the information that there is 30 recordings of the Concerto.
http://www.naxos.com.hk/page.asp?code=8.225972HDCD Takako Nishizaki ,James Judd, New Zealand Symphony.
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http://www.naxos.com/cat/225940.htm Lu Si-qing, Violin, Chen Xie-yang, Conductor,Shanhai Symphony Orchestra
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http://www.musicalonline.com/lu/sample_rec.htm Siqing Lu -Violin
snip> Siqing Lu records exclusively for Naxos International (Far East), and has made four recordings of the most famous Chinese violin work, Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto." His interpretation has been widely considered the best among more than 30 available recordings of this work.
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http://web02.hnh.com/scripts/newreleases/naxos_cat.asp?item_code=8.223350
Takako Nishizaki- Violin, Kenneth Jean,
snip- Due to restrictions imposed by the Composers' and Authors' Society of Hong Kong, complete listening samples are not available for copyrighted works.
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http://www.oxid.ru/eng/song.php?id=3765&song=Butterfly%20Lovers%20Violin%20Concerto%20-%20Act%20I An Mp3 of a recording by Vanessa Mae- Violin
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002SMT/ref=ase_fast-musicasin-20/002-2604238-2881603?v=glance&s=music Vanessa Mae- Violin
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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000009OMB/ref=pd_sxp_elt_l1/002-2604238-2881603 Takako Nishizaki- Violin
snip from a review -What IS authentic about this recording is that she [Takako Nishizaki]is accompanied by the orchestra and conductor who gave the piece's premiere in 1959.
---------------------------------
http://www.svay.org/Artist-bios/Yu-Lina/Yu-Lina-bio.htm Yu Lina- Violin
snip from a review- "To this date, Ms. Yu Li Na, the first person ever to play the Butterfly concerto, remains its best interpreter."
snip> The first recording of the Butterfly Lovers concerto, featuring Lina Yu as soloist, sold over ten million copies. Its popularity has been unflagging from the day of its debut to now.
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http://www.chinasprout.com/store/MCC004.html Sheng Zhongguo- Violin
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http://www.ifrance.com/hkcinemagic/siteanglais/music/aloversmq.htm
References to 2 recordings
“The concerto was composed by Gang, Chen & Tan Hao He [sic. Zhanhao, He] in 1958. [sic - should read 1959]
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See Amazon.com - search Butterfly Lovers Concerto for recordings available.
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http://www.chinesetapes.com/adult_song_cd/butterfly_lovers_violin_concerto.htm
[?? Violin ] (information in Chinese)
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http://www.geocities.com/bhchoir/the_butterfly_lovers.html
A piano sound bite of the Butterfly Choral
---------------------------------
http://www.8notes.com/forum/9_8542.asp
a community form with posts about the Concerto.
----------------------------
http://www.violinist.com/
a discussion board that includes posts about the Concerto.
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Some references give 1958 other 1959 for the premiere, but 1959 is the correct date per Sheila Melvin, an expert on Chinese music. See page 210-211, 324 of
Rhapsody in Red - How Western Classical Music Became Chinese
By Sheila Melvin and Jindong Cai -
Algora Publishing NY 2004
ISBN: 0-87586-179-2 (softcover)
------------------------------
Available is a Full score published in China with a copyright date of 1979, a computer printed Large size full score printed in the US and a Violin/piano reduction printed in China with only the program notes in English.
The Full score from China has the following English on the title page; Liang Shan-Bo and Zhu Ying-Tai; violin concerto with orchestra (score); Ho Zhan Hao, Chen Kang.
I have proofed these 3 publications against one another and find only minor differences in the engravings.
There is no evidence of “a revision" in these sources. The Naxos rental parts have minor differences when compared to the piano edition and the printed full score.
For those who wish to play the concerto with orchestra, information only about the rental of the orchestra parts in the US is available by replying to this post.
Copyright? What if I play it with piano and post the MP3 file on internet, do I infringe any copyright?
I think so, Linus. I think Copyright also protect the music against any kind of arrangement within the period of copyright time. Let's say if you want to make an arrangement of a Richard Strauss piece, you cannot perform/sell/whatever your arrangement, because it is still within the 70 years of Strauss' death, at least here in Europe, unless you have an agreement with the publisher.
I have emailed HMH Publishing pertaining to the rental of Butterfly Lovers but have not heard back as of yet. Does anyone know how to contact their rental department? Any help would be great, I need to get the parts for a performance of it.
Might be better to call them to get that going.
Both of these contacts have returned my e-mail request the same day:
Amanda Lai
Naxos Digital Services Limited
Level 11, Cyberport 1,
100 Cyberport Road,
Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2993-5649
Fax:+852 2989-9181
Email: Amanda.Lai@naxos.com
Or:
Edith Lei, Managing Director
Telephone: (852) 2760-7818
Fax: (852) 2989-9181
Email: Edith.Lei@Naxos.com
While the full orchestra edition is for rental the concerto reduction is for sale.
That instrumentation is:
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Piano, 2 Violins, Viola, Cello, Bass
with Solo Violin.
Score and parts are available for sale at US $200.00 (postage not included).
With Naxos/HNH International controlling the copyright I agree with Kenny that it would not be wise to post an MP3 file unless you have a good lawyer and the money to fight a copyright violation case.
I just found the sheetmusic to this concerto on this website for $20:
http://www.johnson-inst.com/
Enjoy! :)
For people who are interested in playing some simple and elegant Chinese music, Chinese violin solos by Jonathan Stock has some nice tunes and also provides advice on style. He is an academic who has travelled to China to research the subject.
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March 30, 2005 at 08:56 AM · Hey thank you for posting that! I've only just heard of this concerto, it is one which I may be looking to learn in the next year or so. COuld you tell me in terms of technique, what is an equivalent concerto? Or are the techniques so different that it doesn't really compare? I was interested to see the article said a different type of vibrato was called for...I would imagine this will be quite hard for someone with no background in Chinese music....