Translated lyrics of the Two Chinese Love Songs for Soprano and Piano:

 

The Love Song of Kangding Town

(A folk song from Kanding Town and rearranged / recomposed by Chien-Yu Huang)

High upon the mountain side, floats could so white.

There lies the Kangding town, bathed in silver moonlight.

Moonlight shines bright over Kangding town.

Lovely maid with sweet simile, Li the woodcutter’s daughter

Zhang the blacksmith eldest’s son, came to court her in moonlight.

Moonlight shines bright over Kangding town.

A courtship in moonlight.

Gentlemen of the world can woo all lovely women of the world.

 

The Three Wishes of Rose

(Originally composed by Zi Huang , words by Chi Long, rearranged / recomposed by Chien-Yu Huang)

Roses, roses, splendid open at railings.

I wish that relentless wind and rain do not jealous my beauty.

I wish that passionate tourists do not pick me.

I wish that I can keep my beauty and will not be withering by time.

 

 

 

Program Note of the Two Chinese Love Songs for Soprano and Piano:

 

I rearranged / recomposed the two Chinese love songs for the commission from soprano Hsingan Chen in 2010.

 

The Love Song of Kangding Town is a folk song from Kanding Town, a county in Sichuan in China. The original melody of the piece is very simple and written in strophic form. I recomposed the folk song with contemporary acoustics and harmony and exploited the usual usage of piano’s sustain pedal to mold the new sounds.

 

The Three Wishes of Rose is a through-composed song written by Zi Huang who is the most famous Chinese composer in the early 20^th century. This song originally written in a romantic way was already fabulous and attractive. In contrast to being only an accompaniment of the vocal part in the initial version, I re-harmonized and reinforced the melodic lines of the piano to give it vivid and specific characters.

 

Piano in the both songs is dominating and flexible. We can thus discover that a usual accompaniment instrument can also, at the same time, develop its own motives while working beautifully with the voice it is supporting. That is very fascinating for an adaptation and also an interesting try for me.