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 LISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE SONG
 This is an aria that is from a Chinese opera Shang Shi --Being Sad for the Death that was adapted by Wang Quan and Hai Wei according to a short novel by Mr.Lu Xun (1881- 1936). Mr. Shi Guangnai(1940 - 1990) created the music. It was performed first time in Beijing in 1981. Then it was performed by Chong Qing Sing and Dancing Group in 2004.
This opera writes two young people who push out of their feudal families, to go together for love bravely in 20s. Even, the girl Zi Jun broke off the relationship with her family for her love ? because in China at that time, marriage of a child could only be decided by his/her parents. However, along with time, the young boy Juan Shen lost his work and they had to live in the hungry. Meanwhile, the young girl changed to be a common woman and involved herself in the family work and the troubles with her neighbors Problems happened, argument became daily work, love left from them, finally, the young boy wanted to leave from the girl, the girl was taken back by her family and died at home...
For writing this essay, I re-read this original novel. I do feel that even though it was written in 1925, but it is able to bring us something to think now. I am thinking that maybe Shang Shi -- is sad for two things are dead, the death of the girl and the death of their love. The double death brings us at least three inspirations: People have to live at the first, then, they can love and be loved. People have to improve ourselves every day, to keep the beautiful inside and surface, then they can develop a love. Love is a flower, it is beautiful and also soft, it needs to be watered and looked after every day
The original author Mr.Lu Xun, is one of the greatest litterateurs, translators and the main founder of the New Literature Movement in Chinese modern literature history. He was a professor, editor and a great scholar in Chinese classical literature field, too.
The composer of the opera Mr. Shi Guangnan(1940-1990) is a great contemporary musicians in China. He was graduated from Tianjin Music College in 1964. After the Culture Revolution was finished, he entered China Center Philharmonic Society in 1978 and he created many excellent songs. He was gone in 1990 when he was only 50 years old. I do enjoy his works and I have introduced one of his song tChinese Art Song--0012: The Amorous Land hope you still remember it. :-)
This song is an aria by the girl Zi Jun in the opera, to express her heart that wanted to push out of her family to pursue her free love...
MAIN MENAING OF THE SONGLISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE SONG:
A ray of setting sun,
is shining upon the window lattice.
a few bunches of vine flowers
bring sweet fragrance.
Looking at his familiar profile
by the window,
there are so many feelings
in my heart...
 How I want to push out of the fence
of my feudal family,
as a fish
to break the fishnet,
and swim to the sea.
as a bird
to escape from the cage,
and fly to the sky.
To look for a free love.
Ah...
the song of my heart,
the affection of my song,
it can not sing out of my love.
Ah...
the flower as a poem,
the dream as a flower
he is a bright star
in my heart.
A ray of setting sun,
is shining upon the window lattice.
a few bunches of vine flowers
is bringing sweet fragrance.
Looking at his familiar profile
by the window
there are so many feelings
in my heart...
CHINESE CHARACTERS AND PRONUNCIATIONLISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE SONG:
筝紊腦罍 -- yi mo xiyang yingzhao chuangling鐚
筝俄顕薤 -- chuanchuan tenghua songlai fangxin
腦荳綵 -- wang zhe chuangqian shuxi de shenyin鐚
綽膸膾欠嵯 -- wo de xin a sixu fenfen
臀蕷羝紊羌 -- powang de yu a you xiang dahai鐚
膃藐蕋篋腥 -- chulong de liao a fen xiang yunkong鐚
綣絨綮絎九梱膃 -- chongkai fengjian jiating de laolong鐚
ｻ絲羆 -- qu xunqiu ziyou de aiqing鐚
-- a ...
綽筝罩 -- xin zhong de ge鐚
罩筝 -- ge zhong de qing鐚
筝絨紮紲綽紕 -- chang bu jin guniang de xinsheng
-- a...
莚筝 -- shi yiyang de hua鐚
筝罌 -- hua yiyang de meng鐚
篁綽筝篋 -- ta shi wo xinzhong de men
筝紊腦罍 -- yi mo xiyang yingzhao chuangling鐚
筝俄顕薤 -- chuanchuan tenghua songlai fangxin
腦荳綵 -- wang zhe chuangqian shuxi de shenyin鐚
綽 篁 綛-- wo de xin a nanyi pingjing
LISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE SONG
 If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn , or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, You are welcomed to publish your opinions in Forum For Friends as well. :-)
--Shirley
Written, Translated and Recorded It On Sat, April 8, 2006
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Art Songs
