A Centennial on the keyboard An exploration of Chinese piano music over the past 100 years

Origin In 1915, the first Chinese piano piece was published in SCIENCE journal. The Shanghai Conservatory Press published a ten-volume anthology of piano works to commemorate the occasion. Harvard’s music library received this as a gift from the publisher. Decision to add to EKL collection and provide cataloging

百花争艳 : 中华钢琴 100 年 100 years of Chinese piano music

About the work Contains piano music composed by Chinese composers from the early 20 th to 21 st Century. 10 volumes in 5 sections : 1) Awarded pieces 2) Suites and variations 3) Works in traditional style 4) Cycles 5) Single-movement works 191 titles from 94 composers.

Exhibition Planning (1) Researched topic and applied for exhibition permission. Formed a team to work on details of the exhibition. Organized the sources by historic period, style, and topic, etc. List all possible display candidates. Composed exhibition cards.

Exhibition Planning (cont.) Worked with other Harvard libraries to borrow additional items (Harvard-Yenching, Fine Arts). Created item displays. Installed the exhibition. (Wall, 5 cases, signs) Exhibition opened in October, Concert to highlight the pieces on display in February 2016.

Case One: Origins of Chinese Piano Music Keyboard instruments were introduced to China in the 17 th Century. Modern piano works have been composed by Chinese composers since the early 20 th Century. (March of Peace) Alexander Tcherepnin held a composition competition for Chinese piano works in the 1930s. Several winning pieces remain popular performance pieces today. (Buffalo boy’s flute)

March of peace Composed by Chao Yuenren. Published in SCIENCE v.1: no.1, This is the first publication of Chinese piano music

Buffalo boy’s flute Composed by He Luting in First prize winning piece of Chinese piano music in 1930s.(Concert piece)

Case Two: Development of Chinese Piano Music Composition Composers studied abroad. Chinese compositions begin incorporating Western musical elements. More piano music is composed to reflect daily Chinese life. Most works still use traditional composition methods. Some of them have adopted composition styles from around the world. (Atonality in use)

In the land, far, far away (In the remote place) This is a work based on a folksong from northwest China. It was composed in 1947 by Sang Tong, and shows early use of atonality.

Three Folk Dances of the Han People Composed by Ma Sicong in Ma was the first President of the Central Conservatory of China.

Case Three: Traditional Chinese Music on the Keyboard As Chinese piano music composition developed, more composers started to adapt traditional Chinese music and folk music for the piano. Gu qin, Pi pa, Er-hu music, folk tunes, local operas, pentatonic scale: all can be recognized on the keyboard.

Cantonese Music: Autumn Moonlight Over the Serene Lake Composed in 1975 by Chen Peixun. This piece is derived from Cantonese music, a localized traditional music.

Three Variations on the Plum Blossom Theme Composed by Wang Jianzhong in This work is based on the theme of the Gu qin work of the same title -- one of the famous works of Chinese classical music. (Concert piece)

Case Four: Piano Music and Politics Piano music also served as a major medium to spread political ideology. In the years of the Cultural Revolution ( ), musicians composed and performed political music in order to continue their work in music. Politics aside, most of them remain great musical works.

Piano concerto : Yellow River This is perhaps the most well-known Chinese piano composition. It is based on the 1939 cantata of the same name by Xian Xinghai, composed in Yan’an. During the Cultural Revolution, several Chinese composers adapted major sections of the cantata for use as a four-movement piano concerto.

The Red Detachment of Women, Piano suite This was rearranged from the ballet music of the same name by the major composer of the ballet Du Mingxin in The music is based on the folk music of southern China, using Western compositional and orchestral techniques.

Case Five: Contemporary Piano Works Diversification in composition styles. Rooted in traditional culture. Follows world trends as modern ideas and methods are used more frequently.

Tai Ji Composed in 1987 by Zhao Xiaosheng. The work was inspired by Chinese philosophical theory, I Ching and Tai Ji. It is a musical expression of Chinese philosophy.

Jasmine Fantasy from Eight Chinese Folk Songs Composed in 2003 by Chu Wanghua. This work was inspired by a well- known folk song and was premiered in Sydney on June 17, (Concert piece)

Grand opening The exhibition opened on Oct. 27 th, 2015 People across many of Harvard’s departments attended the opening. The library hosted the event. The library director, curator, music professor and a representative from Shanghai Harvard Center gave a short presentation.

The Concert (1) The music department provided support for the exhibition. The event was held in the Faculty Room at University Hall on February 11, Two young American pianists, Alex Beyer and George Li, performed eight Chinese piano works selected from the exhibition. Concert piece : Pi-Huang (by George Li)

The Concert (2)

The Concert (3)