The Yellow River Piano Concerto, based on Xian Xinghai's cantata, was created in 1969 by a collective of at least six composers during the Cultural Revolution.
Compositional Technique
The finale of the Yellow River Piano Concerto includes the national song 'The East is Red' and the final phrase of 'The Internationale,' an example of 'huan wei' writing.
Instruments
The piece 'Colourful clouds chasing the moon' imitates the sound of the guzheng, a Chinese zither, in its opening.
Album & Artwork
This album celebrates three anniversaries: the centenary of the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, 90 years since the founding of China's Communist Party in 1921, and 62 years since the establishment of modern China in 1949.
Compositional Technique
The Yellow River Piano Concerto incorporates elements typical of the 'Eight Model Plays,' the only forms of artistic expression allowed in China during the Cultural Revolution.
Historical Context
The Yellow River Piano Concerto was further modified in 1970 by Mao's wife Jiang Qing, who decided the work could be improved, adding more political associations.
Critical Reception
The Yellow River Piano Concerto is hugely popular in China but has not received a warm reception in the West, where it is seen as a statement of China's values.
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