Title: Variations of Mulan's Verse
Composer: Long Gao
Dulcimer performance: Xiao Xiannian
Mixing: Joseph Ma
The song is divided into five parts:
00:00-01:25 Introduction: Horn. The court recruits people to join the army.
01:25-05:07 One: Farewell. After some psychological struggles, Mulan resolutely decides to disguise herself as a man and join the army for her father.
05:07-06:50 Two: Battle. On the battlefield, Mulan fights bravely and has many military exploits.
06:50-07:55 Three: Returning with honor. After several years of battle, they finally win, and Mulan and her comrades return to their hometown with honor.
07:55-10:52 Fourth: Memories. Sitting in front of the dressing table, Mulan recalls the life in her boudoir when she was a daughter. She also recalls her military career that just ended.
"Variations of Mulan's Verse" was composed in 1962 by composer Long Gao, based on the folk song "Mulan Verse." "Mulan Joins the Army" is a well-known story. It was first recorded in "Musical Records of Ancient and Modern Times" during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and later recorded in "Tunes of Horns and Drums" in Yuefu. It was originally a narrative poem of more than 300 words. It tells the story of young girl Hua Mulan who disguised herself as a man, joined the army for her father, and made great achievements on the battlefield.
"Variations of Mulan's Verse" depicts the ancient woman's filial piety to her father and loyalty to her country, as well as the outstanding martial arts and heroic spirit of this wonder woman. Outside, she is a majestic general who fights on the battlefield, and a beautiful, gentle. and filial daughter at home who loves and takes care of her parents. This wonderful woman with both loyalty and filial piety has been praised through the ages.
This piece is adapted, arranged, and performed by Xiannian Xiao, a dulcimer soloist and member of the China National Orchestra Society. Through the late 1980s and '90s, Xiao performed extensively in Hong Kong, Japan, and Russia and received numerous awards.
Xiao has performed in 36 cities and towns in 18 states around the United States, including at Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University, Boston Conservatory, Temple University, and numerous music festivals of various ethnicities.
In 2002, Xiao received the Silver Cup at the Walnut Valley Festival of Arts Annual Dulcimer Competition; in 2003 and 2005, he was invited twice to serve on the Judges’ Panel for the Acoustic Music Festival in Bennington, Oklahoma.
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Excellent Dulcimer Performance: Variations of Mulan's Verse | Chinese Music | Musical Moments
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