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Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?

18 May 00 - 11:54 AM (#229921)
Subject: Chinese Folk Songs
From: GUEST,Alyssa

I'm doing a report on China and am wondering if anyone knows where I could find lyrics to Chinese folk songs, or if you know any, that could help too. I'm aware this is a strange request, but I would appreciate it if you could help me out. Thanks.

18 May 00 - 12:25 PM (#229955)
Subject: RE: Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?
From: Bert

Apart from the Goons 'Ying Tong Song'! No sorry.

18 May 00 - 01:40 PM (#230008)
Subject: RE: Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?
From: Ringer

Or the popular Chinese folk song, "tu-ning". (Sorry, too)

18 May 00 - 02:25 PM (#230030)
Subject: RE: Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?
From: SINSULL

Try here:
http://encarta.msn.com/index/conciseindex/1D/01D48000.htm?z=1&pg=2&br=1

18 May 00 - 04:16 PM (#230080)
Subject: RE: Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?
From: Jed at Work

I know a wonderful Chinese joke. I spent 5 weeks in China (PRC) on a project and one of the young Chinese engineers with whom I worked told this story which I believe exemplifies the sense of humor I experienced there, and reflects the culture as well.

In the best of all worlds a man would eat Chinese food, receive an American salary, live in an English country home, and be married to a Japanese wife. In the worst of all worlds, a man would have to eat English food, receive a Chinese salary, live in a Japanese apartment, and be married to an American wife.

18 May 00 - 05:47 PM (#230130)
Subject: RE: Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?
From: Chicky

Hi Alyssa

Solidarity Choir sings an arrangement of Xue Ran Di Feng Tsai (roughly pronounced shway run di fung tsy) by our conductor Miguel Heatwole.

Miguel's description of the song is as follows (with the lyrics and translation below):

Words & Music: Chinese, authour's name unknown, 1980

When the Chinese People's Liberation Army sent its tanks into Tienanmen square in July 1989 it won an easy victory over the students and workers protesting there for democracy. But, along with its dignity and any claim to honour, the military lost a song. Curiously, although Xue Ran Di Feng Tsai had originated as a patriotic army song from the border war waged by China against Vietnam in 1980, its message of individual sacrifice for a perceived common good had been appropriated by the people demonstrating in the square and was sung by them alongside The International and the March Of The Volunteers (China's national anthem).

On several occasions we have sung this piece before an audience containing Chinese people, and their spontaneous applause as they joined in singing it with us has given us some of our most rewarding experiences.

Ye shu wo gao bie, jiang bu zai hui lai.
Ni shih fou li jie, ni shih fou ming bai.
Ye shu wo dao xia, jiang bu zai chi lai.
Ni shi fou hai yao yung jiu di chi dai.
Lu guo shi juh yang ni bu yao bei ai,
Gung he guo di chi juh shang you
Women xue ran di feng tsai.

Ye shu ni di yan jing zai bu neng zheng kai.
Wo shen shen li jie ni chen mo di ching huai.
Ye shu ni dao xia, zai bu nung shing lai.
Wo yi ding shiangshin ni hua tsu liao shan mai.
Lu guo shi juh yang wo bu hui bei ai.
Yin wei women di tu rang li
You ni fu chu di ai.


This may be farewell forever. I might never return. I hope you understand why it is that I've gone. Maybe I'll fall in the struggle, never to rise again. I wonder whether you'll still want to wait for me, without end. If it should turn out that way please feel no lingering sorrow. For the wind that our blood has stained scarlet will unfurl the Republic's flag tomorrow.

Yes, it may happen that finally your eyes will forever be closed. I know the sincere and unspoken feelings your honesty chose. And if you fall in the struggle, in earth you'll forever repose but, like the mountains, to me you will shine with the radiance of snow. If it should turn out that way I will try not to grieve. For the very earth that we stand on is filled with the love that you gave.

Hope this is the kind of thing you're after.
Cheers
- Chicky

18 May 00 - 05:54 PM (#230134)
Subject: RE: Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?
From: Mbo

There is a beautiful Chinese folk song called "The Nightengale"...absolutely gorgeous. Puccini used it in his opera (my personal fav) "Turandot", it appears several times, but as the chorus "Perche Tarda Le Luna?" in the first act, it appears in it's entirety. I can make you a midi or ABC of it if you want. Only I'm not sure if it has words. BTW anything that is remotely associated with the erhu RULES!!!

--Mbo

18 May 00 - 07:21 PM (#230181)
Subject: RE: Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?
From: gillymor

Pete Seeger used to perform (or still does) a marching song of the Red Army called Three Rules of Discipline and the Eight Rules of Attention which is quite a snappy number though I can't attest to it's folk origins.
Did you hear about the Chinese couple who got divorced? She went back to Peking and he went back to wanking.

Frankie

18 May 00 - 08:20 PM (#230215)
Subject: RE: Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?
From: John in Brisbane

About 13 months ago I was looking for some Chinese tunes. You'll find a pretty fair selection of Lyrics and MIDI tunes RIGHT HERE. Some of the arrangements are a bit over the top, but if you have some sequencing or notation software like Cakewalk or NoteWorthy Composer you can remove or quieten the offending instruments if you wish. Regards, John

19 May 00 - 05:58 AM (#230396)
Subject: RE: Does anyone know any Chinese folk songs?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler

I don't suppose (NO, Roger!) Chinese Laundry Blues or Mr Wu's a Window Cleaner now qualify...?
RtS