Six String Quartets in Chinese Style

Author: Huang Xiaozhi Compiler
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: In the 1970s, the author composed and adapted several quartet pieces while performing. After more than three decades of practice, especially through performances by the "Ai Le Nu" Chamber Orchestra in the 1990s, these works were continuously refined. They have been warmly received by a broad audience. Short in length yet rich in national style, the musical material is drawn from folk songs, local operas, and songs and instrumental compositions created by musicians. The music is rich in content, diverse in performance techniques, and varies greatly in regional styles, with melodies that are pleasant to listen to. Another common feature is their accessibility, as they are relatively close to the aesthetic level of the general audience in China. They serve not only as practical teaching materials for popularizing chamber music but also as suitable repertoire for stage performances. It is particularly important to note that for Western instrument players, performing Chinese-style music presents a new challenge. The harmony and adjustment of pitch, the "taste" of the sound (such as the use of glissando), and rhythmic variations in Chinese music differ from traditional Western playing methods and principles. To develop our national music, we should engage with, familiarize ourselves with, and further explore and develop these Chinese-style playing techniques in order to better express the unique Chinese style. This is also the purpose behind compiling and publishing this collection of quartets.