Happy

Author: Liu Xiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Liu Mingyuan is one of the most outstanding Chinese folk instrumental musicians in the past half-century. In both China and the international music scene, he is renowned as the "saint of Chinese bowed string instruments." Liu Mingyuan is proficient in various bowed string instruments, including the banhu, gaohu, erhu, zhonghu, jinghu, and zhuihu. He excels particularly in the banhu and zhonghu, with techniques that are skillful and fluid, a style that is both unrestrained and delicate. His deep understanding of traditional opera and regional music styles makes him unparalleled in his field.
Born in Tianjin in 1931, Liu Mingyuan began learning the banhu and jinghu from his father at the age of six. At eleven, he joined music societies such as Tianjin's "Baoling Orchestra" and "Min-Yue Guild," where he studied silk and bamboo music, Cantonese music, Peking Opera, Ping Opera, and Hebei Bangzi. From 1947 to 1952, he served as a band member in dance and song troupes like Tianjin's Victory, Palace, Yong'an, Hui, and Ping Opera Troupes.
In 1957, as a representative of Chinese youth artists, he participated in the folk instrumental performance competition at the Sixth World Festival of Youth and Students, winning a gold medal. His three decades of experience in folk music laid a solid foundation for Liu Mingyuan, earning him the well-deserved reputation of a masterful artist and a pinnacle performer of the huqin. Throughout his career, his long-term collaboration with various opera and regional music ensembles nurtured his exquisite and refined expression across different vocal styles and musical forms.
Beyond the huqin, Liu Mingyuan also mastered the piano, once working as a jazz pianist. Additionally, he studied Mongolian folk songs, demonstrating a deep command of Mongolian musical styles. Liu Mingyuan has composed, arranged, and performed an abundance of musical works, which showcase a rich national flavor and striking artistic appeal. Among his most celebrated works are the folk instrumental ensemble pieces Joyful Yearning and Happy New Year, the erhu solo Henan Folk Tune, as well as the zhonghu solos On the Grasslands and Pastoral Return.