Classic sounds of mountains and seas to premiere
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra rehearses for Saturday's premiere of "Classic of Mountains and Seas."
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra will present the world premiere of concerto for orchestra, "Classic of Mountains and Seas," on Saturday.
Commissioned by the orchestra, the 32-minute piece is the work of Chinese American composer Zhou Long, who has won many awards, including 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his first opera "Madame White Snake."
It is Zhou's first collaboration with the symphony orchestra.
"Classic of Mountains and Seas," or "Shan Hai Jing," which may have existed since as early as the 4th century BC, is a Chinese classic text and a compilation of mythic geography and myth.
It is a source of many household myths, from the hero who shoots down nine out of 10 suns to save human beings from burning to Da Yu who devoted his life to fighting floods. It contains descriptions of ancient deities and mythical animals.
"Many works have been based on 'Classic of Mountains and Seas.' I wanted to do something different," the composer told Shanghai Daily.
"I didn't follow any of the stories or deities in the text, which all have been adapted in many forms. Instead, I divided the chapters by directions — north, west, east, south and center — and drew inspirations from the landscape, customs and music of China."
Zhou uses different sections of the orchestra to echo the folk sounds of different parts of China.
"I want to take the instruments and sounds of a symphony orchestra to their full extent and create something not only rooted in Chinese cultural heritage, but also refreshing and new,” the composer said.
