Liang/Zhu is a true and beautiful, sad, and touching love story in ancient times. Zhu ( a young woman) was beautiful and clever, wants to study in Hangzhou. At that time, the woman could not go out to study, the father rejected her daughter's request, Zhu disguised as a man, went to Hangzhou to study. On the way, she met Liang(a young man). At first sight, they had a good feeling for each other, and Zhu loved Liang. The two came to Wansong College in Hangzhou City, and since then, they have studied together in the same class. zhu loves Liang deeply, but Liang never knows that she is a woman. but Zhu's father worries about her and pushes her to go back home in a hurry, and Zhu had to return to her hometown. they were so hard to be separated, they were walking for 18 miles. On the way, Zhu hint at Liang which she is a woman and loved Liang many times, but Liang was too honest and simple, and he is puzzled. Zhu was helpless and lied about the nine sisters in her family. Her younger sister looks very similar to herself, and she was willing to be a matchmaker for Liang. However, Liang’s family was poor and failed to arrive as scheduled. When Liang was able to meet zhu, her father already forced her to get engaged to another man she had never met. A happy marriage has become a bubble. The two tears facing each other, but sadly parted. When parting, they take the oath: we can't live together, but must live in the same grave together! Later Liang became very depressed that he died soon after. when zhu heard Liang died and vowed to die. When zhu's father forced her to get married to the strange man, she pretends to agree and made a chance to visit Liang's tomb. Under the grief of Zhu, the wind and rain thunder and lightning crossed together, suddenly the tomb burst, Zhu jumped into the tomb, then the tomb was joined together, and the wind and rain stopped, a beautiful rainbow hung high, Liang Zhu turned into butterflys, fluttering in the world continued their love. I am Chinese, the English not prefer, put the story here, just because many people want to know the beautiful story, I tried my best. thank you for appreciating the music.
I heard this concert for the first time in 1985 on the Dutch radio. The music was played on our office and, on hearing this music, every employe stopped their work to listen to this music. During the whole concert the work stopped and everyone was silence. Telephones were taken of the hook so that nothing could disturb the concert. The world stood still for the time for a while. Wonderful, what music can do!
When I was 18, I visited my parents who were working in Beijing at the time and visited the Great Wall...a part of the wall the locals don’t tell the tourist back then, and my family walked it’s length alone in the mist. I was on top of one of the watchtowers with my sister when a white butterfly landed on the top of my foot and didn’t fly away. It stayed on my foot while I was walking back down the length of the wall. Before descending the wall, I said ‘I have to leave now’ and it flew off my foot and flew around me once before flying off. It was one of the most magical experiences of my life.
I think this is the greatest performance of Butterfly Lovers ever recorded, Recorded without any background sound from a live audience. THIS IS A MASTERPIECE
I haven’t seen my butterfly for 5 months now. She lives in Wuhan, I live in Amsterdam. As soon as the virus is gone we will fly to eachother and live happily ever after. Update: she is coming next week. October 23 🦋 Update II. SHES HERE. AND SHE SNORES
Lately I have been feeling very cold and dry in my heart, like my emotions have dried up. But when I listened to this music, it felt like the plug that has clogged my heart vanished, and before I knew it I was sobbing hysterically. I feel like this was a blessing from God, because I have been praying for some relief and something that could move my stone heart. I hope if anyone is in my shoes, they will experience the power of music the same way I have today. I finally feel alive ^^ . I hope whoever is reading this is safe and I will pray for you!! Lots of love coming from England!!
Hope you continue to listen to inspiring wonderful music on this and other channels coming from Taiwan!! Looking forward to my next visit to UK. Best wishes from septuagenarian expat. Brit. hibernating in freezing Canada 🤗
00:39 - I. Adagio Cantabile The Butterfly Lovers is a Chinese legend of a tragic love story of a pair of lovers, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, whose names form the title of the story. The title is often abbreviated to Liang Zhu. The concerto begins with two fifths in D by the harp, after which a solo flute opens with a flowery melody, setting the scene of the story. A solo oboe enters with the strings in G major, after which the solo erhuist enters and begins a simple melody. This melody comes from a Chinese folk song of the Yellow River (Huanghe), and tells the story of Zhu Yingtai's childhood. The solo erhu is accompanied by a harp and other elements of the orchestra. On the road to Hangzhou for her studies, Zhu (disguised as a man) meets Liang for the first time; a cello solo intertwines with the erhu, bringing a new, but still melodious theme and modulating to D major. As the cello exits, the orchestral tutti plays the same melody of the solo erhu, with occasional erhu entrances in between. As the first buds of love begin to blossom, a short erhu cadenza using mostly the G-pentatonic scale expresses Zhu's joy of her and Liang's oath of fraternity. 06:08 - II. Allegro The orchestra begins this next section in E major, the erhu entering with a fast and jovial melody, representing Zhu and Liang's busy three years of school. Many examples of violin technique are represented, namely spiccato, fast playing over a wide range of notes, and even arpeggiatos, in a standard display of difficulty for a violin concerto. 08:42 - III. Adagio assai doloroso As the end of their schooling draws near, Liang and Zhu grow sad as they realize that their time together is nearly over. Zhu invites Liang to visit her family and to court her sister. He doesn't know that Zhu is really inviting him to marry her. Liang promises to see Zhu again, but Liang waits before doing so. 11:55 - IV. Pesante - Piu mosso - Duramente When Zhu returns home, she finds that her father has promised her to the son of a rich family. The solo erhu struggles against the forces of the orchestra, representing her protests against her father. 15:18 - V. Lagrimoso When Liang arrives, he sees Zhu and realizes that she is a woman, and they fall in love. The solo erhu and cello solo play an emotional duet, one of the most famous and powerful sections of the work. 18:03 - VI. Presto resoluto The love duet between the two is replaced by anger as Liang learns that in his absence, Zhu has been betrothed to another. The solo erhu launches into a brilliant and difficult passage, supported by chords from the orchestra, but eventually returns to the original melody representing love, accompanied again by the cello solo. Liang becomes sick and dies as the duet draws to a close. Another virtuosic section for the solo and orchestra combines both the slow melodies and the fast energetic passages introduced before. The section ends with the suicide of Liang as the solo erhu ends with an abrupt high note. 22:22 - VII. Adagio cantabile The lovers' parts are united by a final section, with the solo erhu and the orchestra redeveloping the opening theme to build to a triumphant climax. The concerto ends bittersweetly with a final melodic phrase from the solo erhu, concluding mysteriously on a high D from the strings. In the legend, Liang's grave opens and Zhu throws herself into the chasm; the ending portraying the lovers' transformation into butterflies, never to be separated again. NOTE - This was taken from Wikipedia. The original work was played with a violin. This concerto is now often performed with Chinese instruments playing the violin part, the most common being Erhu, Pipa and Liuqin. In such cases the soloist is often accompanied by an orchestra consisting of Chinese instruments. I have changed some of this text to reflect this.
I am a westerner but on hearing this beautiful music it filled my eyes with tears with how beautiful the Erhu can sound in the right hands. Thank you for the education.
I listened to this sooo many times because my grandfather played erhu for local opera group. I grew up seeing the story of Liangzhu staged and performed by local people. He passed away in 2013 with half of his life devoted to traditional Yue Opera. When the main tune was played I just burst into tears. It‘s not only music, it’s love, it’s memory, it’s China and it’s everything to me. I’m glad his life always continue to be lively in another way.
What a beautiful story. Although I have no familial connections to China, I find myself coming back to this video a countless number of times because this concerto can convey such a powerful range of emotions. The erhu is just a magical instrument and the soloist in this video, Sun Huang, is just exceptional. This music is simply transcendent.
This is so beautiful!!! I come often, too. I have zero Chinese roots, I'm Cuban, but true beauty transcends everything. Erhu is a most expressive instrument. Beautiful story behind the music. Beautiful culture. ❤
I'm very happy for you. It's a wonderful gift which allows us to be aware of our deepest emotion as a human being. Hope you go through more journeys like this.
This American is getting some great culture shock. I'm a musician myself, but I'm completely blown away by this. And that ErHu, WOW!! Fantastic. It might be the most emotionally expressive music I have ever heard.
Thank you for response. I can imagine how different the music you play with brass from this with Erhu here. So it is a bit surprising you can understand it. Nice, music is indeed cross-cultural!
I am interested in all kinds of music. The more contrasting it is to the kind of music I play, the more interested I seem to be in it. I got heavy into Chinese traditional music for a few weeks! haha
Yes, also this american jaja, I'm Argentinian and chinese music blew my mind many years ago, so bad we can't have access here as we could living in China.
YES especially those of us who come from a musical background like myself. And who are gifted vocally as i have been from the lord above. And who also have a GREAT affinity and passion for Asian culture as i do. That's who...:)
Butterfly Lovers：Two people love each other but can not get together when they are alive because of family objections，when they were died,both them turned into butterfly,continued their love
Chapters: 00:40 Opening theme 06:09 Liang & Zhu learned together with gladness 08:40 Liang & Zhu walked six miles home and bade farewell 11:40 Zhu resisted the forced marriage 15:17 Liang & Zhu met again on the roof terrace and expressed their love 18:00 Liang passed away and Zhu jumped into Liang's grave 22:22 Their souls changed into two butterflies and flew away/Epilogue
Part of 18:00 to 22:00 sounds full of joy but sometimes it sounds sad, the happy part is because it is the preparation of a wedding, everyone think it is a happy thing. The sad part is the scene change to where zhu is. She is so sad.
This is such a representative piece of Chinese Culture, presented in its original format with an all Chinese instrument setting. Wish more of the world (especially those who keep misunderstanding the Chinese people due to politics and mis-guided media) can enjoy this and appreciate the historical Chinese Culture. Enjoy!
This song is so beautiful. I love the Chinese people I wish they didn’t have to have such a bad government that doesn’t respect freedom and basic human rights. Because we all deserve better.
@@benjaminccao I agree the American government has issues and doesn’t respect its people. But In china there’s no free speech no right to guns. Our government doesn’t censor movies and music. We don’t kill our own people. We don’t have camps where we keep people if they have Covid. Chinese government is far worse. But both could greatly improve.
I love the sound of the Erhu. It is in the Netherlands not commonly heard, so I was very surprised when at a day an older Chinese man was playing it in the park close to were I lived. Although I was on my way to an appointment I took the time to listen to some songs the man was playing. I knew I would not be in the opportunity to hear the instrument any time soon. Beautiful sound!
Old pre-20th century string playing on western instruments like the violin, viola, cello, use to use a lot of technics like portamento, rubato and sliding into and out of notes; much as she does. It was considered to be the most like unto the singing human voice. I am a 59 year old professional violist and composer. In my opinion, this woman is a world-class master on the same level as some of the greatest violinists that ever lived! SHE IS AMAZING AND LEAVES ME IN TEARS! This orchestra is magnificent and the embodiment of perfection and harmonious beauty. PLEASE wont someone tried to compose a viola concerto like this piece! Their place in music history would be forever secured.
Glad you like it, Erhu is actually better (or best) suitted in this piece than violin (or all other instrument). Erhu is also the hardest intrument to master among all Chinese intrument.
I am a level two violist and violinist, and if I get to it before I die I could see about composing this but if you are able to think about it, why don't you be the one to do it?
Without a doubt the most impassioned performance of this piece I've seen. Not only is the soloist absolutely brimming with expression, but the entire ensemble is clearly very passionate about the performance. An absolute delight to listen to and watch.
My friend told me that literally every kid learning violin has to learn 《梁祝》 It’s one of the most famous pieces of orchestral music in China, originally performed with the violin- i think
I'm from Brazil 🇧🇷 and I love this Erhu instrument it has one of the most beautiful melodies, it's beautiful to hear and this orchestra is beautiful to see, it plays deep in my soul 🥹🫰🏻🫶🏻✨
Djelo izvrsno izvedeno s klasičnim. I autohtonom instrumentima. Vrlo dojmljivo, puno emocija ugode i opuštanja kako to i odlikuje njegovom naslovu... priču ćemo prepustiti čaroliji trenutka.... Hvala Srdačno iz Croatie. Cro ❤
I heard this lovely lovely music in 2003 and fell in in love with this melody and the story of the lovers behind it. One of the World's BEST composition and played so well by all these beautiful young musicians. The ERHU player was fantastic and I am moved to tears. THANK YOU, XIE XIE NEE.
Upon recommendation of my Chinese niece I bought this music in GuangZhou. No regrets so far. Been to China 8 times now and am going again !! China is in my heart and will never go out !! Greetings from the Netherlands
I grew up listening to the radio in the west side of the US. But words cannot express how beautiful this is. Music has this outstanding ability to make us understand the message behind the music. The meaning behind it. I have zero blood connections with china or anything chinese, however, I dont need to know it to understand how powerful this is. Absolutely astounding and beautiful. Will always be something I have saved in my playlist on here.
@@ziangxiang2352 Understandable. and wow 56 famous ethnic groups??? i can't even imagine how many ethnic chinese groups there are in total. And I'm willing to bet each and every single one has their own style and beauty in their own fashion. who says you don't learn something new every day? haha
This is what it really means to appreciate other cultures. So often, cultural appreciation gets framed as "oh, isn't that nice," as if one is observing a specimen collected in a jar. No! Cultural appreciation is being taken by and enraptured by the expression of another cultures' lived experience, and understanding its innate beauty. One thing that bothers me is that the Western suit and tie has become a global standard; I really wish this trend would reverse. Just as I'd love to see Chinese people formally dress in attire that represents their cultural heritage, I actually also wish Europeans would do the same, as well as Africans. I know many Maori people in New Zealand proudly wear and display their tattoos, and do the Haka dance: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lt6GRghrmaU.html&ab_channel=StoryfulNews%26Weather I want to see a version of the Butterfly concerto with *no* Western Instruments, in fact! And, if there are parts that require Western Instruments, I'd rather see Chinese inventions and adaptations to replace them! Every nation, every culture is steeped in beauty, beauty of the deepest order that comes from the pure, infinitely precious light within. We should revive this beauty, and continue to grow it, localized beauty built on harmony and love.
Chills. Years of studying and playing Western classical music, and I feel like I'm finally reconnecting to my Chinese culture again. Absolutely beautiful and moving.
