Greetings From Tiankong Choir!
From September 2021, a series of world-class choral performances of CCNU Tiankong Choir were meticulously selected and brought to the Confucius Institute at the University of Newcastle as presents to express the genuine warmth and encouragement in this tough COVID period.
Today, we want to share you with five world-class performances to wrap up 2021. Now, let's enjoy Tiankong Choir's music world and happily greet the year 2022!
About Tiankong Choir
Tiankong Choir is well-known for its precision, musicality, interaction, and unique performance styles with high aesthetic pursuit and modern twists.
About Professor Tian Xiaobao
Professor Tian Xiaobao, the doctoral advisor and the director of Chinese Chorus Research Institute at CCNU, is the founder and the artistic director of Tiankong Choir. As a renowned master who has won many prestigious awards in choral conducting, Tian actively promotes the development of Tiankong Choir and leads it to stand on the stages at home and abroad.
Song Ⅰ: Happy to See the Spring Rain
This piece is inspired by the famous poem <Happy to See the Spring Rain> in Tang Dynasty. The composer uses light and cheerful music melody with the mixture of contemporary composing techniques to fulfill the expressions and feelings of the poet.
Song Ⅱ: Miss You in 365 Days
This piece is rearranged from a theme-song in the cartoon movie. With its special dynamic and complicated rhythm and a sudden insert of a cappella in the middle part, this choral version enriches the original melody and the overall presentation on the stage.
Song Ⅲ: Fisherman’s Song
Originally written as a theme-song of a Chinese movie, this piece depicts the scene of a typical Chinese fishing village during the 1930s: the fishermen's everyday life and work, the sea glinted in the moonlight, and the fishing-boats floating on the sea.
Song IV: Yue Diao: The Little Red Peach
The lyrics of this song came from "Yue Diao", a particular music type of opera in the Yuan dynasty (1271 – 1368) which is an important art form in Chinese history. The composer arranged her choral work to express the beauty of the lyrics–reminding her of the serenity of East Lake during the summertime where people are enjoying boating whilst watching the floating lotuses on the peaceful lake.
Song V: When I Am Missing You
This is an exquisite and popular love-song first sung by Qian Baihui, a famous singer in China. In this choral arrangement, the composer used contemporary composing techniques to induce a feeling of sorrow that the audience could relate to.
Epilogue：
These five songs, full of power and love, are warm-hearted gifts presenting to the Confucius Institute. We wish this special way of greetings can bring people who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic more courage and strength and wish you a happy New Year!
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Editor: Jared(trainee)
Reviser: Hannah(trainee)
Designer: Kristina(trainee)