Pure and charming “Oriental Serenade”
Overview
Chinese Name: 小河淌水
English Name: The River Is Flowing, Xiao He Tang Shui, The Small Murmuring River
Composer: Yin Yigong尹宜公 or Gao Liang高粱–Controversial
Original Singer: Huang Hong黄虹
“The River Is Flowing” is a beautiful and lyrical Yunnan Midu folk song. The poetic language brings people to the moving scene of the bright moon, the gentle breeze and the gurgling streams.
Composition Story Of The River Is Flowing
Yunnan Province, located in the southwest frontier of China, is a famous tourist destination with beautiful scenery and unique customs. Yunnan Province has the largest number of ethnic groups in China. In addition to the Han nationality, China has 55 ethnic minorities, of which 20 generations live in Yunnan.
The Han nationality only entered Yunnan in large numbers during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After entering Yunnan, the Han nationality lived close to ethnic minorities for a long time. The edification of Yunnan’s beautiful natural environment and the influence of multi-ethnic music culture have become the soil for the germination and birth of this folk song-“The River Is Flowing”.
The Composer of The River Is Flowing is Yin Yigong. He was born in Midu County, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province on October 21, 1924. He is a native of Midu. In 1942, Yin Yigong was admitted to Yunnan University. Then he organized and led the “Nanfeng Choir” in the school.
In the spring of 1947, Yin Yigong collated and created the folk songs of Midu, and filled in the lyrics with the theme of love with the song title of “the moon comes out and shines”. After the creation, Yin Yigong asked Jiang Du, the editor in chief of the journal “teaching singing” founded by the “Nanfeng Choir”, to give advice. After humming the song, Jiang Du thought that “this song is too beautiful”, and suggested that Yin Yigong change the title of the song to ” The River Is Flowing小河淌水”, which is more appropriate.
With its beautiful melody and sincere and warm feelings, “The River is Flowing” has gradually spread in Yunnan.
From April 1 to 14, 1953, “The First National Folk Music and Dance Festival” was grandly held in Beijing. At that time, Huang Hong, a folk singer in the Yunnan song and dance troupe, went to the capital to perform as a member of the Yunnan delegation. With her fresh, sweet and graceful voice, Huang Hong sang “The River is Flowing” emotionly. The song still lingers, and a flood of applause has sounded. Since then, this song has spread all over China and won the love of listeners all over the country.
Lyrics of The River is Flowing
哎——
月亮出来亮汪汪
亮汪汪
想起我的阿哥在深山
哥像月亮天上走
天上走
哥啊哥啊哥啊
山下小河淌水
清悠悠
月亮出来照半坡
照半坡
望见月亮想起我阿哥
一阵清风吹上坡
吹上坡
哥啊哥啊哥啊
你可听见阿妹
叫阿哥
月亮出来亮汪汪
亮汪汪
想起我的阿哥在深山
一阵清风吹上坡
吹上坡
哥啊哥啊哥啊
你可听见阿妹
叫阿哥