A Fine Evening

Introduction

Improvised by Liu Tianhua on lunar New Year's Eve 1928; first titled A Little Song for New Year's Eve

Liang Xiao (A Fine Evening) is a short erhu solo by Liu Tianhua, first titled A Little Song for New Year's Eve. On 22 January 1928, the eve of the lunar new year, several of his students spent the holiday at his home in Beijing. After dinner he picked up the erhu, played freely and wrote the phrases down as he went, finishing the piece in about half an hour. The students helped choose the first title, and the piece later became known as Liang Xiao. Its lively, cheerful melody keeps the warmth of that evening.