Merriment in a Time of Peace

Introduction

A signature piece by the Taishan musician Qiu Hechou, known for its brevity and buoyant mood.

Merriment in a Time of Peace is a signature work of the Cantonese musician Qiu Hechou, credited to him in all the sources consulted, although its date of composition is not known. Qiu came from Taishan in Guangdong, played the yangqin, suona and gaohu, and from 1916 issued collections such as Xiange Bidu and Qinxue Xinbian, among the first printed anthologies of Cantonese music. The piece is short and tightly built, cheerful in mood and played in a single sweep, and is widely regarded as a gem of the repertoire. One description notes that it follows folk tradition while drawing on Western compositional ideas, with a smooth and warm-hearted melody. It remains popular in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese communities overseas.