Spring River in the Flower-Moon Night

Introduction

Spring River in the Flower-Moon Night is an ensemble arrangement completed in October 1925 by Liu Yaozhang of the Datong Music Society in Shanghai. Introduced by Zheng Jinwen, Liu learned the pipa solo Xunyang Yeyue from Wang Yuting and used it as the model for his ensemble score, while Wang had himself adapted that solo from the traditional pipa piece Xiyang Xiaogu. Zheng first called the new arrangement Autumn River Moon, then renamed it after the title of a poem by the Tang poet Zhang Ruoxu and gave its ten sections new subtitles. Accounts differ on when the final title was fixed, with dates of 1925, the spring of 1926 and around 1930 all proposed. The arrangement turned a pipa solo into a small chamber-style ensemble piece and became an early signature work of the society, while the pipa original, Flute and Drum at Sunset, is kept as a separate work.

A work in copyright: facts only.

Parts

1. Bells and Drums at the River TowerAccording to the article, the first of the ten sections in the Shanghai Datong Music Society version
2. Moon Rising over the Eastern HillsAccording to the article, the second section of the Datong Music Society version, after Bells and Drums at the River Tower
3. Wind Turning along the Winding StreamAccording to the article, the third section of the Datong Music Society version, after Moon Rising over the Eastern Hills
4. Layered Flower ShadowsAccording to the article, the fourth section of the Datong Music Society version, after Wind Turning along the Winding Stream
5. Water and Clouds, Far and DeepAccording to the article, the fifth section of the Datong Music Society version, after Layered Flower Shadows
6. Fishing Boats Singing at DuskAccording to the article, the sixth section of the Datong Music Society version, after Water and Clouds, Far and Deep
7. Eddying Waves Beating the ShoreAccording to the article, the seventh section of the Datong Music Society version, after Fishing Boats Singing at Dusk
8. Oars Sounding over Distant RapidsAccording to the article, the eighth section of the Datong Music Society version, after Eddying Waves Beating the Shore
9. Boat Returning to the Creak of OarsAccording to the article, the ninth section of the Datong Music Society version, after Oars Sounding over Distant Rapids
10. CodaAccording to the article, the closing section of the Datong Music Society version, after Boat Returning to the Creak of Oars