Anthology looks back on modern Chinese lyrics

2019-1-25     Source：Chinadaily

A four-volume anthology of modern Chinese lyrics was released in Beijing recently. And it includes lyrics of 1,537 modern Chinese songs from 838 songwriters that were created between 1902 and 2013.

The Chinese have a long tradition of recording historical events and social life in songs. And the anthology is part of a project to summarize the historical changes over the past century from a musical angle and to provide an alternative perspective to reflect on Chinese literature and history, according to Feng Yuan, vice-director of the China Central Institute for Culture and History.

The project, which was launched in 2014, is run by the Counsellor's Office of the State Council and the institute. And the name of the project, A Hundred Years of Yuefu, comes from an ancient style of poem that could be set to music and dance.

Dozens of musicians and editors, including ones coming from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, are part of the project. And the eldest participants are in their 80s.

The lyrics, the related social background, as well as the life experiences of the songwriters are part of the anthology.

Speaking about the anthology, Wang Liping, 78, chief editor of the anthology and renowned composer whose representative works include the 13 music pieces he created for the TV adaptation of the Dream of the Red Chamber in 1987, says: "We have stayed true to history."

A clear mind is needed to locate ourselves in history, Wang says, adding: "We want to get more people moved and encouraged and let them examine themselves and make a change."

Zheng Bonong, a consultant for the project and former editor-in-chief of Journal of Literature and Art, sees the value of the anthology because he thinks lyric writers are worth more attention and higher status in the cultural field.

According to Wang, the team has already finished compiling the second part of the project, and a seven-volume chronological anthology of modern Chinese songs, including both the lyrics and the music notations, will be published later this year.