Two Chinese Folksongs

Yi Gen Zhu Gan Rong Yi Wan (A Single Bamboo Can Easily Bend), the first of Two Chinese Folksongs arranged by Chen, is a didactic (teaching) song. Referencing nature and natural elements as teaching tools, rather than abstract ideas, this somewhat socialist folksong advocates strength in numbers, of having to unite. Powerful animals too can have moments of weakness, but the real fear is not of being individually weak, but of being alone.

One stick of bamboo bends easily

Three strands of hemp string are hard to break

Fearsome tiger drowning in the lake

Proud dragon trapped on sandy beach

Fear not that the strength is small

Nothing beats everyone working together

Nothing beats everyone working together

Fang Ma Shan Ge (A Horseherd's Mountain Song), the second of Chen's arrangements, is a song of labour. Moving through the months of the year, this song holds a sense of journey - a circle of life - the changing of the seasons, the growth of things, the idea of cause and effect.

Herding horses in the first month, the first of the months,

driving them along the road, along the road.

Big horses at the top of the mountain and smaller ones follow,

smaller ones follow.

Herding horses in the second month, all grasses sprouting,

small horses running deep into the mountains feeding,

running deep in the mountains.

Horses will not grow without wild grass,

without rain dew, grasses will not sprout, will not sprout.

In this tiny sampling of the vast repertory of Chinese folksongs, all intimately linked to life, the singers engage in finding their place in the universe.

- Jennifer Tham

With gratitude to Hoh Chung Shih, whose ideas and knowledge of Chinese culture and folksong form the basis of these notes. And also, for his poetic translations of the folksongs.