Symphonic Poem Gada Meiren 嘎达梅林交响诗 - Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra 亚洲文化乐团

Conductor: Dedric Wong Deli 黄德励 指挥
Composer: Xin Huguang 辛沪光 作曲
8 Jul. 2017 Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Singapore
2017年7月8日于新加坡杨秀桃音乐学院

~Synopsis~

Xin Huguang wrote the symphonic poem Gada Meiren when she was only 23 years old, submitting it as her graduating composition at the China Conservatory of music. Gada Meiren was an instant success, catapulting Xin into widespread recognition.

The piece is written in sonata form, using a theme inspired by a Mongolian folk song of the same name. It tells the story of its heroic titular figure, Gada Meiren, a Mongolian general regarded
as a hero by his countrymen. Driven by a blazing love for his motherland, Gada Meiren led his compatriots, the herders, in a five-year struggle against the feudal princes and warlords for their
freedom.

Before the exposition of the theme itself, the piece opens with a prelude evoking a scene of the sweeping Mongolian grasslands, the strings rustling like a sea of grass swaying in the wind. The
melancholic music reflects the harsh life of those who live there, but beneath its surface pulsates with energy of their unyielding enthusiasm and optimism.

We encounter the horse – the ubiquitous creature of Mongolian life, culture, and art – as we enter the battlefield in the development section. The orchestra's dotted rhythms mimic the horses' gallop against the strains of battle, depicting the herders’ revolt against their oppressors.

The music builds up to a tragic recapitulation of the theme, as the herders let out impassioned cries for the fallen Gada Meiren. They head home, victorious but devastated by the loss of their hero. The grasslands remain the same, seeming to be apathetic to their plight. It was just one of many battles to have happened upon its vast expanse. The herders, however, are forever changed. As they retell the battle to their families, they too are stricken with grief by the death of Gada Meiren, but at the same time, their hearts are filled with hope for a brighter future ahead.