Bai Nian (拜年) | for Violin, Mandolin, Ensemble | 1080HD | (Headphones recommended)

Chinese New Year playlist:    • Chinese New Year  

*See below for link to download score!*

A Chinese New Year favourite. Title translates to "New Year Greetings"/"New Year Visit", or more specifically, "Visiting to convey New Year Greetings". This version arranged for Violin, Mandolin, Strings, Piccolo and Timpani.

The main theme is set in a Dorian mode, although it seems deceptively pentatonic. The first section is orchestrated for solo violin and orchestra in the style of the classical virtuoso violin showpiece, designed to show off the violinist's technical mastery. The violin first plays the main theme with embellishments, and then moves on to provide textural and harmonic momentum whilst other instruments take over the theme.

The second section has a more oriental sound, with the mandolin imitating the Chinese pipa playing the main theme. The arrangement ends in an energetic climax with orchestral tutti and rolling timpani, followed by a final five-note quote from the main motif. Look out for Easter Eggs featuring cameos of a well-known song of good fortune (?!) from a certain German cantata. If you can identify it please share this in a comment below!

Download the score here!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WZk1...
For performances, please credit The Geometric Pianist as arranger.
If you post a video of your performance, please share the link in the comments below!

More information about Bai Nian (拜年):
(primary source: https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/新年歌)
Originally written in 1938 as the song New Pair of Flowers (新对花) (   • 1937年  周璇与严华对唱  - 「新对花」  ), the melody was used in a new song Bai Nian (拜年) with Chinese New Year lyrics in 1956 (   • 1956年  林黛 -「精选电影插曲及流行歌曲」专辑(10首)  . It has remained a popular Chinese New Year song until present times.



#bainian #cny #拜年