FEATURES OF THE MUSICAL LANGUAGE OF THE CHINESE ART SONG OF THE FIRST THIRD OF THE 20TH CENTURY BY HUANG ZI “THREE DESIRES OF A ROSE”

Abstract

The article deals with the peculiarities of the musical language of one of the founders of the art song genre in China – Huang Zi on the example of the work “Three Wishes of Roses”. The historical and social prerequisites for the creation of the work are outlined: the poems – by the researcher of classical literature Long Qi, the music – by the composer and musicologist Huang Zi. The main milestones of his life and work confirm that Huang Zi is not only a famous composer, but also a recognized music theorist and scholar, as well as the creator of the system of professional music education in China. The idea of a laconic vocal composition arose as a reaction to the tragic events in Chinese history. The work reflects the range of feelings, moods, and emotions of the artists. The image of the protagonist, namely the author’s thoughts, is conveyed through a multifaceted symbol – a rose. The image itself, its unity with nature, is conveyed in music close to romantic traditions. A comprehensive analysis of the work’s expressive means – melody, harmony and rhythm – reveals the composers’ subtle skill in reflecting the minimal gradations of her moods and states. Folklore elements are combined with harmonies of the major-minor system with an emphasis on tonicsubdominant functions inherent in the harmonization of folk song patterns. The development of the musical fabric is achieved through the variant and sectional principles of development characteristic of both traditions. It is noted that the vocal part and piano accompaniment are enriched by the lyrical and dramatic timbre of the violin: it not only serves to more fully reveal the intent of the poem, but also enriches the texture of the work. A detailed analysis of the work proves that the system of symbols characteristic of the Chinese poetic tradition is skilfully combined with a number of expressive musical means that indicate their European romantic origin.