Father of Chinese Folk -- Wang Luobin

Wang Luobin (王洛宾; 28 December 1913 - 14 March 1996) was a renowned Han Chinese songwriter who specialized in composing Mandarin-language songs based on the music of various ethnic minorities in western China.

Wang was born in Beijing on 28 December 1913. He graduated from the Music Department of Beijing Normal University in 1934 and actively participated in the Second Sino-Japanese War on China's behalf beginning in 1937 in Shanxi Province. In 1938, in Lanzhou in Gansu Province, Wang composed his first Xinjiang-inspired song, "The Girl from Dabancheng" (达坂城的姑娘). He took up residence in northwestern China for more than 50 years since then, and devoted his time there to composing, collecting and revising western Chinese folk songs. In all, Wang wrote seven operas and published six songbooks, and wrote some 700 western-style songs, the most famous of which include "Alamuhan" (阿拉木汉, inspired by a Xinjiang Uyghur song), "Awariguli" (also supposedly a Uyghur song), "Flowers and Youth" (pinyin: Hua'er Yu Shaonian, a Hui Muslim folk song), "At a Faraway Place" (在那遥远的地方; pinyin: Zai Na Yaoyuan De Difang, a song from Qinghai Province), "Lift Your Veil" (掀起你的盖头来), "Duldal and Maria" (a Kazakh folk song), "Mayila", and "The Crescent Moon Rises" (半个月亮爬上来; pinyin: Ban Ge Yueliang Pa Shang Lai).

Wang began to win accolades for his work towards the end of his life. In 1993, "At a Faraway Place" and "The Crescent Moon Rises" were selected as the Chinese music classics of the 20th century. A year later, in July 1994, Wang received the Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Exchange of Western and Eastern Cultures from UNESCO. Wang was made the honorary town head of Dabancheng in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region by the local government in December of that year.

Wang married Huang Yulan in Lanzhou in 1945 and had three sons, Wang Haiyan, Wang Haixing and Wang Haicheng. Huang died in 1951 as a result of tuberculosis. Wang had lived in Australia for a period of time with his son Haiyan who immigrated in 1981, and stated that some of his later work was inspired by the Australian landscape and natural flora and fauna.

Wang died of cancer on 14 March 1996 at the age of 83. His songs continue to be popular today, and modern adaptations of them have been recorded by the Beijing Angelic Choir, a Chinese children's choir that has earned recognition both at home and abroad; by China's popular Twelve Girls Band; and by the famous Chinese rock singer Dao Lang, who is known for his western China-themed pop music.



Father of Chinese Folk -- Wang Luobin

"Lift Up Your Scarf", "Flowers and the Lad", "Alamuhan", "Girls of Daban"—Chinese people, both young and old, men and women, become quite familiar with these tunes long before they even learn of the name of the composer, Wang Loubin. Nowadays, Wang Luobin is considered the Father of Chinese Folk Music.

During his lifetime, Wang Luobin experienced many political and social changes, as well as his own life's ups and downs, but none of this affected his love for music. By the time of his death ten years ago at the age of 83, Wang Luobin had created over 700 beautiful songs. Quite a number of these songs have nourished the minds of the population ever since they were written. Today, our reporter Xiaohua will share with us the fascinating life and music of this folk music legend.

Reporter: Wang Luobin's nationality was Han Chinese. Yet, his music is often tinged with a strong Northwestern ethnic flavor. He was known for adapting minority folk songs to be appealing to the general public. But he always was careful to preserve the original traits and sounds of that specific ethnicity. Combining the original flavor with popular elements, Wang led the way for appreciating and enjoying minority folk music. It's fair to say that without Wang Luobin, many of these songs would probably never have been heard by the majority of the country.

"In a Faraway Place" is probably the most widely circulated of Wang Luobin's adaptations, and is also seen as one of his masterpieces. Stories surrounding it say that this track was created when the young musician was on a movie-shooting trip to northwestern Qinghai province, where he fell in love with a Tibetan girl named Zhuoma. So Wang Luobin created this beautiful song, borrowing the melody from a Kazakhstan folk tune entitled "Thinking of You When I'm Lying Amongst the Sheep Flocks.” Released sometime around 1939, the song describes the beginning of the love between a young man and a Tibetan girl. The lyrics go: "In a faraway place lives a good girl. People can't help but cast one or two glances into her tent when they pass by. I'm willing to turn into a little lamb and follow her around and she will let her whip gently fall on my back." The lyrics are as stunning as poetry. Now let's hear this classic number.

Wang Luobin has another nickname, the "King of China's Western Folk Music". As his lyrics imply, he was a vagabond artist collecting pieces from the remote and vast northwestern plains. He never missed the chance to learn from the ethnic people he met.

Our next track is a 1939 song called "Dance Tune of the Youth", adapted from a traditional Xinjiang Uygur song for accompanying tight-rope walkers. Wang Luobin learned this tune from a Uygur raisin tradesman. At that time, Wang Luobin was 25 years old and was recently divorced from his first wife. So he included lyrics lamenting the sorrow of time and youth elapsing. However, perhaps because of the song's lively melody or because Wang Loubin's heart was still brimming with youthful passion, people really get into a joyful mood even when they sing the line "my youth has gone like the departing bird."

"Half Moon Climbs Up the Sky'"is another folk tune that was popular among the Uygur people living in northwestern Qinghai Province. Again, after Wang Luobin's adaptation, this folk tune soon become a favorite across the whole nation. The song tells of a young lad sitting under his sweetheart's window one moonlight evening, waiting for her to come and meet him. He urges the girl to "open the window, pick one of her roses and gently throw it down to him." Let's listen to this romantic track.

Now, to close our story about Chinese folk music legend Wang Luobin, we'll play his song entitled "The River", adapted from a Russian folk tune in 1950s. It actually didn't become popular until the famous singer Xu Wei remade it yet again in 1998. Xu Wei's voice, sad and a bit distant, fits well with the mood of the song. He sings: "My life and my hope always go in different directions. You and I are on the opposite banks of the river, forever separated by the water." Hope you enjoy it.