BRIGHT SHENG SEVEN TUNES HEARD IN CHINA for solo cello edited by Yo-Yo Ma ED 4087 first printing: April 2001PROGRAM NOTE, Based on folk melodies and other songs collected by the composer from various regions of China, Seven Tunes Heard in China was written for cellist Yo-Yo Ma. It was commissioned by the Pacifie Symphony for Dr. George Cheng in honor of his wife Arlene Cheng, to whom the work is dedicated. The movements and their sources are as follows: 1. Seasons (Qinghai) Spring is coming, Narcissi are blooming, The maiden is out from her boudoir secking, My love boy, lend me a hand, please. IL. Gnessing Song (Yunnan) Baby, [am testing you: What is the long, long thing in the sky? What is the long, long thing under the sea? What is the long, long thing sold on the street? What is the long, long thing in front of you, young girl? IIL The Little Cabbage (Hebei) The little cabbage is tuming yellow on the ground, She lost her parents when she was two or three Mom, my Mom! IV, The Drunken Fisherman Classical, based on a tune originally written for the gin, an ancient seven-string Chinese zither. V. Diu Diu Dong (Taiwan) The train is coming, It is going through the tunnel! VI. Pastoral Ballade (Mongolia) White clouds are floating in the blue, blue sky Under the clouds, the grass is covered by the snow-white sheep. The sheep are like pieces of white silver, Spreading over the green, green grass. How lovely! VIL. Tibetan Dance Based on a well-known Tibetan folk dance. {first performance of Seven Tunes Heard in China: Yo-Yo Ma, cello, October 9, 1995 Cheng Hall, Irvine Barclay Theatre, Los Angeles recording available on compact dise: Yo-Yo Ma- Solo (Sony Classical SK 64110) duration: ca. 20 minutesPERFORMANCE NOTES 1. All grace notes occur on the beat. 2. A solid line between pitches indicates glissando. 3 ~T glissando occurs at very end of first note value JT glissando occurs immediatelySEVEN TUNES HEARD IN CHINA for solo cello I. Seasons Bright Sheng edited by Yo-Yo Ma d=72 _ y piby 92 ~ Bliss ap See eis oon poco f=? ve Pm (poco) 2 —" poco tasto gh © 1995 by G. Schemes, ne. (ASCAP) Kew York NY "Tventonal Copy Sec A prohied by Federal epfedscton ot peblcaon SSadeabect te elmina provecronII. Guessing Song des YP TAA 8 poco taste, Ss be:III. Little Cabbage be J = 58-60 sory dolce, melanconico —— Molen IV. The Drunken Fisherman Elegantly and in tempo 4 = 40 senza sord ie. + v v v, y * i = —— = = = ie ir Sr Het lip 6 t os voy = mo ess + Use a guitar pluck or a plastic card (e.g, a credit card) to pluck the notes under the sign.4 = 84 (poco pitt mosso) ——d Te a « © Nail piza, near bridge.ir Fe olow gliss) a ss fi gt ne & ra23 a ae, ——— o (>) ie + r — aE = . By be B= = == . RE — SSS mp v 2 a _ zp te RRR RRR ERE a —? SE = 96 ossia: octave higher 1 a —— a 7 o lunge 98 avs 2 = 2 wwV. Diu Diu Dong J = 108-112 gliss. 4 3a), cxvesninoharm, wis non rit. “chin Se + wees Wide vibrato.VI. Pastoral Ballade J=54 mM sulD ap. af warmly spray =p wide vib, poco Sees oe ae aoe <7 — mp mp poco meno mosso (d = 50) ogo meno mosse poco tasto WS a tempo ES Ia so pp dolce accel. al. . al et op - poco meno mosso atempo | accel.al.... . . d22) ooo ao 9% 3m _F4280 vi wo | d= 72 1-80 |10 to Yo-Yo VIL. Tibetan Dance 2 = 132-138 poco ont ord, poco = a pont. 7 Dt P dolee (poco) poco oy ord, + L.H. tapping the cello body.w mf f12 f90. $$ we B>raPrergeerst rar!frog (sul ©) poco pont, __ Poco pont. —~——~ ord, pdoler poco eH § © Approximate pitches.