民族室内乐合奏-Dunhuang《敦煌》｜姜莹｜Echo of Jade Music Collective🇦🇺

敦煌作为丝绸之路上一颗璀璨而又耀眼的明珠，以其神秘而广博的内涵、丰富而精美的历史遗存，承载着中西方文明交流的历史，延续着万古文化的血脉。

乐曲巧妙地运用中国民族乐器的特性，把西域调式与印度调式相结合，体现着古代四大文明的唯一汇聚地——敦煌所具有的多元、传奇的色彩。乐曲在节奏及情感表达上分为两个部分，第一部分着重表现了敦煌古城千里戈壁的凄凉与萧瑟。第二部分表达了今日敦煌的繁荣与生机。

全曲以古筝低沉的回转开篇，新笛、二胡、琵琶和阮紧随奏响，时而欢快、激昂，时而婉转、忧伤，使人仿佛穿越于敦煌4000年兴衰起伏的历史长河之中，让人脑海中不禁浮想出“古道驿站”、“敦煌盛世”的繁盛景象以及莫高窟壁画中“飞天”、“反弹琵琶”等千姿百态的乐舞场景。

第二部分由音色润丽、清晰的曲笛取代了表现中低音域的新笛，曲风即刻变得生动、活泼，同时加以表演者以手轻拍二胡琴膜模拟鼓声、马蹄声，拍打琵琶和阮的面板以加强节奏感。这首曲子展现了中国民族乐器丰富的表现力以及中国民族乐曲的传承与创新。

Conductor：Ray Lin
Di-zi：Jing Ma
Erhu：Fanghui chen（Anna）
Pipa：Chuchu Zhang
Ruan：Sally Xi
Guzheng：Cara Shen
Piano：Sean Cai

Dunhuang, a brilliant and dazzling pearl on the Silk Road, carries the history of cultural exchange between East and West with its mysterious and profound connotations and its rich and exquisite historical relics, continuing the ancient cultural heritage. The composition skillfully utilizes the characteristics of Chinese traditional instruments, combining the modes of the Western Regions and India, reflecting the diverse and legendary colors of Dunhuang, the unique convergence point of the four ancient civilizations.

The music is divided into two parts in terms of rhythm and emotional expression. The first part focuses on portraying the desolation and bleakness of the thousand-mile Gobi Desert surrounding the ancient city of Dunhuang. The second part expresses the prosperity and vitality of Dunhuang today.

The entire piece opens with the low and revolving tones of the guzheng, followed by the xindi (new flute), erhu, pipa, and ruan. The music alternates between joyful and passionate, gentle and sorrowful, making one feel as if they are traversing through the 4,000-year history of Dunhuang's rise and fall. The imagery of "ancient post stations," the prosperity of "Dunhuang's golden age," and the diverse musical and dance scenes depicted in the murals of the Mogao Caves, such as "Flying Apsaras" and "Reversed Pipa Playing," inevitably come to mind.

In the second part, the clear and delicate tones of the qudi (flute) replace the xindi, which had been expressing the middle and low registers, instantly making the melody lively and vivid. The performers simulate the sounds of drums and horse hooves by gently tapping the erhu's membrane and striking the pipa and ruan’s soundboards to enhance the rhythm. This piece showcases the rich expressiveness of Chinese traditional instruments as well as the inheritance and innovation of Chinese traditional music.