First, believe in yourself in difficulties and hardships.
Liu Tianhua was born in Jiangyin, Jiangsu, and his family was very difficult. However, his poor childhood did not obliterate his musical talent. Like most musicians, his music was enlightened very early. Sunan is known as "the hometown of silk and bamboo music". When neighbors organize weddings, they will invite some folk artists to play. Strong musical atmosphere and good traditional atmosphere have influenced Liu Tianhua, who loved music since childhood, to some extent.
Liu Tianhua's fate is full of ups and downs. On a rare occasion, he joined the band of Enlightened Drama Club. From 19 12 to 19 14, he has been active in the drama club. This is a new drama group, and many of its plays are anti-imperialist and anti-feudal or satirize the holiday-free and decadent lifestyle, which makes the local authorities very dissatisfied. 30000000605 The hardships of life once again surround Liu Tianhua. I thought it could develop very well, but my good hopes were dashed.
Although life is hard, his belief in life remains unchanged. He loves music and never gives up the opportunity to learn. As long as he can't do it, he will get to the bottom of it and have great respect for people.
Second, enrich yourself in continuous learning.
Liu Tianhua's learning attitude cannot be ignored. Whether learning national musical instruments or learning western musical instruments, his contribution is unimaginable to ordinary people. Learn erhu and pipa from Jiangnan folk musicians Zhou Shaomei and Shen Zhaozhou. Even when he arrived at Peking University, as a teacher of erhu and pipa in a university, he never stopped studying, and never unilaterally studied music for any reason. As long as it is useful to improve national music, he will learn from others regardless. Therefore, during his work in Peking University, on the one hand, he insisted on the dissemination and teaching of traditional music culture, on the other hand, he actively contacted western music. "I only learn western music to better organize national music in the future." It is this goal that keeps him diligent. His natural inspiration and acquired diligence have made Liu Tianhua's musical achievements.
Liu Tianhua was the first person to sort out and study folk music by scientific methods. He studied many kinds of operas, such as Kunqu Opera and Peking Opera, and applied what he had learned. Later, at the invitation of Mr. Mei Lanfang, he dictated Mei Lanfang's music score, which can accurately record the original singing level and style. In addition, he also set out to write "Anci County Social Spectrum" and "Buddhist Spectrum", but unfortunately he died before finishing his work. In addition, he also studied ancient music theory. It can be seen that the success of Liu Tianhua's creation is actually based on the traditional music in China, exploring a road of blending Chinese and Western music cultures.
Third, the combination of Chinese and western, self-improvement.
It is the essence of Liu Tianhua's view on the integration of Chinese and Western music and his guiding ideology in China's music practice to boldly learn from tradition and open up a new path for China's music from the integration of Chinese and Western music. Liu Tianhua's consistent thought is "combining Chinese and western cultures, making foreign things serve China".
The solo "Yin in Illness" adopts a trilogy structure of reappearance and ending, but in the development of tunes, it follows the techniques of repetition, variation and free development that are commonly used in China folk music. This piece of music was written at the age of 20, and it is the first in his series of excellent works of "Combining Chinese and Western".
"Birds in the Empty Mountain" depicts the scene of a hundred birds contending and full of vitality in the deep mountain canyon. The title is based on the artistic conception of the poem "Empty Mountains Like No One" by the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei. On the one hand, the composer uses timbre with distinctive national characteristics as the keynote of music, on the other hand, he boldly borrows violin playing skills and integrates them with traditional techniques, which is full of innovative spirit. It makes the ancient erhu sound brand-new, and music organically combines the modelling technique of music with lyric techniques. The music is beautiful, vivid and interesting.
Bright Walk is an erhu solo with a unique marching style. It absorbs many advanced factors of western music, such as mode, melody progression and musical structure, and draws lessons from violin playing techniques, such as bow and vibrato, which expands the expression range of erhu, but still maintains a distinctive national style.
"Candle Shadow Shakes Red" is the last erhu work created by Mr. Liu Tianhua. Borrowing the title from Guangdong ditty, the author creatively used Sanban in Kunqu opera, variation and triple beat in western music, and presented a splendid dance scene in front of people.
Fourth, expand yourself in academic activities.
When Liu Tianhua taught in No.5 Middle School, he never gave up academic research during the winter and summer vacations. That summer vacation, he organized the Summer China Music Research Association in his hometown. Invited musicians from all walks of life, such as Mr. Zhou Shaomei. Every day from morning till night, everyone practices and studies national musical instruments and folk music with great enthusiasm. Through this "Summer Folk Music Research Association", some key members of music activities have been trained, which has played a certain popularization role among the masses.
Liu Tianhua's rough experience made him feel that time flies, so his mood of "improving the Chinese music scene" became more and more urgent. Finally, the China Music Improvement Society was established at 1927. The association overcame many difficulties and began to work normally. Music Magazine was also published in the early days, but it could not be published regularly due to financial reasons. However, it had progressive views and rich contents, which had a positive impact on the music life at that time, and everyone's efforts were responded and affirmed to a certain extent.
Liu Tianhua devoted his life to the revitalization of China music. His thought of inheriting tradition, integrating Chinese and western cultures and improving national music also has extensive and far-reaching practical significance today.
(Author: Hunan Normal University Conservatory of Music)
Editor in charge: Tian Hui