Listening Journal Week #6

Title of piece:  

“Dongfang Hong” “East is Red”

Performer:  

Shanghai Philharmonic Chorus

Culture or Origin:  

China

Orchestration: 

Traditional Western Classical Orchestra and Chorus

Cultural Context:

This piece, “Dongfang Hong”, is one of the most popular and most famous pieces composed during Chinese Cultural Revolution of the 1960’s.  The lyrics, which are translated into English below, glorify Mao Zedong as a person and as a political figure in addition to praising the Communist Party and the People’s Republic of China.  This song was sung by students at the beginning of each school day and by workers in every factory.

This style of song is known as geming gequ or Revolutionary Song.  The purpose of these pieces was to transmit and reinforce cultural ideas and teachings.  Like “Dongfong Hong”, these pieces are usually march like in character and are in major keys.  In addition, they usually are composed for western style instruments.  The melody stays consistent throughout the piece while the lyrics change.  This makes the piece easy to remember and easy to sing in large groups.


English Translation

The east is red, the sun rises
China has brought forth a Mao Zedong
He brings fortune to the people
He er hei yo, he is the savior for the people
Chairman Mao loves the people
He is our guide
The build a new China
Hu er hei yo, he leads us forward
The Communist Party is like the sun
Wherever it shines, there is light
Wherever there is a Communist Party
Hu er hei yo, there the people are free.