3rd CUIMF The Choir of Royal Holloway - Jasmine Flower "Mo Li Hua" 皇家霍洛威合唱团 茉莉花

Details

Description

This song that is performed by the Choir of Royal Holloway, led by Rupert Gough, is one of the most prominent Chinese folk song ever, and. “Mo Li Hua” (茉莉花), or directly translated as “Jasmine Flower”, is a Jiangsu folk song, and arranged by Chen Yi for this performance. This song is one of the first Chinese folk songs to become widely known outside China, and is often used in grand official events, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It was also adapted by many artists across the globe, including the famous saxophonist – Kenny G.

“Mo Li Hua” presents the euphemistic, smooth, soft and beautiful style of Jiangnan, the South of the Yangtze River. It vividly depicts a gentle and virtuous girl who is attracted by the fragrance and beauty of the jasmine flower, as she couldn’t bear to pick the flower, but at the same time unwilling to give up her love and attachment towards the flower. The whole song is graceful, profound and implicit. The literal translation of the lyrics will be as follows.

“What a jasmine flower!
Of all the fragrant flowers and grasses in the garden, there is none as fragrant as it.
I want to pluck one and wear it, but the gardener would scold me.

What a jasmine flower!
When jasmine blooms, not even snow is whiter.
I want to pluck one and wear it, but I’m afraid those around me would mock me.

What a jasmine flower!
Of all the blooms in the garden, none compares to it.
I want to pluck one and wear it, but I’m afraid it wouldn’t bud next year.”

《茉莉花》，江苏民歌，由Chen Yi改编。此曲表现了委婉流畅、柔和与优美的江南风格，生动刻画了一个文雅贤淑的少女被芬芳美丽的茉莉花所吸引，欲摘不忍，欲弃不舍的爱慕和眷恋之情。全曲婉转精美，感情深厚又含蓄。
“好一朵茉莉花
好一朵茉莉花,
满园花开香也香不过它。
我有心采一朵戴,
又怕看花的人儿骂。
好一朵茉莉花,
好一朵茉莉花,
茉莉花开雪也白不过它。
我有心采一朵戴,
又怕旁人笑话。
好一朵茉莉花,
好一朵茉莉花
满园花开比也比不过它
我有心采一朵戴,
又怕来年不发芽”

http://www.cuimf.com