Mo Li Hua Explained

Mò Li Hūa
Type:Song
Language:Chinese
Genre:Folk
Length:Around 2–3 minutes

"Mo Li Hua" is a Chinese folk song of the "xiaoqu" ("short song") tune type genre, hailing from the Jiangnan region which encompasses the lower banks of the Yangtze river around Suzhou, Shanghai and Hangzhou. The song has been typically dated back to the 18th century to the reign of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty though some scholars have argued that the lyrics predate the Qing dynasty entirely and possibly hail from the Ming era. Over time, many regional variations were created, and the song gained popularity both in China and abroad.[1]

The modern notation of the folk song was first transcribed in writing in the West by the British diplomat John Barrow, an assistant attache to George Macartney, documenting the tune during the Macartney diplomatic mission to the imperial court of Qianlong in 1793. His publication of the song in 1804 in Europe propelled it to a "grand entrance on the world stage" and gained it "widespread international popularity" according to ethnomusicology scholar Frederick Lau.

The song was adapted in performances such as that of the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini's final opera, Turandot, set in Imperial China, where the tune served as the leitmotif for the titular fairy-tale Chinese princess.[2] The tune has been adapted and referenced in "various traditional Chinese and international music concert circuits, concerts by pop bands and solo singers, scholarly debates, new choral arrangements, and state-sponsored events as an emblem of national pride" and has often been hailed a "significant national musical and cultural icon" of China akin to that of Korea's Arirang and Japan's Sakura Sakura.[3]

History

The song has been generally cited to originate during the Qianlong era (1735–1796) of the Qing dynasty, though ethnomusicologist Frederick Lau has noted that "we now know that the earliest “Molihua” lyrics appeared during the Ming dynasty Wanli period (1563–1620)." There are several regional versions of the song,[4] with different lyrics and melody.[5] One version of the song describes a custom of giving jasmine flowers, popular in the southern Yangtze delta region of China. Another, longer version describes the fear of plucking the flower.[5] Through these variations, the song has also been called "Xiao Hua Diao" ("Fresh Flower Melody") and in northern China, the song is sometimes called “La Mei Hua” ("Waxed Plum Blossom") or “Yu Mei Hua” ("Jade Plum Blossom"). The song descends from the "xiaoqu/xiaodiao" tune type genre, which have the characteristics of being "usually multistanza in form and with uniform phrase structures and equal numbers of words." It has been played on ancient metal bells (bianzhong) and modern jade chimes. It uses the five note (pentatonic) scale ubiquitous in Chinese music. The tune is one of xiaodiao ("short tunes"), popular in Chinese urban areas.[6] In 1804 a British diplomat, John Barrow, noted that the tune seems to be one of the most popular songs in China.

The song became one of the first Chinese folk songs to become widely known outside China.[7] The song was also analyzed in the unfinished three volume work of the 19th century Austrian-Czech music historian August Wilhelm Ambros, "History of Music," who remarks on the musical leaps within the melody.[8] As such, the melody had already become well known among Western listeners when it was used by Giacomo Puccini in his opera Turandot (1926), boy choir air "Là, sui monti dell'est", where it is associated with 'Turandot's splendor'.[9] [10]

During World War II, Hollywood films used the "Mo Li Hua" tune to represent China and the Chinese struggle against the Japanese invasion.[11] This includes its appearance in the 1937 Hollywood movie The Good Earth, based on the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winning novel by the 20th century American writer Pearl S. Buck set in rural early 20th century China.[12] It has been adapted by many artists around the world, for example by Kenny G. In 1982 the song found a place on a UNESCO list of recommended songs. When China regained sovereignty of Macau and Hong Kong, in 1999 and 1997, respectively, this music was played in the ceremonies. The song was said to be a favorite of the former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Jiang Zemin (it was at his request that the song was played during the transfer ceremony in Hong Kong).[13] The tune was played during Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party meetings.[14]

This song was sung partially unaccompanied by a young Chinese girl, and partially accompanied by the music by a Peking University female dance troupe in mini-cheongsams holding traditional instruments while dancing to a rock version of the song (whose version has been described as infused with a techno beat) and broadcast to the world at the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, to introduce the next Olympic Games site.[15] [16] [17] An adaptation of the melody by Tan Dun and Wang Hesheng, chosen from more than 4,000 pieces, was played during the medal ceremonies at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as the introductory motif of the victory theme.[18] It was also performed at the 2010 Shanghai Expo opening ceremony by an orchestra with the pianist Lang Lang.Zhao Dongming, head of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games's culture and ceremonies department, commented that "This piece of music reminds you of the gold medals for the Beijing Olympics, which are made of gold and jade". This piece of Tan Dun, an Academy Award winning Chinese contemporary classical composer, cited by China Daily in 2008, described it as "glorious, heartwarming and full of respect... an iconic piece... almost a cultural symbol of China" and "From Puccini to the Beijing Olympics, this melody is a gift from the Chinese people to the world's athletes".

In 2009, Russian singer Vitas, during the Chinese premiere of his program Sleepless Night, at least has also performed "Mo Li Hua" (never included in digital download until then).[19] In 2013, the international Canadian-origin superstar Celine Dion performed the song in Mandarin on the Chinese CCTV-1 as part of its CMG New Year's Gala show welcoming in the 2013 Spring Festival/Chinese New Year. She sang in a duet with Chinese soprano and 2006 Grammy Award nominee classical/folk singer Song Zuying.[20] [21] Since 2018, Kazakh singer Dimash Qudaibergen has performed this song in Mandarin on four occasions, three years in a row, during New Year and Chinese New Year celebration galas on various TV stations[22] including a duet with the first Chinese Vocaloid dubbed "Luo Tianyi" as vocalist on 23rd January 2020.[23] [24] [25]

Puccini's Turandot leitmotif

Puccini began working on his (ultimately incomplete and final opera piece) Turandot in March 1920 after meeting with librettists Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. In his impatience, he began composition in January 1921, before Adami and Simoni had produced the text for the libretto. As with Madama Butterfly, Puccini strove for a semblance of authenticity by using music from the region, even commissioning a set of thirteen custom-made gongs.[26] Baron Edoardo Fassini-Camossi, the former Italian diplomat to China, gave Puccini a music box that played 4 Chinese melodies.[27] Puccini incorporated three of these melodies into his opera, the most memorable of which is the folk melody "Mo Li Hua."[28] Mo Li Hua serves as a leitmotif for Princess Turandot's splendor.[29] In total, eight of the themes from Turandot appear to be based on traditional Chinese music and anthems.

Music historians have subsequently traced Puccini's fascination with Chinese music that led to the usage of the folk song as "thanks to a music box, coming from a former Italian diplomat who had served in China, which he received as a gift." W. Anthony Sheppard, Marylin and Arthur Levitt Professor of Music at Williams College has traced this music box to have been likely the source of the Turandot leitmotif.[30] Sheppard notes that the accompanying music sheets for this music box version which Puccini would have referenced also had mistakingly titled the name of the song as “Sinfa” (“Fresh Flowers”).[31]

Puccini's specific rendition of "Mo Li Hua" through the Turandot leitmotif has gained its own compositional popularity and the Chinese-American composer Tan Dun's notable 1990 Nine Songs: Water Spirit performance where "Mo Li Hua" was referenced has been argued by composer Christian Utz to be an evolution upon Puccini's quotated version rather than having drawn from the original folk tune itself.[32]

Lyrics

There are several versions of the song, with different lyrics and melody.

First variant

One of the popular versions lyrics goes:

Traditional Chinese

好一朵美麗的茉莉花
好一朵美麗的茉莉花
芬芳美麗滿枝椏
又香又白人人誇
讓我來將你摘下
送給別人家
茉莉花呀茉莉花

Simplified Chinese

好一朵美丽的茉莉花
好一朵美丽的茉莉花
芬芳美丽满枝桠
又香又白人人夸
让我来将你摘下
送给别人家
茉莉花呀茉莉花

Pinyin

Hǎo yī duǒ měilì de mòlihuā
Hǎo yī duǒ měilì de mòlihuā
Fēn fāng měilì mǎn zhī yā
Yòu xiāng yòu bái rén rén kuā
Ràng wǒ lái jiāng nǐ zhāi xià
Sòng gěi biérén jiā
Mòlihuā ya mòlihuā

Literal translation fitting music

What a pretty Jasmine flower,
What a pretty Jasmine flower,
Nice to see and nice to smell!
Praiseworthy scent, and white as well!
You are what I'd like to pluck
– Giving other people (luck).
Oh so pretty, Jasmine Flower!

Poetic translation

Flower of jasmine, so fair!
Flower of jasmine, so fair!
Budding and blooming here and there,
Pure and fragrant all do declare.
Let me pick you with tender care,
Sweetness for all to share.
Jasmine fair, oh Jasmine fair.

Literary translation

What a Jasmine Brimming with Beauty[33]
What a jasmine brimming with beauty!
What a jasmine brimming with beauty!
Aromas round twigs dance glee.
It's sweet 'n white, all praise highly.
Please allow me to pick thee,
as a gift ne'er twee.
Jasmine thee, yeah, Jasmine thee.

English version sing-along

Hǎo yī duǒ měi lì de mò li huā
Hǎo yī duǒ měi lì de mò li huā
Fragrant flowers filled the air,
Beautiful blossoms everywhere
Choose a blossom white and pure
Give to the one that you adore
Mò li huā, yā, mò li huā.

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Second variant

Another popular versions' lyrics, with three strophes:[5]

Traditional Chinese

好一朵茉莉花,
滿園花開香也香不過她,
我有心采一朵戴
又怕看花的人兒罵.

好一朵茉莉花,
茉莉花開雪也白不過她,
我有心采一朵戴,
又怕旁人笑話.

好一朵茉莉花,
滿園花開比也比不過她,
我有心采一朵戴,
又怕來年不發芽.

Simplified Chinese

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
又怕看花的人儿要将我骂.

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.

Hanyu Pinyin

Hǎo yī duo mòlìhuā,
Mǎn yuán huā kāi xiāng yě xiāng bùguò tā,
Wǒ yǒuxīn cǎi yī duo dài
Yòu pà kàn huā de rén er mà.
Hǎo yī duo mòlìhuā,
Mòlìhuā kāi xuě yě bái bu guò tā,
Wǒ yǒuxīn cǎi yī duo dài,
Yòu pà pángrén xiàohuà.
Hǎo yī duo mòlìhuā,
Mǎn yuán huā kāi bǐ yě bǐ bùguò tā,
Wǒ yǒuxīn cǎi yī duo dài,
Yòu pà láinián bù fāyá.

Literal translation

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.

In popular culture

In 2018, the song was heard in the beginning of music video of Gluk’oZa and Leningrad’s song “Zhu-Zhu” (“Жу-жу”). The song was also in beginning of music video of 2021 song by Gluk’oZa named “Moths” (“Мотыльки”). In the 2016 turn-based strategy 4X video game developed by Firaxis Games, Civilization VI, "Mo Li Hua" is the civilization theme for China, progressing from the original melody during the ancient period to a orchestral evolution of the song in the modern period.

See also

Notes

The song has been mistakenly titled as Chinese: 魔力紅, which is pronounced similarly.

Though most commonly known in English as the Jasmine Flower, the title has also been translated as Beautiful Jasmine Flower[34] or Such a Beautiful Jasmine.[35] It has also been transliterated as Mo Li Hua,[4] Mo-Li Hua,[9] Moli Hua[12] and Molihua.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2017-10-25 . The Amazing Molihua: Culture and Meaning of China's Most Well-known Folksong Happening @ Michigan . 2024-08-15 . events.umich.edu . en.
  2. Book: Leone . Massimo . The waterfall and the fountain: comparative semiotic essays on contemporary arts in China . Surace . Bruno . Zeng . Jun . 2019 . Aracne editrice . 978-88-255-2787-2 . 1st . I saggi di Lexia . Canterano (RM).
  3. Book: Yoshihara, Mari . Musicians from a Different Shore: Asians and Asian Americans in Classical Music . 2007 . Temple University Press . j.ctt14bszkj . 978-1-59213-332-1.
  4. Book: Yayoi Uno Everett. Frederick Lau. Locating East Asia in Western art music. 17 March 2011. 2004. Wesleyan University Press. 978-0-8195-6662-1. 276–.
  5. Book: Hong Zhang. Zu-yan Chen. Robert Daly. Chinese Through Song. 17 March 2011. January 2001. Global Academic Publishing. 978-1-58684-122-5.
  6. Book: Alan Robert Thrasher. Sizhu instrumental music of South China: ethos, theory and practice. 17 March 2011. 2008. BRILL. 978-90-04-16500-7. 116–.
  7. Book: Jie Jin. Chinese Music. 17 March 2011. 31 March 2011. Cambridge University Press. 978-0-521-18691-9.
  8. Book: Janz . Tobias . Decentering musical modernity: perspectives on East Asian and European music history . Yang . Chien-Chang . 2019 . Transcript . 978-3-8376-4649-8 . Music and Sound Culture = Musik und Klangkultur . Bielefeld.
  9. Book: William Ashbrook. Harold Powers. Puccini's Turandot: The End of the Great Tradition. 17 March 2011. 1991. Princeton University Press. 978-0-691-02712-8. 90.
  10. Book: Burton D. Fisher. Opera Classics Library Puccini Companion: The Glorious Dozen. 17 March 2011. 1 June 2004. Opera Journeys Publishing. 978-1-930841-62-8. 696–.
  11. News: Sheppard . W. Anthony . 2012-06-15 . Music Box as Muse to Puccini's 'Butterfly' . 2024-08-15 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  12. Book: Peter M. Chang. Chou Wen-Chung: the life and work of a contemporary Chinese-born American composer. 17 March 2011. 28 February 2006. Scarecrow Press. 978-0-8108-5296-9.
  13. [Ian Johnson (writer)|Ian Johnson]
  14. Book: Robert Lawrence Kuhn. How China's leaders think: the inside story of China's reform and what this means for the future. 17 March 2011. 14 July 2009. John Wiley and Sons. 978-0-470-82445-0. 339–.
  15. Web site: Chen. Qian. 'Jasmine Flower' chosen for medal ceremony music. 18 November 2008. Shanghai Daily. 21 July 2008. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716052920/http://olympics.shanghaidaily.com/news_story.asp?ncId=1&id=72. 16 July 2011.
  16. Book: Monroe Edwin Price. Owning the Olympics: narratives of the new China. 17 March 2011. 28 February 2008. University of Michigan Press. 978-0-472-05032-1. 202–.
  17. Book: Bohlman, Philip Vilas . The Cambridge history of world music . 2013 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-86848-8 . New York.
  18. Web site: Classical piece will ring in ears of winners. China Daily.
  19. http://vitas.com.ru/pressa_eng.php Vitas' official site
  20. News: Celine Dion's Chinese New Year song. BBC News.
  21. Web site: Song Zu Ying Artist . 2024-05-20 . GRAMMY.com.
  22. Web site: Dimash – Jasmine (茉莉花) the Sing New Era CCTV3. YouTube. 2 January 2019 .
  23. Web site: Dimash and Luo Tianyi (洛天依) – Jasmine. YouTube. 25 January 2020 .
  24. Web site: 2012-07-25 . VOCALOID史上初 中国語の歌声ライブラリ『VOCALOID3 Library 洛天依』を 中国及び台湾で販売開始 ビープラッツ – サブスクリプションをすべてのビジネスに。月額・継続課金の総合プラットフォームなら、ビープラッツ。 . bplats.
  25. Web site: Zhang . Jane . 2019-03-02 . Virtual idols leave everything to their fans' imagination . 2019-04-03 . South China Morning Post.
  26. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/arts/music/09vanhyning.html "Howard Van Hyning, Percussionist and Gong Enthusiast, Dies at 74"
  27. Book: Christian Utz . Musical Composition in the Context of Globalization . 2021 . transcript Verlag . 9783839450956.
  28. Web site: W. Anthony Sheppard . 17 June 2012 . Music Box as Muse to Puccini's 'Butterfly' . The New York Times.
  29. Book: Ashbrook . William . Puccini's Turandot: The End of the Great Tradition . Harold . Powers . 23 April 1991 . Princeton University Press . 9780691027128.
  30. News: Sheppard . W. Anthony . 2012-06-15 . Music Box as Muse to Puccini's 'Butterfly' . 2024-08-15 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  31. News: Sheppard . W. Anthony . 2012-06-15 . Music Box as Muse to Puccini's 'Butterfly' . 2024-08-15 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  32. Book: Janz . Tobias . Decentering musical modernity: perspectives on East Asian and European music history . Yang . Chien-Chang . 2019 . Transcript . 978-3-8376-4649-8 . Music and Sound Culture = Musik und Klangkultur . Bielefeld.
  33. Web site: 歌曲英译- 好一朵美丽的茉莉花_新浪博客. Sina Corp.
  34. http://www.economist.com/node/18291529?story_id=18291529 "Jasmine stirrings in China: No awakening, but crush it anyway: The government goes to great lengths to make sure all is outwardly calm
  35. News: Clem . Will . 3 March 2011 . The flowering of an unconventional revolution . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110305133754/http://topics.scmp.com/news/china-news-watch/article/The-flowering-of-an-unconventional-revolution . 5 March 2011 . 3 March 2011 . . Hong Kong.