Among the well-known Erhu songs in China, an impassioned and unrestrained "Ben Ma Tu" expresses many people's impassioned and heroic feelings. Since its birth 30 years ago, many well-known erhu players have played this piece. This paper tells the story of Chen Yaoxing, artistic director of the Cultural and Art Troupe of the Political Department of the Second Artillery Corps, and his son, Chen Jun, a young erhu player of the PLA Military Orchestra.
Ben Ma Tu was written by Chen Yaoxing in 1976. At that time, the fourth art performance of the whole army was about to be held, and all the art groups were gearing up and carefully preparing. As an erhu soloist of the Second Artillery Art Troupe, Chen Yaoxing immediately went to Inner Mongolia to collect folk songs after receiving the creative task. During the training of cavalry units, the indomitable momentum and the spirit of daring to fight and win greatly shocked him: the passion expressed by the heroic spirit of the frontier guards with guns and bullets in writing a erhu song surged in his chest, which was difficult to calm down. After returning to Beijing, Chen Yaoxing shut himself in a small room, didn't sleep a wink for a day and a night, and wrote down the score of "galloping horse" in one go. But in practice, I met unexpected difficulties. At first, he wanted to transplant the skills of pipa to erhu, but because the two instruments were too far apart, the effect was not ideal, and the practice was once interrupted. Some kind colleagues and friends advised him one after another: "With your strength, you can win a prize by pulling anything casually, so why bother?" However, Chen Yaoxing's determination has not wavered. He has formed the habit of practicing piano for many years. Either he won't do it or he must do his best. In an exercise, I accidentally jumped up with a bow and touched the strings. Although it was short-lived, Chen Yaoxing sensitively caught it-isn't that the sound of hooves?
During the performance, Chen Yaoxing's passionate performance brought a strong shock and impact to the audience and the judges. The theme of the military songs played by erhu is powerful, the smoke is rolling, the wind and rain are shaky, the soldiers are fighting, and Ma Benteng is coming. In the middle stage, he used his original Ma Benteng playing skills, such as "striking the bow", "double-string fast rocking the bow" and jumping into the bow quickly. , bringing the audience into the fierce scene of horse neighing, lightning speed, charge and tenacious fighting. Near the end, the simulated bugle sounded, and finally suddenly slowed down in the screams of war horses, effectively ending the whole song, which made people feel that the swords and swords were looming, and the soldiers knocked on the cymbals together and sang the song of triumph. This song created many new techniques for erhu performance and pioneered the use of erhu to express military themes. Once it was staged, it caused a strong sensation.
Jun Chen grew up in the high-spirited melody of "A galloping horse". At the age of 4, he studied with his father and was admitted to the military art troupe at the age of 65,438+02. 65,438+04 years old, won the prize in the National Children's Instrumental Music Competition. After further study, he not only improved his piano skills, but also composed and arranged musical instruments, creating a large number of erhu solos and concertos. Although Jun Chen has created and performed many excellent works, the most sacred position in his heart is still reserved for Running Horse.
Before the veteran retired in 2000, Chen Jun went to a frontier defense company in Tibet with the delegation to give a condolence performance. It is said that there are two soldiers in the mountain whistle who didn't watch the performance because they were on duty. He and several main actors volunteered to perform in their posts. Due to the lack of oxygen in the plateau, it was very difficult for Chen Jun and others to breathe when they arrived at the post. They can only breathe oxygen while talking. Seeing this scene, the two soldiers were very moved, resolutely refused to let them perform, and said, "If you sit here and talk to us, we will be satisfied." During the conversation, the old monitor heard that Chen Jun was Chen Yaoxing's son and took his hand and said excitedly, "As soon as I joined the army, I began to listen to your father's galloping horse. Facing the desolate snowy plateau, it is the galloping horse that gives me the strength to overcome difficulties and loneliness. " Chen Jun was moved by the veteran's words. Regardless of everyone's dissuasion, he took out his erhu and played "Horse Pentium". Although it was only three minutes, at the end of the song, Jun Chen's heart beat rapidly and his brain was at a loss. In his words, it's almost like running a five-kilometer cross-country race. Speaking of this experience, Chen Jun is still very excited.
Music has no national boundaries. "Running Horse" not only enjoys a high reputation in China, but also is very popular abroad. Over the years, Chen Yaoxing and his son have performed abroad with the group for many times, covering all continents in the world. They brought "Running Horse" to Sydney Opera House and Vienna Golden Hall, and the live effects of each performance were very good. The most exciting thing is the local Chinese. An 80-year-old man, after listening to "galloping steeds", went backstage and took Jun Chen's hand and said excitedly, "Young man, this piece of music is wonderful, which shows the indomitable spirit of our Chinese nation. Thank you! "
Over the past 30 years, the breakthrough and contribution of "Running Horse" to China's erhu performance will surely go down in the history of music.