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18. Departing Snow Goose Melody
- Standard tuning:2 5 6 1 2 3 5 6 played as 1 2 4 5 6 1 2 |
別鵠操
1
Bie Gu Cao |
Yuefu Shiji, Folio 58, #11, has commentary, three sets of lyrics called Beihe Cao) Parting Crane Melody) and six sets of lyrics called Bie He (Parting Crane) (q.v.).3 The third one, by Han Yu (768-824) in the voice of Shangling Muzi, provides the lyrics for the song in Taigu Yiyin. In Yuefu Shiji the title is still Bie He Cao, but there is a footnote saying that Han Yu called it Bie Gu Cao. Han Yu's own preface in Complete Tang Poems is apparently otherwise the same as here.4
The preface in Yuefu Shiji also has the same story, but it adds that Bie He Cao was one of the four grand qin melodies. These have not survived, there being only this short melody and the related one in Chongxiu Zhenchuan Qinpu (1585).5
Zhu Changwen's biography of Shangling Muzi adds that Shangling Muzi was torn between the necessity of obeying his parents and finding an heir, and loving his wife.
Han Yu's lyrics are translated below.
Original preface>6
According to Qin Lu (Qin Records), Shangling Muzi had taken a wife, but after five years there was no son. Muzi's parents wanted him to change to another wife. His wife heard this and in the middle of the night cried sadly. Muzi was moved by this and so wrote this song.
Music and lyrics: One section7
A largely syllabic setting, following the structure of the lyrics:
([5+5] x 3, then [5+7] x 1)
The male snowgoose arrives carrying a twig,
the female snowgoose preens (with makeup) as he returns.
They have made a nest, but have no child,
From duty this is a deviation.
The grand river-size of the Han,
The small bird-size of a snow goose,
Perhaps there will be no more meetings,
yet they can follow each other flying around a tree.
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a
separate page)
1 1955.170 bie gu says it is the same as 1955.175-7 bie gu, and gives special reference to Han Yu. See also Bie He Cao in Xu Jian, Chapter 2.B.. (Return)
2 Taigu Yiyin does not specify the names of modes. (Return)
3
Bie He or Bie He Cao (Parting Crane, or Parting Crane Melody)
The respective entry in Yuefu Shiji, Folio 58, #11, is organized as follows.
- Cui Bao Gujin Zhu says,
(The lyrics are by:)
Bie He
4
Taigu Yiyin has "five ten" (50) instead of the Tang collections's "five nian" (5 years), but that must be a misprint.
(Return)
5
Zha's Guide, 13/141/248
(Return)
6
Original Chinese text not yet online.
(Return)
7
Original Chinese lyrics not yet online.
(Return)
(No separate commentary from Bie He Cao above)