MONOLOGUE (IMPRESSIONS ON THE TRUE STORY OF AH Q)
Chen Yi
About this work:
It has been strongly haunting me for a long time to think about ignorance and civilization, lowliness and pride. This piece for solo clarinet is a meditation of introspection inspired by Lu Xun's The True Story of Ah Q. Lu Xun (Zhou Shuren, 1881-1936) is China's best-known 20th-century author of essays and short stories, in which he called on the Chinese people to rise and give battle of feudalism. The piece is commissioned by the Inter-Artes in London, and premiered at a concert The World of Lu Xun in April 23, 1993 in Birmingham, U.K.
Lu Xun (Lu Hsun) (1881-1936), the father of contemporary Chinese literature, was not only a great writer but also a great revolutionary and thinker. With a pen as his weapon he waged a heroic struggle against imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism. The writings he has left us are a treasured part of the rich literary heritage of the Chinese people. During the days when China was under the reactionary rule of imperialist and feudal forces, the author used his articles to expose the ugliness of the dark society. In his articles, the author gives us a perceptive and sensitive account of life at that time. The power of his writing is revealed in his sharp, precise style.
Ah Q is a representative image of common Chinese people in the early 20th century. He is described in Lu's novel A True Story of Ah Q as a Chinese male, simple, ignorant, non-educated, arrogant and conceited, looked down on his own motherland and people, and its culture, but admired foreigners for everything, no independent thinking and no feeling about democracy, but apathetic politically. The author satirized Ah Q, in order to arouse the people to build up a new society with civilization and self-confidence.
I highly respect Mr. Lu Xun and think that every citizen has his/her full responsibility to improve the understanding between peoples within the environments, and make all possible contributions to the society. The solo piece is a meditation of introspection inspired by the True Story of Ah Q.
Version: Solo clarinet
Year composed: 1993
Duration: 00:05:00
Ensemble type: Solo instrument, non-keyboard:Clarinet
Instrumentation:
Instrumentation notes: Clarinet Solo (Bb). Published by Theodore Presser Company [114-40948], 2000, Score $3.95