Title: Impressions of Russian folk songs

Arranger:Kwok Hang Kei

Year: July 30, 1998

Genre:

• Small ensemble
• Arrangement
• Chinese plucked string orchestra

Call No.: SC1251

Description: Arranged by Kwok Hang-kei in 1998, "Impressions of Russian Folk Songs" is a medley of four Russian folk songs for an ensemble of Chinese plucked strings, dizi, sheng, and percussions, whose sonority seemingly mimics a balalaika orchestra. It begins with a short, moderately paced introduction that establishes the key of B minor and a somber mood for the first song Tianye jingqiaoqiao (Russian: Nichto v polyushke ne kolyshetsya, "The Field is Still"). A transitional passage in the strings with a chromatic, stepwise melody leads to the second, much livelier tune, Xiaopingguo (Russian: Yablochko, "Small Apple"). The tune is driven by a backbeat and repeated with an accelerating tempo in perpetuum mobile fashion, contrasted with a rapid countermelody played by pipa, yangqin, and xylophone players. After a sudden halt, the third tune Xuelianhua (Russian: Kalinka, "Snowball Tree") enters with its signature opening chord and unfolds in ABA form in a once-again accelerating tempo. The last tune Kamalinsikaya (Russian: Kamarinskaya) immediately follows with a brisk tempo and an incrementally thickening texture, only to be interrupted by one last refrain of Xuelianhua that brings the piece to a vigorous closure.

Note:

Instrumentation: di (1), zhongyin sheng (1), diyin sheng (1), yangqin (2), liuqin (1), pipa (1), zhong ruan (1), da ruan (1), timpani (1), tambourine (1), suspended cymbal (1), glockenspiel (1), xylophone (1), gehu (1), diyin gehu (1)