The Modern Pioneer Of The Chinese Sheng Art

Hu Tianquan is an internationally famous sheng music performer, and a first-level performer of china, and he is the literary general who receives special allowance from State Council. In 1956, Hu and DongHongDe jointly created sheng solo "phoenix wings ", making sheng instrument board art stage in solo form for the first time, and this perfectly showed the unique national charm of shengs ,so this is a significant breakthrough of the artistic development of sheng. In 1957,in the 6th world youth and student peace and friendship music festival held in Moscow, the sheng solo "phoenix wings "and" the great victory "performed by Hu both won the gold medal. Over the past half century, Hu had been enjoying the reputation of"the best sheng-performer"in china ,and he is a person of milestone in the development of sheng. He have made indelible contributions to the modern sheng art in aspects of composing, improving the instrument and performing technique. In 2002, the collection of Hutianquan published by North Mountain Press gives valuable materials for sheng artistic form in china. After the artistic practices of more than sixty years, Hu is extremely adept in performing sheng and achieved wondrous artistic accomplishments. After more than sixty years'struggle, Hu grew from an ordinary farmer to a folk music artist enjoying general-level treatment. At present , Hutianquan, who is 77 years old now, is a world–renowned and a general-level sheng performer. At present , Hutianquan, who is 77 years old now, is a world–renowned and a general-level sheng performer.The thesis consists of introduction, conclusion and four chapters. Chapter one mainly introduces the artistic life of Hu. It illustrates the growing path of Hu from three aspects: stepped onto artistic road in teenage, musical activities in art troupe, and artistic activities in the chorus. Chapter two give a brief of Hu's performing art, demonstrating the exquisite techniques of Hu from the unique performing style, good control of breath and innovation of techniques. First, Hu's performance has the beauty of harmony that incorporated in the traditional humanity spirit of china. He kept pursuing the art stage of harmony, and the rich spiritual connotation and the meaningful implication of sheng. Second, Hu is good at flexible and changeable breath control, so he is good at performing song expressing volatile emotion. Third, Hu searches inspiration from life based on the requirements of sheng art expression, and creates and innovate more than thirty sheng performing techniques, greatly broadening the form of artistic expression of sheng. Chapter three analyses and concludes the musical works of Hu's solos and concertos. Based on the different styles of his works, Hu's works are divided into three stages : initiation, development, and further exploration. Together with other musicians, Hu composed and rewrote more than thirty songs, among which Phoenix Wings, I Love Masisa, Grassland Cavalrymen circulate widely. Chapter four discusses the improvements that Hu contributed to the structure of sheng. First, Hu extended the 17 tubes and 13 reeds to 17 tubes and 17 reeds , then to 19 reeds , 21 reeds, 23 reeds ,24 reeds, 27 reeds, 30 reeds. Second, To solve the imbalance of volume in high, middle, and low range, Hu and Nizhishan jointly tried to install amplification tube in the high range and resonance cover in the middle and low range. They also connected the adjacent reeds so as to universalize the volume of high, middle, and low range and improve the timbre of sheng. Third, combined the Bawu with sheng, and invented Bawusheng, adding a new member to the sheng family, and broadening the power of artistic expression of sheng.This thesis mainly discusses the enormous contribution that Hu has made to the evolution of the modern sheng artistic form, and reveals the great power he provided to the sublimation of modern sheng. He displayed sheng, which is an old instrument, could be used to accord, witnessed the historical development of sheng. So this thesis is not only a conclusion of Hu's artistic practices of sheng, but also a outline and exploration of modern sheng artistic evolution, and it is also an accumulation and supplement of modern sheng historical materials.