Dance of the Yi People, composed by Wang Huiran in 1960, is a classical Pipa
composition that airs a sense of happy life and can be heard almost everywhere
in China.
This piece combines the spirit of the folk
tradition and the best use of the Pipa technique, which becomes the model
for contemporary Pipa compositions.
In the first part, it's slow and then
becomes faster. It seems that we're at a Yi people's village in the tender
moonlight.
In the 2nd part, the nice slow
melody gives us an impression of dancing Yi girls.
In the 3rd, 4th,
5th and 6th parts, the melody is more rapid and powerful
and makes us think of bold and handsome Yi lads. Then the music tends to be
tender, like Yi maids get back from the heaven.
In the 7th, 8th and
9th parts, it's the reappearance of the first part to make people
filled with great happiness. Then the music fades away slowly like people
getting back in the sound produced by Lusheng far
away.