Hearing Bells Ringing at Jian Ge,
a beautiful poem that expresses human emotions, was
written by Han Xiaochuang, who lived in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It
describes the lovesick Emperor Xuanzong, who fled the capital during the
Rebellion of An Lushan and Shi Siming. The emperor spent the first night at Jian
Ge. Amidst the ringing of bells in the wind and rain, he hardly slept, and
remembered his beloved concubine Yang Yuhuan, who died tragically in Maweipo.
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| Luo Yusheng, a great performer of Jingyun
Dagu |
The piece has been sung by Dagu artists for
nearly a century, and was first sung by Shandong Dagu artists. It marked
the highest achievement of the Luo School artists. Luo Yusheng expresses the
bitter sadness and remorse of the emperor with strong and deep emotions,
accompanied by sweet-sounding string music and the slow and light beating of
drums. The strings convey sadness, which touches an emotional depth with the
audience. When Luo Yusheng comes to the words: "Could it be that you were too
lazy to take the journey with bow-shaped shoes under the early morning moon,"
she expresses truly deep human emotions that again touch the hearts of the
audience. The style of the Luo School is manifested fully in her
singing.
Luo has sung this piece for more than half a
century, reaching the peak of perfection in her own generation. More than half a
million gramophone records of her songs have been sold. In 1989, she was awarded
the Golden Record Prize by the China Record
Company.