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China's national anthem is the "March of the
Volunteers." Nie Er wrote the music in 1934, and Tian Han wrote the lyrics
as a patriotic march. In 1949, the tune was adopted as the national anthem.
The anthem mixes new and traditional Chinese music. The first
phrase suggests a major mode using F♯. However, the piece becomes
Chinese pentatonic after that point. The first phrase also leads one to expect
symmetrical four-bar phrases, but the tune quickly takes a more flexible
Chinese course.
It was officially made the national anthem in 1982, and a
provision for it was added to the Chinese constitution in 2004.
Here are the English lyrics.
Stand up! Those who refuse to be slaves!
With our flesh and blood, let’s build our newest Great Wall!
The Chinese Nation is at its greatest peril,
Each one is forced to let out one last roar.
Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
We are billions of one heart,
Braving the enemies’ fire, March on!
Braving the enemies’ fire, March on!
March on! March on! On!
Now let’s be good Chinese learners and study some of the
keywords from the Chinese national anthem lyrics.
Interesting words there, Jo-Anne.
ReplyDeleteYes I thought so too
DeleteReading those lyrics and knowing that a dictator rules China, I wonder how many people actually believe the words at all. Thanks, Jo-Anne!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, but many it is what they know
DeleteWell I wasn't expecting to hear the Chinese National Anthem sung by English people. I was expecting a Chinese accent I guess.
ReplyDeleteMe either but it was the first clip I found and I was so tired I just went with it
DeleteHm....things we would not have known.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much we don't know
DeleteNot a favorite--lol! Kind of odd words to this one.
ReplyDeleteI get that
Delete