US violinist honors Chinese folk masterpiece

After four months of careful preparation, violin soloist Chin Kim from the United States recently unveiled his interpretation of Moon Reflected on Erquan Spring – one of the most revered pieces in Chinese folk music.

"This is a genius work with beautiful melodies and logically developed variations that convey the beauty of life and nature," remarked the 66-year-old New York-based violinist. "I was blown away and deeply moved the first time I heard it."

Composed by Hua Yanjun (1893-1950), better known as Ah Bing – a blind musician from Wuxi city in East China's Jiangsu province – Moon Reflected on Erquan Spring resonates deeply with the Chinese people for its emotional depth. Renowned pianist Lang Lang once hailed it as the "soul of Chinese music".

The beloved masterpiece was recorded along with five other compositions in September 1950 by the Central Conservatory of Music, using a wired recorder in a desperate effort to preserve Ah Bing's musical legacy. Ah Bing passed away just a few months later, in December.

Kim, an internationally recognized soloist who has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra and top prizewinner at prestigious competitions such as the Queen Elisabeth and Paganini, hopes his performance serves as a humble tribute to the late legend.

"I listened over and over for months to the original recording and every detail that he was doing. I could never recreate 100 percent accurately what he did, but I wanted at least to capture the essence of it," he said.

Kim's decision to play the piece, originally composed for the erhu (a two-stringed Chinese fiddle), fulfills a promise he made five years ago during a concert in Wuxi, when he expressed his desire to learn and perform the piece but was unable to do so due to lack of preparation and the absence of a suitable score.

In April, a Chinese friend from Wuxi reached out to Kim, asking if he remembered his interest, he recalled. "I wasn't sure at first, but once I listened to the piece, I knew I had to do it."

One of the biggest challenges Kim encountered was adapting the erhu composition for violin. Among countless adaptations for various instruments and even vocal renditions, however, he couldn't find a violin transcription that stayed true to the original seven-minutes length and six-variation structure.

A statue of Ah Bing in downtown Wuxi. [Photo/chinadaily.com]

"Despite everything Ah Bing endured in his life — the illness and poverty — he maintained an inner positivity, which is reflected in his music. But you can only hear it if you stay faithful to his original version," Kim emphasized.

Undeterred, the maestro recreated the piece from the original recording, adding handwritten notes to ensure fidelity to the work. The process, he said, deepened his understanding of both the piece and Ah Bing's spirit.

Interestingly, Kim's interpretation of Moon Reflected on Erquan Spring offers a different perspective from the traditional view of the piece as a sorrowful reflection of Ah Bing's tragic life.

"The melody begins with 'Mi Re Mi Do Si La', the only time it appears in the entire piece, hinting at sorrow," Kim explained. "After that I feel like Ah Bing is taking a walk through his life journey."

Chin Kim performs in Wuxi in May 2019. [File photo]

In the second variation, Kim imagines a friend joining the composer, and by the third variation, a kind and empathetic female companion shows up.

Kim interprets the repeating melody in the third variation as this female figure, symbolizing a conversation between her and Ah Bing. "The music builds to a climax after the fifth variation, representing a triumphant feeing of all positive emotions with no trace of the sadness of his life," he said.

Wuxi, Ah Bing's birthplace, has made significant strides in recent years to enhance its cultural and musical reputation. Efforts include hosting numerous concerts and performances themed around Ah Bing, establishing a symphony orchestra, and inviting international musicians for cultural exchanges.

Kim praised Wuxi's efforts, adding, "Music is universal. It can be appreciated by anyone, but more advanced music has the power to elevate our consciousness." He concluded with a smile: "Hold more concerts, invite more artists – and invite me back!"

Yan Weijue contributed to this story.