《自強交響曲》解說詞 / Notes on The Symphony of Ceaseless Exertion

【廈門大學於2011年4月6日慶祝建校90週年，當晚舉行交響音樂會，首演作曲家黃安倫獻給大學創辦人、華僑領袖陳嘉庚先生(1874–1961)的《自強交響曲》(按：廈大校訓為“自強不息，止於至善”)。現場備有中英文解說詞供聽眾取閱；中文作者不詳，英譯者 Allen Zhuang； 全文如下：】(參見相關報導)

献给“华侨旗帜”陈嘉庚 自强交响曲 ——为厦门大学九十华诞而作 黄安伦，作品七十二号（2010） 乐曲主题: 从陈嘉庚先生创办集美学校、尤其是创办厦门大学的光辉历程，提炼出陈嘉庚“自强不息”的民族浩然之气和“止于至善”的人格完美境界，以交响乐的形式，表现“华侨旗帜、民族光辉”陈嘉庚崇高的“倾资兴学”的壮举和伟大的爱国主义的精神，表达后人对陈嘉庚先生的敬仰之情和将嘉庚精神继往开来的凌云之志。乐曲分为四个乐章：宏愿；天职；异彩；至善。 一、宏愿 19世纪之初，陈嘉庚抱着“改造国家社会”和为故乡儿女“自由幸福”的心愿，创办集美学校。从此，开始了辉煌的教育救国的办学历程。乐曲在南音古雅的箫声中开始，带出了陈嘉庚一生的乡音，那魂萦梦牵的故土与祖国，也传达出先生生命中那源远流长的中华传统血脉。乐曲转为激昂雄浑，呈现一股不屈的精神，其顽强的能量就象火山灼热的岩浆，在厚重的压力下不断滚动，奋进，向上，终于在强烈的爆发中喷薄而出。该乐章仍以“宁静致远”的南音箫声收束，象征着这股民族精神的活水源头。 二、天职 “教育为立国之本”，“兴学乃国民天职”，这是陈嘉庚一生的信念。快速有力的音流一波波地涌出，表现出陈嘉庚永不停止的“教育兴国”的脚步。“树人需百年，美哉教泽长”，音乐由此引入了一曲哲理性的沉思时空，表达着陈嘉庚对于民族责任的思考。快速有力的音流再次涌来，音乐逐步向前推进，随着《厦大校歌》主旋的豪迈出现，该乐章遂被不可抑制地引向了振奋的高潮，中国第一所华侨创办的私立大学宣告成立。 三、异彩 陈嘉庚创办厦门大学，为的是“为吾国放一异彩”。 一段华彩乐章，诉说着厦门大学90年来走过的光辉历程和为中华民族复兴作出的伟大功绩，表现出“南方之强”的独特魅力。乐章中南音音调所衍生出来的旋律，恰恰表现出校主陈嘉庚对真理不懈的探求，在竖琴音流的强调中，乐曲的变幻与舒展，为音乐所表达的世界，增添了一种梦幻般的色彩与想象。 四、至善 “天行健君子以自强不息”，“大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善”，陈嘉庚是自强、至善的典范。 交响乐的最后一个乐章不仅是一曲“至善”的颂歌，也是一曲对伟大的先贤们追求“至善”精神和境界的衷心赞美。深沉的旋律由交响乐团作出二十二款变奏，意味着民族奋斗道路的曲折、艰难，光荣与辉煌的光明前景。乐曲最后推向《厦大校歌》“自强，自强”的交响合唱，“华侨旗帜”陈嘉庚一生的光辉，成为指引后辈前行的火炬，向着更加美好、更加宏伟的目标向前，向前！ 顾    问：朱崇实 总 策 划：潘世墨 作    曲：黄安伦 指    挥：郑小瑛 艺术总监：苏　力、朱水涌 厦门大学校歌改编：鮑元愷 英文翻译：Allen Zhuang 首演：厦门爱乐乐团、厦门大学艺术学院学生合唱团 主办单位：厦门大学 承办单位：厦门大学党委宣传部、厦门大学艺术学院 协办单位：厦门爱乐乐团 独家冠名赞助商：厦门市维信投资有限公司 特别鸣谢：厦门市维信投资有限公司总经理 何少荣

The Symphony of Ceaseless Exertion Dedicated to the late Mr Tan Kah Kee, Renowned "Standard-Bearer of the Chinese Overseas" and Founder of Xiamen (Amoy) University (1921-), In Celebration of its 90th Anniversary By Huang An-lun (Op. 72, in 2010)

The Theme The symphony represents a eulogy in music to the late Mr Tan Kah Kee (1874–1961) for his noble deeds of patriotism and magnanimity in founding a series of schools and finally Xiamen (Amoy) University, for which he gave his entire fortune as an entrepreneur. Moreover, the composition extols the spirit of Ceaseless Exertion towards Supreme Good as a virtue and ideal cherished by the Chinese nation and aptly exemplified in the lifework of Mr Tan. An acclaimed standard-bearer of the Chinese overseas, Mr Tan is remembered as the role model for later generations who follow in his footsteps. The symphony comprises four orchestral movements that join voices to sing an inspiring ode to the thematic spirit of Ceaseless Exertion that Mr Tan personified, with each movement developing from one of these motifs in sequence – the Aspiration, the Calling, Divine Splendour, and Supreme Good.

The First Movement: The Aspiration The first movement opens with a slow, leisurely melody played by bamboo flutes featuring the Southern Music, a genre native to Mr Tan’s home place in south China. For him who was living and struggling far overseas, the sound of his forefathers’ soil never failed to evoke a yearning for his dear homeland where, as he was keenly aware, most boys and girls had no access to education. Aspiring to help his countrymen, Mr Tan began to set up schools in and around his home town at the turn of the 20th century, starting his decades of efforts to spread education. Then, out of the adagio music, with a dramatic turn to a fortissimo section, there rises an unyielding spirit vocalized with a bursting power like that of boiling lava underneath a volcano as it rushes on, surges up, and in the end breaks out into an uproar of eruption. But then slowly the movement calms down, finally fading away with the distant serenity of the Southern Music played by bamboo flutes, signifying the living water of the Aspiration that stays flowing clean and fresh in ever steady currents.

The Second Movement: The Calling Waves upon waves of an energetic tune usher in the second movement, echoing Mr Tan’s non-stop footsteps in pushing education forward to help his home country rise. Believing in education as the backbone of a strong nation, Mr Tan came to realize his Calling in life – to exert himself the best he could so as to help bring education to the populace in China. Now the music enters into a pensive passage spanning time and space, denoting a period of philosophical enquiry by Mr Tan into his duty to the nation’s future – how he could best tackle the task of answering to his Calling. Then a brisk allegro returns, pressing onward while growing in tempo and strength until, with the bold leitmotif of The Alma Mater of Amoy University arising to assert its advent, bringing the movement to an irresistible climax of enthusiasm – the first ever private university founded by an overseas Chinese was born on the mainland of China.

The Third Movement: Divine Splendour A flowery passage of cadenza brings in the third movement to tell of Xiamen University’s plentiful achievements over the past 90 years, commanding the listeners’ attention with the distinctive charm of the institution that came to be known for its strength and resilience characteristic of the southerners. Then phrases and sections derived from traditional tunes of the Southern Music join in to recount the university-founder’s unswerving quest for truth and progress. Amid the orchestral aria played with emphasis by the harps, audio variations and extensions dance together, adding to the world of music a kaleidoscopic land of fantasia blessed, as it were, with Divine Splendour.

The Fourth Movement: Supreme Good The finale features an enriched merger of 22 variations on one single thematic melody, which in a deep, mellowed tone recalls the tough twists and turns on China’s road towards national revival, and yet predicts the glory and success lying far ahead. This concluding movement not only sings an ode to the treasured Chinese virtue of Ceaseless Exertion and the nation’s ideal of Supreme Good, but also pays a tribute again to Mr Tan, who is hailed as an epitome of both values. Towards the close, the movement converges with the The Alma Mater of Amoy University sung in symphonic chorus, with its leitmotif of ceaselessly exerting oneself highlighted in the fortissimo refrain bringing the whole musical composition to its end. Thus, in the singing and music celebrating the 90th birthday of Xiaman University, Mr Tan the founder lives on as an eternal light ever guiding the younger generations on their road towards an even loftier goal, an even brighter future.

Advisor: Zhu Chongshi Planning Director: Pan Shimo Composer: Huang, An-lun Conductor: Zheng Xiaoying Artistic Director: Su Li & Zhu Shuiyong Alma Mater of Amoy University adapted by Bao Yuankai Notes (English) translated by Allen Zhuang Symphony premiered by Xia Men Philharmonic Orchestra & Student Chorus of Art College, Xiamen University Hosted by Xiamen University Organized by Publicity Department and Art College of Xiamen University Co-Organized by Xia Men Philharmonic Orchestra Sole title sponsor: Xiamen Winsun Investment Co. Ltd Special thanks to Mr He Shaorong, General Manager, Xiamen Winsun Investment Co. Ltd