Pamir — My Beautiful Hometown
As composed by Zheng Qiufeng
It is often the simple, intangible things in life that allow us to truly appreciate the beauty of our own hometown. This is the sentiment composer Zheng Qiufeng（郑秋枫）and lyricist Qu Cong （瞿琮）masterfully captured in their poignant melody “Pamir - My Beautiful Hometown” （《帕米尔 我的家乡多么美》 ）, as featured in the 1980 vocal divertimento “Four Seasons of the Motherland”（《祖国四季》）.
Pamir is a highland region of Central Asia located in Xinjiang, China, a scenic area known for its natural beauty and local Uighur community. The song’s moving lyrics praise the abundance of mountains and rivers coursing through Pamir, and speak to the joys experienced in the everyday life of the Uighur people living there.
A strong rhythmic contrast is maintained throughout the song; what starts off as a slow lyrical expression gradually transitions to a 7/8 meter with a compelling tempo. The start of the piece has the important function of setting the tone for the rest of the song. The low notes of the piano complemented by the high-pitched soprano vocals are used to imitate the call of the skylark. The vocals undergo subtle shifts in intensity and volume throughout this first section to evoke the feeling of a wild skylark flying freely amongst the high white clouds; nimble and dainty, immersed in the serenity of the crisp fresh air and vast mountain ranges under its wings.
The switch from 4/4 to 7/8 meter after this point marks the transition into the next part of the song, which instead installs in listeners a more lively and jolly vibe. Adopting a dynamic dance-like rhythm, this phrase instead focuses on expressing the unbridled vitality one experiences when fully immersed in nature. Taking these complex nuances and technical challenges into account, the vocalist for this piece needs to have a solid grasp of syncopated rhythm as well as being able to control the slow tempo at the beginning, and must also demonstrate a broad vocal range in order to fully capture the depth of affection the composer felt for her beautiful homeland.
Tickets to the Adelaide “East Meets West” Orchestral Concert are now available for those keen to hear the ethereal notes of Zheng’s exquisite composition live on the 17th of November 2022 at 7:30pm, Adelaide Town Hall: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=IMAGECHI21&v=BAB
Composition information sourced from the web: https://wenku.baidu.com/view/a3a7bba15ebfc77da26925c52cc58bd6318693e1.html?re=view
