Old Farmer's Song (Louis K. Liu)

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• (Posted 2013-01-23)  CPDL #28117:     

Editor: Tz-Yi Jiang (submitted 2013-01-23).   Score information: Letter, 1 page, 47 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Old Farmer's Song ( 撃壤歌 )
Composer: Louis K. Liu

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Glee

Language: Chinese
Instruments: A cappella

First published:
Description: This is a traditional song reflecting on the life of a farmer in the good times. It is believed to have been first composed about 4000 years ago. The setting by Liu is in four parts. There are only three lines, but Liu uses slightly different texts in the first two between the voices. The third line is identical for all. There is an interesting discussion on the meaning of the third line in the web site cited below. A full explanation would require rather more than the seven syllables that Liu allows.

External websites:

• https://www.shicihui.com/mingju/4962.html What does DiLi mean to me?

Original text and translations

Chinese text Soprano: 日 出 而 作，日 入 而 息。 鑿 井 〈囉〉 而 飲，耕 田 而 食。 Alto & Tenor & T: 啊----啊---- 鑿 井 而 飲，耕 田 而 食。 Bass: 日 出 而 作，日 入 而 息。 鑿 井 而 飲，耕 田 而 食。 All: 帝 力 於 我 何 有 哉！

English text Soprano: Work at sunrise and rest at sunset. Dig wells to drink and plow fields to eat. Alto & Tenor: Ah----ah---- Dig wells to drink, plow fields to eat. Bass: Work at sunrise and rest at sunset. Dig wells to drink, plow fields to eat. All: Why would I want to be king?