Search - Zhao Jiping :: Electric Shadows: Chinese Film Score Anthology

Electric Shadows

Dr. Christopher Coleman | HONG KONG | 10/16/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Spirit of the Peacock from the film Sunbird exemplifies the film music of Zhao JiPing. A tasteful fusion of Chinese folk and Hollywood Golden Age movie music, flavored with occasional touches of Chinese opera; this is easily accessible music. This Teldec disc contains selections from the favourites Farewell My Concubine and Raise the Red Lantern as well as four other films. It is clear from this compilation that Zhao Jiping is a master of his craft: this highly evocative music scarcely needs visual imagery to summon up the scenes it portrays. Rhythmic and colorful, with great attention to gorgeous sonorities, this is fine film music indeed. As is the case with most of the best film scores, the weaknesses of this music are related to the genre. Zhao writes very effective five minute spans of music, for seldom does a movie focus for more than that length of time on the music. Consequentially, pieces rarely have a chance to develop their material in any significant way at all. By necessity even the best film music is usually about statement; and symphonic rhetoric or development is impossible. Some of the material seems to practically cry out for development but get only repetition. In the stunning extract from Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker we hear the theme repeatedly, and it is indeed lovely, but it is practically the same each time.Furthermore, once a film composer does something well, they become prisoners of their own success, and they are asked to do the same thing repeatedly. With the sole exception of the music to Raise the Red Lantern, these pieces are very much alike. There is a clear Zhao style, with slow moving, rich string chords in parallel motion at the core of it, and we hear this over and over. Another problem with the genre lies in the fact that this art form is not intended to be presented independently. Film music is meant to be experienced with visual images, and it is therefore often simpler than music created to be the sole artefact of the audience's attention. Here this is manifested in the slow pace of harmonic change and the absence of counterpoint in a great many of the works. However, this works in Zhao's favor, as these are characteristics of traditional Chinese music as well--Chinese music is primarily melodic rather than harmonic or contrapuntal. Nonetheless, this is beautiful music in bite-sized pieces, and is superbly performed by the China Symphony Orchestra and Chorus directed by Hu Bing Shu. Intonation is impeccable, timbres full, and the dynamic balance between western and Chinese instruments, often so difficult to achieve, is perfect. The disc is a very full 77 minutes worth of music and comes with an informative and well-written programme booklet and several beautifully printed photographs from the movies. All in all, this is a very nice product indeed."

Pearl of the Orient

anthemic | Australia | 06/30/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's so frustrating that foreign film scores are difficult to acquire. Finding 'Electric Shadows'(the Chinese word for 'film') is like discovering a gem. The CD is a collection of pieces from a number of films - many of which are well-known. Of the six films offered, Zhang Yimou's 'To Live', 'Ju Dou' and 'Raise the Red Lantern' provide half the music on this CD. There are 2 tracks from Chen Kaige's 'Farewell My Concubine', Ping He's 'Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker', and the lesser known 'Sunbird' by Liping Yang/Xuequi Wang. Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige hail from the reknowned '5th Generation' filmmakers -a movement that began in 1984. They resisted social-realist films and often criticised China's political culture. While doing this, the cinematography could be astoundingly beautiful or rurually harsh. Musically this translates into tones of sadness, regret, and even triumph. Who could forget the regretful overtones in 'To Live' as tracks 1 & 2 offer the high-pitched erhu and synthesizer. It is a musical motif within the film and works well to convey senses of disappointment and hardship - themes Chinese people often talk about.Tracks 3 & 4 come from 'Sunbird' a film I have not seen. However, musically they bring relief to the high-pitched tones aforemenioned. Track 3 offers the deeper flute-style instrument and half-way through picks up the pace as we hear a Chinese woman singing. Track 4 ranging in tempo - offers the big orchestra sound so prevalent in today's soundtracks. The hybrid form (East meets West)works well.Without exoticizing the East too much - the opening of track 5 really does make you feel like you should be in a temple somwehere. Well in the bathtub with candles at the very least. It's wonderfully contemplative and soothing. As one would expect, the offerings from 'Farewell My Concubine' (tracks 6 & 7) center around the film's subject matter - Chinese opera performers. Prepare yourself for clashing symbols, thunderous drumbeats and of course the melancholic 'flute'. You will either like these tracks or not. Chinese opera is stylistically worlds away from anything the Italians had to offer. Track 8 is a return to a more harmonious tone mixing the 'flute' with a string orchestra. Track nine is a return to the big orchestra sound with clattering 'drumbeats' interrupting. The final four tracks from 'Raise the Red Lantern' offer vocal harmonies in addition to the same style of music offered throughout the whole CD. Overall, this CD is seamless and has none of those unlikeable gaps one sometimes hears in dramatic scores. Very listenable indeed!"

Magnificent

Josh Gould | Canada | 05/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is rare that I enjoy a film music compilation to the degree that I enjoy Zhao Jiping's music. There is a certain quiet beauty within all the tracks. Many are quiet and contemplative; others may soar to enormous heights of orchestral beauty as the whole orchestra performs lyrical, haunting themes. Zhao Jiping has written scores for many acclaimed Chinese films; unfortunately, I have seen none of them. Nevertheless, it is his music that I am primarily concerned with. "Music is an important way of laying bare a film's soul," Zhao says. If that is any indication, the films are likely very beautiful. The most powerful cues are from a film called Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker. "On the Yellow River: Unflinching Love" features the most powerful music on the CD. The full orchestra combines with the traditional instruments to produce a marvelous effect. The strings reach numerous great swells as they play an especially poignant love theme. "Raise the Red Lantern" comprises some of the stranger music on the CD, especially some downright bizarre choral parts in "Fate." However, a female chorus provides great refinement and beauty to the album's conclusion. Some people may not like this CD. They may find it too quiet at times, and action lovers will find little to satisfy their appetites here. Nevertheless, they should give it a chance. Zhao Jiping is an excellent composer and his music reflects this. He was the only composer from an Asian country to attend the Second International Discussion Forum on Film Music in 1995. Listen to this CD and you will be moved. Some tracks you may not find very interesting, but others you cannot help enjoy. At the very least, you should enjoy the extensive liner notes."