White House dinner song chosen 'for its melody'
By Wang Qingchu |
January 26, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE pianist Lang Lang has denied any political motive behind his playing of a song at the White House state dinner for President Hu Jintao.
His choice of "My Motherland" sparked heated discussion in both China and the United States.
On his Facebook page, Lang said the song "was selected for no other reason but for the beauty of its melody."
He chose it purely because it was one of his favorites and he was devoted to bridging cultures through music, his statement said.
"My Motherland" was the theme song of the 1956 Chinese movie, "Battle of Triangle Hill," which featured the namesake brutal fight in late 1952 during the Korean War. The piece struck a nerve both in China and among some American conservatives.
"It's very meaningful to play this song in the US, but I am not sure if they can get it," was one comment on news portal Sina.com.
A writer for the US conservative website Human Events said: "Playing this song at a White House state dinner is the rough equivalent of an American president providing music from Rambo II during a state visit to Vietnam," ABC News reported.
Lang chose the song to express his deep love for China, according to the world-renowned pianist's manager Li Ning, Changjiang Daily reported yesterday.
The song is among his beloved melodies and he plays it regularly, Li told the newspaper.
Although it was created under certain historical circumstances, nowadays it simply carried a strong appreciation of the country's majestic landscape, Li said.
White House spokesman Tommy Vietor told ABC News: "Any suggestion that this was an insult to the United States is just flat wrong. Lang Lang played the song without lyrics or reference to any political themes during the entertainment portion of the state dinner. He simply stated the song's title and noted it was well known in China."
Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa said on many occasions that music was a language without boundaries, according to Wang Yaxin, a commentator with Changjiang Daily.
For example, French pianist Richard Clayderman played "I Love Beijing Tian'anmen" in China with 12 Chinese children. The popular song, which was created during the "culture revolution" (1966-76), didn't mean a longing for the past times.
It simply reflected our fondness for the melody, Wang said.
On his blog after the state dinner, Lang said he felt honored to be invited along with other top artists. He said it was a huge privilege and made him feel very proud to play for distinguished guests and world leaders.
Lang was among a mix of Hollywood A-listers, businessmen and prominent Chinese-Americans invited to the dinner in honor of the Chinese president by Michelle and Barack Obama in the White House on January 19. Lang performed two pieces at the dinner - Maurice Ravel's "Ma Mere l'Oye" (Mother Goose), and "My Motherland."
His choice of "My Motherland" sparked heated discussion in both China and the United States.
On his Facebook page, Lang said the song "was selected for no other reason but for the beauty of its melody."
He chose it purely because it was one of his favorites and he was devoted to bridging cultures through music, his statement said.
"My Motherland" was the theme song of the 1956 Chinese movie, "Battle of Triangle Hill," which featured the namesake brutal fight in late 1952 during the Korean War. The piece struck a nerve both in China and among some American conservatives.
"It's very meaningful to play this song in the US, but I am not sure if they can get it," was one comment on news portal Sina.com.
A writer for the US conservative website Human Events said: "Playing this song at a White House state dinner is the rough equivalent of an American president providing music from Rambo II during a state visit to Vietnam," ABC News reported.
Lang chose the song to express his deep love for China, according to the world-renowned pianist's manager Li Ning, Changjiang Daily reported yesterday.
The song is among his beloved melodies and he plays it regularly, Li told the newspaper.
Although it was created under certain historical circumstances, nowadays it simply carried a strong appreciation of the country's majestic landscape, Li said.
White House spokesman Tommy Vietor told ABC News: "Any suggestion that this was an insult to the United States is just flat wrong. Lang Lang played the song without lyrics or reference to any political themes during the entertainment portion of the state dinner. He simply stated the song's title and noted it was well known in China."
Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa said on many occasions that music was a language without boundaries, according to Wang Yaxin, a commentator with Changjiang Daily.
For example, French pianist Richard Clayderman played "I Love Beijing Tian'anmen" in China with 12 Chinese children. The popular song, which was created during the "culture revolution" (1966-76), didn't mean a longing for the past times.
It simply reflected our fondness for the melody, Wang said.
On his blog after the state dinner, Lang said he felt honored to be invited along with other top artists. He said it was a huge privilege and made him feel very proud to play for distinguished guests and world leaders.
Lang was among a mix of Hollywood A-listers, businessmen and prominent Chinese-Americans invited to the dinner in honor of the Chinese president by Michelle and Barack Obama in the White House on January 19. Lang performed two pieces at the dinner - Maurice Ravel's "Ma Mere l'Oye" (Mother Goose), and "My Motherland."
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