Friday, December 28, 2007

Quanzhou: The Hometown of "Nanyin" 2

Previously I've written about nanyin performances in the parks of Quanzhou every evening, and now, here is another video clip of the same ensemble performing another piece titled "Thank You Your Highness" (感谢公主).

This piece is taken from Liyuan opera titled "Zhu Bian", which tells the story of a Song dynasty official Zhu Bian, who was sent to the Jurchen kingdom on a foreign diplomacy mission and was forced by the Jurchen King to marry the Princess. When Zhu Bian refused, he was locked up, and after being persuaded by the palace maids, he finally agreed to marry the Princess, but only in name. For sixteen years, Zhu Bian and the Princess maintained a brother-and-sister relationship, and upon seeing that Zhu Bian was utterly unmoved by power and riches, the Jurchen King finally decided to let him return to his homeland. This piece of music is the duet between Zhu Bian and the Princess before Zhu Bian set off back home.


Lyrics:
(朱弁:)
感谢公主汝此深恩无比
念着朱弁 刻骨铭心 我须当谨记
(公主:)
记得当初伫许玉楼前
许时节我曾共哥恁相见
一心所望爱卜共我哥恁结成连理
谁知到今旦反成(於)参商两星
(朱弁:)
今卜有什乜路会报答
报答公主汝此深恩义
(公主:)
哥汝须谨记 我哥汝今须当谨记
记得十六年来恩义
爱卜相见 除非着南柯梦里
爱卜相见 除非着南柯梦里

Rough English translation:
(Zhu Bian:)
Thank you Your Highness, for the kindness you've showered upon me,
I, Zhu Bian, will never ever forget.
(Princess:)
Remember the day when you appeared in front of my chateau,
I've fallen in love in you, and hoping that both of us will be married,
But who would have thought that we will get separated as like today.
(Zhu Bian:)
There's nothing I can do,
To repay Your Highness' deep love for me.
(Princess:)
My Lord, please do not forget,
The deep relationship we had for the past 16 years,
For we will not be able to see each other again, other than in our dreams.

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