Beethoven in Beijing

I recently attended a Princeton Alumni conference where I watched the documentary Beethoven in Beijing. The documentary was focused on the Philadelphia Orchestra and their unusual relationship with China. The first time they visited China was in 1973 (the same year my dad was born), and marked the one of the first acts of a 50-year diplomatic relationship between the US and China. This documentary made me realize what an important factor music played in bringing together these two countries who were greatly divided due to the recently ended World War.

One of the major conflicts represented in the documentary was which of Beethoven’s symphonies to play. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s director wanted to play Beethoven’s sixth symphony as he preferred it best. However, Mrs. Mao, Mao Ze Dong’s wife, wished to hear Beethoven’s fifth symphony. This was because Beethoven’s fifth represented fate and triumph, two qualities that were important to China, especially after the struggles they faced in the war. In the end, it was the decision to play this song that made the Orchestra’s visit to China so impactful.

In addition, what stood out to me about this documentary was the way in which music was described. One composer mentioned the difference between Chinese and American music. He said that in China, the majority of music was focused on a single melody with a clear tone like that played by a bamboo flute. American music however, like Beethoven’s symphonies, had many layers that blended together to create harmonies. I find it fascinating how music is so multifaceted and can tell the story of two entirely different cultures and still be beautiful in every form.

Communication Through Music

I recently started watching a historical Chinese drama called “An Ancient Love Song”. In the film, the female lead is a powerful friend of the Emperor and does everything she can for the sake of her country. In doing so, she uses many techniques to subtly spread her influence, one of which being hiding secret messages in songs. A very typical aspect of women in royal courts, especially in Ancient China, is playing the harp. While playing the harp for her adoptive father, the female lead plays wrong notes to send secret messages to her maid, who then does the same to another worker in the palace. This method of communication was both subtle and efficient, as I watched this unfold during the show, I began thinking about what this meant in terms of music. 

In the past, I have thought in great depth about the relationship between music and language. They are very similar in many ways, including their general flows, different pitches carrying different emotions or meanings, and also just direct lyrics in songs. Music, in many ways, mimics language such as conversations. And, while there are no specific rules to music, there are general “universal laws”, that separate music from a random jumble of notes, just like grammar rules that makes a combination of words understandable. However, despite their similarities, music is able to communicate so much more than words, even without lyrics. The ebb and flow of a melody complimenting the overall rhythm of a song somehow reflects the ups and downs of human thoughts and emotions in a way that words cannot describe. 

This idea is heavily reflected in the drama. By assigning meaning to specific notes, ideas can be conveyed without the use of specific lyrics. This reveals the conversational structure of even classical music. I myself have begun searching for patterns while listening to music in an attempt to apply my own interpretation of specific songs. I have found that in this way, I am able to analyze and understand music much more deeply.