Ali Ben Sou Alle : Souvenirs de la Chine

Today, I finished up work on this work by Ali Ben Sou Alle, which is my favorite yet in the series. The work is a setting of the Chinese folksong "Loc Tee Kun Tsin" which was one of eight traditional Chinese songs used by Puccini in his opera "Turandot" (it's not the main "Jasmin Flower theme", but is a motif used in the orchestra section and chorus sung to the Emperor at the end of both the First and Second Acts). This harmonization is very different from Puccini's setting, but is (to my ears) probably closer to what one might have heard in China in the 19th century.

The Rondo which follows, in the form of a Waltz, is rather sparsely harmonized at first, but has several dramatic sections which sound remarkably like Schumann. There are then several passages which are rather scherzando. After a dramatic outburst, the Chinese song is briefly quoted again before the abrupt ending using the opening motives of the piece.

I am impressed by the formal unity of the work, the solid piano writing (he must have had a very good pianist with him in China, as opposed to the amateurs which are reported in the Shanghai concert) and the overall effectiveness of the work.