Vocal Music of Contemporary China, Vol. 1: The Han People

Han Kuo-Huang selected this collection of Chinese Operas of the Han people. He explains that “art in contemporary China is to serve a specific (usually political) function rather than the ultimate art-for-art’s sake idea of the west” and that “the audience for this art is workers, peasants, and soldiers.” The traditional opera styles are merged here with themes of contemporary life such as in “The Marriage of Xiao Erhei,” which challenges the feudal marriage system. Liner notes include a history of the Han people and song information.

韩国璜先生精心挑选了在汉族中流行的中国戏曲制作成这张合集。他说：“中国的艺术是有着特定的政治作用的，而不是像西方一样为了艺术而艺术，”并且“这些作品的对象是工人、农民和士兵。”在这里，传统戏剧风格和当下的社会生活融合，例如，《小二黑结婚》采用了反抗封建婚姻制度的视角。专辑内页含有汉族的历史和歌曲信息。