In college I had a Chinese-American roommate, Victor Wang. Occasionally, he’d take me for lunch with his parents, Ching-Hsien & Jane Wang. One thing that caught my attention was the Chinese music they’d always be playing in the background. I was fascinated by the music, as I’d never heard anything like it.
As time went on, Victor’s father taught me a lot about Chinese Opera, and he let me record many of his records. Most of the recordings were clearly 78s transcribed onto LPs, some very scratchy, evidently made in haste, using whatever 78s were on hand, as there must not have been time to do any kind of search for better records. The 78s may have been recorded as early as the mid-1930s, and certainly not much later than the late 40s. Most likely the LPs were made in the early to mid 50s in Hong Kong.
As fate would have it, many decades later I married a Chinese lady, whose dad had been a well-known Chinese Opera singer in Taiwan. Over time, we’d play these recordings for him, and he’d tell us who performed (usually someone he had known in the old days), and the correct Chinese titles.
The track listing below is in the order of the LPs on which each item appeared. Many of the items appear to be commercially available, so I’ve provided the reference. I’ve uploaded the rest; start times are included below.
1: 'The Capture and Release of Cáo Cāo = Zhūo Fàng Cáo = 捉放曹,' by Jin Shàoshān (金少山) (?) or Luo Xiaobao (羅筱寶) or Meng Xiaodong (孟小冬).
Queen QNL-3A. Found in iTunes (Masterpieces of Beijing Opera Vol 1 & 4).
2: 'The Angel of Lo River (Goddess of Luo River) = Luò Shén = 洛神,' by Méi Lánfang (梅蘭芳).
Queen QNL-1038. Found a better quality recording in Amazon: 50 Timeless Tunes: Mei Lanfang, The God of Luo (Luo Shen).
3: 'The Unicorn Embroidered Bag (Unicorn [Trapping] Purse) = Suŏ Lín Náng = 锁麟囊,' by Chéng Yànqīu = 程砚秋.
Queen QNL-1038. Found in iTunes (Masterpieces … Vol 16) and Amazon (Best of Cheng Yanqiu: Peking Opera Vol 6).
4: 'Hongyang Cave = Hóng Yáng Dòng = 洪洋洞 — The Dream and Suicide scenes,' by Jin Shàoshān (金少山) or Tan Xinpei (譚鑫培).
Queen QNL-1047. Found in iTunes (Masterpieces … Vol 1).
5: 'Subduing Five Dragons = Suŏ Wŭ Lóng = 锁五龙 or 锁五龍,' by Hăo Shòu Chén (郝壽臣).
Queen QNL-1047. Found similar in iTunes (Masterpieces … Vol 24).
6: 'Herding Tiger Pass = Mù Hŭ Gūan = 牧虎關,' by Jin Shàoshān (金少山).
Queen QNL-1047. (Starts at 00:00)
7: 'Li Chi Before the Pavilion = Lĭ Chī Cháng Tíng = 李七長亭,' by (Unk. Chinese).
Queen QNL-1047. (Starts at 05:55)
8: 'The Mandarin Duck Tomb = Yuān Yang Zhǒng = 鸳鸯塚,' by Chéng Yànqīu = 程砚秋.
Queen QNL-1051. Found at [ Ссылка ] (same artist, may be a different take).
9: 'Strike The Emperor's Gown (Beating the Emperor’s Robe) = Dă Lóngpaó = 打龙袍,' by Jin Shàoshān (金少山) (?).
Queen QNL-1075. (Starts at 11:36)
10: 'Grass Bridge Pass = Căo Qiáo Guān = 草橋關,' by Jin Shàoshān (金少山).
Queen QNL-1075. Found in iTunes (Masterpieces … Vol 24).
11: 'Tai Hang Mountain = Taìháng Shān = 太行山,' by (Unk. Chinese #1—Hualian).
Queen QNL-1075. (Starts at 18:09)
12: 'Protector of the Nation (¿refers to Liang Hongyu, "Noble Lady of Hu Guo" = "Lady Protector of the Nation" = 护国夫人?),' by (Unk. Chinese #4).
Singing Phoenix CO-3. (Starts at 24:39)
13: 'The Granting of the City of Hsu (Giving up Xuzhou City) = Ràng Xúzhōu = 讓徐州,' by Yán-Jú Péng = 言菊朋.
Singing Phoenix CO-3. Found in iTunes (Peking Opera, Vol. 1).
14: 'Ascending to the Heavenly Terrace = Shāng Tiān Taí = 上天台 — Taking the Son To The Palace Door,' by (Unk. Chinese #5—Laŏsheng—Li Jiazai?).
Singing Phoenix CO-3. Found (same? similar?) performance in iTunes (Masterpieces … Vol 5).
15: 'The West Chamber = Xī Xiāng Jì = 西廂記 (Part 1),' by Liú Baŏquán (劉寶全).
Singing Phoenix CO-29. (minstrel singing = Dà Gú = 大鼓). Found in Apple Music (Centennial Classics: Quyi).
16: 'The West Chamber = Xī Xiāng Jì = 西廂記 (Part 2),' by Liú Baŏquán (劉寶全).
Singing Phoenix CO-29. (Starts at 30:25)
17: 'The Battle of Changsha = Zhàn Cháng Sha = 战长沙 or 戰長沙,' by Liú Baŏquán (劉寶全).
Singing Phoenix CO-33. Based on an episode in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Found similar in iTunes (Masterpieces … Vol 9).
18: 'Conversion of Emperor Wun (429AD? Wu of Liang ≈549AD? Wen ≈604AD?) to Buddhism,' by Liú Baŏquán (劉寶全) (?).
Singing Phoenix CO-33. (Starts at 39:44)
19: 'The Capture of Yong-Yang),' by (Unk. Chinese #2 Dà Gú).
Singing Phoenix CO-33. (Starts at 46:32)
20: 'The Fight at Jiangzhou,' by (Unk. Chinese #3 Dà Gú).
Singing Phoenix CO-33. (Starts at 52:54)
21: 'The Phoenix Returns To Her Nest = Fèng Húan Cháo = 風還巢,' by Méi Lánfang (梅蘭芳).
Singing Phoenix CO-48. Found a better recording in: 50 Timeless Tunes (as above), Phoenix Returning To Its Nest: Match Making.
If anybody has more or better information on any of these, I’d appreciate comments.
I do not claim copyright for any of these works. Except as noted, these works appear to be unavailable for purchase.
