VOTD 08/13/2025

The Central Philharmonic Orchestra – 沙家浜 (革命交响音乐) = Shachiapang (Revolutionary Symphonic Music) Vol 1 & 2

Purchased at Jerry's Records

What did I expect from this pair of 10" records? Something as non-Western as possible I suppose. Plus you know, look at it: Revolutionary Symphonic Music, with Chinese vocalists and musicians wearing Maoist-era uniforms. I bought four Gagaku 10" LPs close to the same time from the same bin at Jerry's. I assume from the same collection. 

I am sympathetic to Socialist goals but definitely not a Maoist. Mao himself was no less a dictator than, I don't know, Trump or some such shit. Or worse. I believe in mutual respect for differences, not unity in race or orientation or clothing or taste. Nor down the barrel of a gun.

The music? Major and minor chords, often largely pentatonic. There's a broad vocal style I associate with Chinese and other "Eastern" styles, and I like that. I guess I didn't expect this to be too weird. It is propagandist, after all. The boldest the composition sounds is similar late 19th century to me. 

"Army and People Are Close as Fish and Water" is my favorite title in the cycle. 

I'd show these off to my Chinese students at CMU. In part for a laugh, but also to see the reaction. one student (a grad student if I recall correctly) said that "Shachiapang" wasn't really a correct transliteration; it was closer to "ShachiaBONG". Okay, I'll take his word on that.

I don't expect these will be worth any more than I paid for then, $7-8 apiece. But like my Gagaku 10" LPs, I love the thought of someone hunting through my collection after I'm gone and thinking, "What is THIS?"

Maybe part of the point of this blog is the immense diversity of recordings that are out there.