the China Lightroom blog

Theme Song performed by 王菲 (Wang Fei, aka Wong Faye)

Chinese culture is rich and amazing. Did you know that the main melody at the 2008 Beijing Olympics medal ceremonies were composed using only musical instruments that were made 2,450 years ago? That melody was a version of “茉莉花” or “Jasmine Flower.”  It was adapted by famous Chinese composer Tan Dun and Wang Hesheng (of the Chinese Army orchestra) using the ancient instruments for the 2008 Olympics medal ceremonies. According to this China Daily article, “Classical piece will ring in ears of winners” on China Daily:

“The main melody, which Tan described as “glorious, heartwarming and full of respect”, was recorded using the digital recording of a 2,450-year-old bell set excavated from a site in Hubei.”

The original was a Chinese folk song created during the Qianlong Emperor period of the Qing Dynasty (1711-1799).  ”茉莉花” became known in the West first due to its inclusion by Giacomo Puccini in his opera Turandot in Italy.  

Below are lyrics to this song and various renditions:

Simplified Chinese

好一朵美丽的茉莉花
好一朵美丽的茉莉花
芬芳美丽满枝桠
又香又白人人夸
让我来将你摘下
送给别人家
茉莉花呀茉莉花

Literal Translation

What a beautiful jasmine flower
What a beautiful jasmine flower
Sweet-smelling, beautiful, stems full of buds
Fragrant and white, everyone praises
Let me pluck you down
Give to someone
Jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower

“茉莉花” has been performed all around the world. Below are various incarnations.

CCTV-7 Commercial: “Let the world hear our sounds” based on “茉莉花” (Jasmine Flower)

By a Trio using Western instruments at the 2009 Cultural Spring Festival Show

By Kenny G

By the Vienna Boys Choir in Korea in 2002

By 宋祖英 (Song Zuying) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2006 accompanied by an American Orchestra

By a Japanese choir

According to the China Daily article, “from Puccini to the Beijing Olympics, this melody is a gift from the Chinese people to the world’s athletes,” Tan said.

This is a performance during the 2009 CCTV Spring Festival show by four Chinese music icons:
李宗盛 (Li ZhongSheng)
周华健 (Zhou HuaJian)
罗大右 (Luo DaYou)
张震岳 (Zhang ZhengYue)