An annotated transcription for solo cello and cello ensemble of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Eternal Vow-Farewell, from Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Abstract

In 2000, Tan Dun composed the soundtrack of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and it is one of the best-known examples of fusion music in Chinese music history. Tan Dun used Chinese folk tunes, erhu style performance practice, western harmonic language, and orchestration in this music. Influenced by the 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic, this piece of music is transcribed for solo cello and cello choir and is the subject of this dissertation. This document will be in two sections.

The first section (chapters 1 through 4) will discuss the story, background, and musical outcome of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). It will include music analysis, musical and performance analysis of the Chinese element used, and version comparison. The second section (chapter 5) will be a critical edition of the movements of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Eternal Vow-Farewell for solo cello and cello choir, based on the structure of the original soundtrack version (2000) by Tan Dun. The Crouching Tiger Concerto (2000) and the sonata version (2016) serve as instrumental and musical references. The accompanying commentary includes reflections on the transcription process and compares various versions of the piece that influence the use of cello techniques, parts, and registers.