The long march in song: from farewell to a new voice

Part I of the music series follows the theme of “farewell.” Starting with Farewell from The Long March Suite, CGTN reporter Ali travels to Yudu and Ruijin in Jiangxi Province to explore the people and emotions behind the beginning of the Long March.

Here, memories of separation, attachment and public support live on not only in history, but also in local folk songs and Gannan tea-picking opera.

More than 90 years later, a band from Jiangxi is reworking Ten Farewells to the Red Army – moving from hesitation to a deeper understanding of the song’s simple, human emotions, and giving it a new voice for today.

It is more than a new interpretation of an old song.

It is a journey through music to understand the Long March, and how its emotions continue to resonate today.

The song of farewell ends here.

But the journey – and the music – are only moving forward.