I.    Lyrics (translated from Chinese)

What does Alamuhan look like? Neither too fat nor too skinny.
What does Alamuhan look like? Neither too fat nor too skinny.
Her brows are like crescent moon, her slender waist is like weeping willow, her mouth is full of affections.
Her eyes can make you tremble; her eyes can make you shake.
What does Alamuhan look like? Neither too fat nor too skinny.
Where does Alamuhan live? At 300 miles west of Turpan.
Where does Alamuhan live? At 300 miles west of Turpan.
I love her, so I cannot asleep. I love her, so very often I cough. I often go out in windy or rainy days.
For her, I often fray my soles. For her, I often fray my soles.
Where does Alamuhan live? At 300 miles west of Turpan.

Anonymous lyric writer (無名作者)

阿拉木汗什麼樣 身段不肥也不瘦
阿拉木汗什麼樣 身段不肥也不瘦
她的眉毛像彎月 她的細腰像楊柳 她的小嘴更多情
眼睛能使你發抖 眼睛能使你發抖
阿拉木汗什麼樣 身段不肥也不瘦
阿拉木汗住在那裡 吐魯番西三百里
阿拉木汗住在那裡 吐魯番西三百里
我因愛她沒瞌睡 我因愛她常咳嗽 我常冒著風和雨
為她鞋底常跑透 為她鞋底常跑透
阿拉木汗住在那裡 吐魯番西三百里

Audio
Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam

II.    About this Song

Summary / Story:
Where does Alamuhan live? Where is the 300 miles west of Turpan? In fact, 300 miles west of Turpan refers to Urumqi (烏魯木齊), previously Dihua city, capital of Xinjiang. Since ancient times, Urumqi has been an important trade town in Xinjiang. Because this area gathered people that came from different places, many different races settled down at this place and had intermarriage with local people. Therefore, girls of the mix-blood here are noted for their beauty. And Turpan is the lowest inland basin in the world. The weather here is dry and hot, so it has the name of “the state of fire.” This area is an area with prosperous agriculture in Xinjiang; here produces sweet and juicy watermelons and grapes.

“Alamuhan” is in fact a carriage driver’s song in Turpan. When there are great harvests, young man in Turpan ride carriages with cartload of watermelons and grapes to Urumqi to trade. At the time, they will naturally sing some songs. Although there are all desserts along the way, carriage drivers are still happy, because in this trip they not only can make money but also have chances to meet beautiful Urumqi girls and marry them along the way. Thus, it is understandable that Turpan’s young men are always so happy when they go to Urumqi.

III.    Manuscript

Handwritten symphony manuscript (page 1) of “Alamuhan” for violin (1981)	Handwritten symphony manuscript (page 1) of “Alamuhan” for viola (1981)

       


To view the story of Li Tai-Hsiang, please go to Li Tai-Hsiang, the Native Musician of Taiwan.
Text and images are provided by The Native Musician of Taiwan－Tai-Hsiang Li Digital Archive, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan