In A Faraway Land and The Jasmine Flower

"In A Faraway Land" by John Denver

“在那遙遠的地方”and "茉莉花" are among the best known popular
Chinese folk songs.

Inspired by a Kazakh folk song, 王洛賓 (1913-1996), a Chinese song
writer and ethnic music researcher, wrote this song “在那遙遠的地方”
in the fall of 1939, when he took up residence in northwestern China .
His lyrics described about a pretty girl who lived in a faraway land,
and when people passed by her tent, they always stopped and took
a double glimpse.

Half a century later, John Denver (1943-1997), an American singer-
songwriter, sang the song in Beijing when he visited there in 1992.
His Chinese pronunciation was almost perfect.

"茉莉花" was said to be created during the 乾隆 period of 清 Dynasty.
The melody has been well known among Western listeners as it was
included by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), an Italian composer, in his opera "Turandot".

"Muo Li Hua" has often been the known English translation of "茉莉花",
or "The Jasmine Flower".


"The Jasmine Flower" by Vienna Boys Choir

Their mandarin pronunciations are just amazing.


Yeh Tze