Patriotism takes on a lyrical note

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Chorus performs during the victory parade on Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Thursday. ZOU HONG/CHINA DAILY

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Chorus performed eight patriotic songs during the military parade on Thursday.

The chorus is made up of 1,200 students from seven affiliated schools of the Chinese PLA General Armament Department, the Navy and the Air Force.

According to Yu Hai, head of the China PLA Military Orchestra who conducts the China PLA Chorus, the eight songs, including March of the Volunteers, Guerrillas' Song and Defending the Yellow River, were chosen from hundreds of Chinese patriotic songs for their popularity.

"We started selecting songs in May," Yu said. "The eight songs were written decades ago but are still enjoyed by many audiences and performed frequently nowadays. They are timeless."

Yu added: "The lyrics of those songs express how the soldiers fought against the enemy, how they went through hardships to win the war, and how they devoted their young lives unconditionally to the country.

"They also deliver the message of longing for peace and victory."

Three of the eight songs are included in the Top 10 My Favorite Anti-War Songs, which was released by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television on Aug 26. March of the Volunteers, Guerrillas' Song and Solidarity Forges Strength made it onto the list and were performed at the parade.

More than 100,000 netizens voted for the list earlier this year.

Yu also said that some new arrangements and compositions have been added, making the classic songs contemporary and fresh for the audience.

Songs 'deliver the message of longing for peace and victory'

Song of the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Military and Political University

This song was commissioned by Chairman Mao Zedong (1893-1976), and written by lyricist Kai Feng (1906-1955) and composer Lu Ji (1909-2002) in November 1937. It was designed to be a rallying call to encourage students to study hard and support the fight against Japanese aggression.

Defending the Yellow River

This song was the seventh chapter of the famous Yellow River Cantata, which was written by Chinese composer Xian Xinghai (1905-1945) in early 1939.

Inspired by a patriotic poem written by Guang Weiran (1913-2002), the song, which also uses the poem as its lyrics, has gained wide popularity since it premiered in April 1939.

Guerrillas' Song

Written by Chinese composer He Luting (1903-1999) in 1937, the song describes the guerrilla soldiers of the Communist Party of China and the hardships they endured in the fight against their enemies.

On the Taihang Mountains

Written by Chinese composer Xian Xinghai and lyricist Gui Taosheng (1906-1982), this song depicts mothers encouraging their sons as they go off to fight in the army. It also expresses the determination of the Chinese army to fight against their Japanese invaders.

March of the Volunteers

Best known as the national anthem of the People's Republic of China, the song was written by poet and playwright Tian Han in 1934, and one year later the music for it was composed by Nie Er.

Solidarity Forges Strength

With lyrics by Mu Hong and music by Lu Su, this song was created in June 1943 for an opera. The opera urged farmers of a village in the Chinese Communist-led Jinchaji base, named after the area straddling Hebei and Shanxi provinces, to fight against Japanese invaders.

The People's Army is Loyal to the Party

Written by composer Xiao Min and lyricist Zhang Yongmu, this song was launched in 1960. It is one of the Chinese army's most frequently performed patriotic songs.

The Song of A Strong Army

Written by composer Yin Qing and lyricist Wang Xiaoling, this song was created in 2013 and once performed by soldiers of the Chinese PLA General Armament Department, the Navy and the Air Force at the 2015 CCTV Spring Festival Gala.