Dance of the Yao People (simplified: ; traditional: ; pinyin: Yáozú WÃÂqÃÂ; sometimes translated as Dance of the Yao Tribe) is one of the best known and most popular Chinese instrumental compositions of the second half of the 20th century. It was composed collaboratively by Liu Tieshan () and Mao Yuan () in 1952, inspired by the long drum dance (), a form of traditional festival music of the Yao people of southern and southwest China. It was premiered in Beijing in 1953.
Inspired by the folk songs of Yao people, Liu Tieshan composed Long Drum Dance of the Yao People during a visit to Youling village (æ²¹å²ÂæÂÂ), Sanpai town (ä¸ÂæÂÂéÂÂ), Liannan Yao Autonomous County (è¿ÂÃ¥ÂÂç¶æÂÂèª治å¿), Qingyuan (渠è¿Âå¸Â), northern Guangdong province, southern China in 1951. Mao Yuan, another composer, adapted this piece into an orchestral work in 1952.
Although it was originally composed for Western instruments, it is generally performed by Chinese traditional instruments (either for solo guzheng,<sup>video</sup> chamber ensemble, or orchestral).<sup>video</sup> It is also performed by ensembles or orchestras of Western instruments.<sup>video</sup>
The work achieved wide attention in 1954, when the arrangement for Chinese orchestra by the conductor Peng Xiuwen was disseminated throughout China. Other arrangements have been made by the Taiwanese composers Cheng Si-sum (éÂÂæÂÂ森) and Chen Tscheng-hsiung (é³æ¾ÂéÂÂ).
Musically, the work is in several sections, some slow and some fast. It begins in 2/4 meter at a slow tempo, moves to 3/4 meter, then returns to 2/4 meter in a faster tempo for the finale.
The piece has been performed in the Musikverein hall in Vienna.