During Second Sino-Japanese War, in November 1938, when Chinese Wuhan city was occupied by Japanese troops, Guang Weiran(aka. Zhang Guangnian), a Chinese famous poet, led the 3rd squad of anti-enemy troupe across the Yellow River from its east bank, near Hukou in Yichuan County of Shaanxi Province, to Lü Liangshan anti-Japanese base area. On the way, they themself arrived and walked through the area which was occupied by steepy gorges and rushing streams, angry billows and vortices, rough reefs and rapid waterfalls. They witnessed the scene that Yellow River's boatmen fighting against heavy gales and torrential waves, and listened to the high-pitched and deeply strong ballads sung by the boatmen dedicatedly. On their arrival to Yan'an next year's January, he was dedicated to writing the lyric of the Yellow River, and recited the poem at New Year's Eve's party. After listening to the whole poem, Xian Xinghai, a famous Chinese composer, was extraordinarily excited, and showed that he would compose Yellow River Cantata for the performing squad, and in finishing composing the gorgeous vocal masterpiece, he fulfilled his promise to his fellow poet. On April 13, the cantata premiered in Shanbei Gongxue Hall of Yan'an, and was directed by Wu Xiling. It aroused a magnitude of positive responses, and soon was spread to all parts of China. Since then, it had greatly inspired the Chinese people to fighting righteously against the invading Japanese troops.
Yellow River Cantata lay the ground for Chinese contemporary large-scaled vocal music creation. At the late 60's, it was adapted to piano concerto.
The work has 8 movements, at the begining of each has a recital accompanied by background music.