[COMPLETE] The Dream of the Red Chamber II by Cao - availle

Solo or group recordings that are finished and fully available for listeners
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Availle
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Post by Availle »

The Dream of the Red Chamber, Book II by Xueqin Cao (c. 1724 - 1764). Translated by Henry Bencraft Joly (1857 - 1898).

This project is now complete. All files can be downloaded from the catalog page here:
https://librivox.org/the-dream-of-the-red-chamber-book-ii-by-xueqin-cao/

The Dream of the Red Chamber (also known as The Story of the Stone) is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of China, and considered the greatest of them all. Almost 40 main characters and some 500 minor characters tell the fortunes of the Chia family; the book details mainly the life of Chia Pao-yü, the heir apparent, who is described as very intelligent, but also as carefree and self-indulging. The already wealthy Chia family rises to new heights when Pao-yü's elder sister becomes an imperial consort. On her first visit home, a lush garden is built, where much of the rest of the story takes place. The intrigues surrounding Pao-yü and his cousins, especially Lin Tai-yü who he loves, and Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai who he is finally tricked into marrying, make up a large part of the story. The decline of the Chia family begins with the death of the imperial consort, and when they fall into disfavour with the emperor, their mansions and the garden are eventually destroyed.

The whole book has 120 chapters, only 80 of which were written by Cao Xueqin before his death in 1764. Cheng Weiyuan and Gao E claimed to have access to Cao's papers, and published what is now known as the Cheng-Gao version in 1791. Henry Bencraft Joly translated only part of the book written by Cao. Book I contains the first 24 chapters, Book II ends abruptly with chapter 56; a Book III was never published. ( Ava)
  1. How to claim a part, and "how it all works" here To find a section to record, simply look at point 5. below at the sections. All the ones without names beside them are "up for grabs." Click "Post reply" at the top left of the screen and tell us which section you would like to read (include the section number from the left-most column in the reader list, please). Read points 6. to 8. below for what to do before, during and after your recording.
  2. New to recording? Please read our Newbie Guide to Recording!
  3. Is there a deadline? We ask that you submit your recorded sections within 1-2 months of placing your claim. Please note that to be fair to the readers who have completed their sections in a timely way, if you haven't submitted your recording(s) after two months, your sections will automatically be re-opened for other readers to claim, unless you post in this thread to request an extension. Extensions will be granted at the discretion of the Book Coordinator. If you cannot do your section, for whatever reason, just let me know and it'll go back to the pool. There's no shame in this; we're all volunteers and things happen.Please do not sign up for more sections than you can complete within the two month deadline.
  4. Where do I find the text? Source text (please only read from this text!): http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9604
  5. Please claim sections (the numbers in the first column below)! If this is your first recording, please let me know under which name or pseudonym you'd like to appear in the LibriVox catalogue. We can also link to a personal website/blog.

    Prospective Prooflisteners: Please read the Listeners Wanted FAQ before listening! Level of prooflistening requested: standard

    Please follow the pronunciation guide for the following Chinese names. If you have any questions, just ask!
    full pronunciation guide here

    The title: Hung Lou Meng 红楼梦 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/hongloumeng.mp3
    The author: Cao Xueqin (Tsao Hsüeh-ch'in)曹雪芹 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/caoxueqin.mp3

    Ladies:
    Lin Tai-yü 林黛玉 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/lintaiyu.mp3
    Hsüeh Pao-ch'ai 薛宝钗 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/hsuehpaochai.mp3
    Chia Yuan Ch'un 贾元春 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiayuanchun.mp3
    Chia Ying Ch'un贾迎春 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiayingchun.mp3
    Chia T'an Ch'un贾探春 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiatanchun.mp3
    Chia Hsi Ch'un贾惜春 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiahsichun.mp3
    Li Wan李纨 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/liwan.mp3
    Miao Yü妙玉 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/miaoyu.mp3
    Shih Hsiang-yün史湘云 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/shihhsiangyun.mp3
    Wang Hsi-feng (aka Lady Feng) 王熙凤 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/wanghsifeng.mp3
    Ch'in K'o-ch'ing (aka Mrs. Ch'in) 秦可卿 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chinkoching.mp3
    (Madame) Hsing 邢 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/mmehsing.mp3
    (Madame) Wang王 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/mmewang.mp3
    (Mrs.) Yu 尤(氏) https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/mrsyu.mp3

    Maids:
    Tzu Chüan 紫鹃 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/tzuchuan.mp3
    Hsüeh Yen 雪雁 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/hsuehyen.mp3
    Hua Hsi Jen 花袭人 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/huahsijen.mp3
    Ch'ing Wen 晴雯 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chingwen.mp3
    She Yüeh 麝月 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/sheyueh.mp3
    P'ing Erh 平儿 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/pingerh.mp3
    Hsiao Hung 小红 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/hsiaohung.mp3
    Yüan Yang 鸳鸯 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/yuanyang.mp3
    Hsiang Ling 香菱 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/hsiangling.mp3
    Chin Ch'uan-erh 金钏儿 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chinchuanerh.mp3
    Ying Erh 莺儿 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/yingerh.mp3
    Hu Po 琥珀 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/hupo.mp3
    Ssu Chi 司棋 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/ssuchi.mp3
    Shih Shu 侍书 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/shihshu.mp3

    Others:
    Chih Neng 智能 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chihneng.mp3
    Pan Erh 板儿 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/panerh.mp3
    (Prince of) Pei Ching 北静 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/peiching.mp3

    Gents of the four families:
    Lin Ju-hai 林如海 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/linjuhai.mp3
    Hsüeh P'an 薛蟠 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/hsuehpan.mp3
    Chia Pao-yü 贾宝玉 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiapaoyu.mp3
    Chia Lien 贾琏 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chialien.mp3
    Chia She 贾赦 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiashe.mp3
    Chia Cheng 贾政 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiacheng.mp3
    fourth tone: Imagine this conversation:
    What do you think we ought to do with the murderer?
    He ought to be hung -- a decisive statement, the pitch dropping on the hung, as if there's no question he will get the noose.

    Chia Chen 贾珍 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiachen.mp3
    first tone: level tone, rhymes with Jen (Jenny) in English. Hey, Jen, let's go for a ride.
    Chia Ching 贾敬 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiaching.mp3
    Chia Jung 贾蓉 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiajung.mp3
    Chia Huan 贾环 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiahuan.mp3
    Chia Jui 贾瑞 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiajui.mp3
    Chia Se 贾蔷 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiase.mp3
    Chia Yün 贾芸 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiayun.mp3
    Chia Chu 贾珠 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiachu.mp3

    Other gents:
    Chen Shih-yin 甄世隐 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chenshihyin.mp3
    Chia Yü-ts'un 贾雨村 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiayutsun.mp3
    Leng Tzu-hsing 冷子兴 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/lengtzuhsing.mp3
    Pu Shih-jen 卜世仁 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/pushihjen.mp3
    Ch'in Chung 秦钟 aka Ch'in Ching-ch'ing 秦鲸卿 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chinchung.mp3
    Chin Jung 金荣 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chinjung.mp3

    Servants:
    Chou Jui 周瑞 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/choujui.mp3
    Chiao Ta 焦大 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chiaota.mp3
    Li Kuei 李贵 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/likuei.mp3
    Lin Chih-hsiao 林之孝 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/linchihhsiao.mp3
    Ming Yen 茗烟 (later) Pei Ming 焙茗(bei ming) https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/mingyen.mp3

    Titles (used both for persons and places):
    Jung Kuo 荣国 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/jungkuo.mp3
    Ning Kuo 宁国 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/ningkuo.mp3

    Places:
    Yang Chou 扬州 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/yangchou.mp3
    Chin Ling 金陵 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/chinling.mp3
    Ta Li 大理 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/tali.mp3
    Ch'ang An 长安 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/changan.mp3
    Ta Kuan (Garden) 大观 https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/drcnames/takuan.mp3

    Please don't download or listen to files belonging to projects in process (unless you are the BC or PL). Our servers are not set up to handle the greater volume of traffic. Please wait until the project has been completed. Thanks!

    Magic Window:



    BC Admin

    Genres for the project: Literary Fiction
    Keywords that describe the book: china, chinese literature, china four great classical novels
    ============================================
  6. BEFORE recording: Please check the Recording Notes: http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6427#6430

    Set your recording software to:
    Channels: 1 (Mono)
    Bit Rate: 128 kbps
    Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
  7. DURING recording:
    No more than 0.5 to 1 second of silence at the beginning of the recording!
    Make sure you add this to the beginning of your recording:
    START of recording (Intro)
    • "Section [number] of The Dream of the Red Chamber, Book II. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit: librivox DOT org"
    • If you wish, say: "Recording by [your name], [city, your blog, podcast, web address]"
    • Say:
      "The Dream of the Red Chamber, Book II, by Cao Xuequin. Translated by Henry Bencraft Joly. Chapter [x] Part [y]"


    END of recording
    • At the end of the section, say:
      "End of Section [number]"
    • If you wish, say:
      "Recording by [your name], [city, your blog, podcast, web address]"
    • At the end of the book, say (in addition):
      "End of The Dream of the Red Chamber, Book II, by Cao Xuequin. Translated by Henry Bencraft Joly. Chapter [x]"

    There should be 5 seconds silence at the end of the recording, or 10 seconds for files longer than 30 minutes.

    Please remember to check this thread frequently for updates!
  8. AFTER recording
    Need noise-cleaning?
    Listen to your file through headphones. If you can hear some constant background noise (hiss/buzz), you may want to clean it up a bit. The new (free) version 1.3.3. of Audacity has much improved noise-cleaning. See this LibriVox wiki page for a complete guide.
    Save files as
    128 kbps MP3
    dreamredchamber2_##_cao_128kb.mp3 (all lower-case) where ## is the section number (e.g. dreamredchamber2_01_cao_128kb.mp3)

    Transfer of files (completed recordings) Please always post in this forum thread when you've sent a file. Also, post the length of the recording (file duration: mm:ss) together with the link.
    • Upload your file with the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
      Image
      (If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin)
    • You'll need to select the MC, which for this project is: Availle - availle
    • When your upload is complete, you will receive a link - please post it in this thread.
    • If this doesn't work, or you have questions, please check our How To Send Your Recording wiki page.
[/list]

Any questions?
Please post below
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22428
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
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Post by Availle »

Finally I have the time to set up the second book of "The Dream of the Red Chamber". It's (one of the four) Chinese Classics and worth having in our catalog. If anyone wants to read up as to what's going on, the first book is here: https://librivox.org/the-dream-of-the-red-chamber-book-i-by-xueqin-cao/

You don't have to speak Chinese for this one, but please have a listen to the main names of your chapter in the pronunciation guide. I am afraid that Jing is not here anymore to add to it or help with pronunciation if you have other questions, but we'll get through this. Eventually. :D

Have fun (and: DPL wanted!)
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
achen
Posts: 4
Joined: August 7th, 2017, 8:07 pm

Post by achen »

I would like to read Section 1. I am new and would like to appear in the LibriVox catalogue simply as "Ravi".
Availle
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Posts: 22428
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
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Post by Availle »

Hi Ravi, and welcome to LV!

Thanks for waking this project from its sleep :thumbs:

Section 1 is all yours - note that it's only half of the chapter! There is a very, very long pronunciation guide for the main (!) characters, please refer to it as needed.

If you have any other questions, just let me know.

Have fun on here! :D
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
achen
Posts: 4
Joined: August 7th, 2017, 8:07 pm

Post by achen »

Hi Ava,

I am happy to try the whole chapter - I did not wan to be presumptuous the first time out. So please put my name down for Part 2 as well.
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22428
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
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Post by Availle »

Ravi, please don't feel pressured to read all of it! I just wanted to make sure you stop where indicated, some people get very enthusiastic and read all of a chapter in one go, even if it is a one hour recording!
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
achen
Posts: 4
Joined: August 7th, 2017, 8:07 pm

Post by achen »

Hi Availle,

Here is the link to my recording: https://librivox.org/uploads/availle/dreamredchamber2_01_cao_128kb.mp3

It is 27 min and 57.166s long.
Availle
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Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
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Post by Availle »

Great thank you!

I'm a bit busy at the moment, but I'll try to give you feedback as soon as possible! :D
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22428
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
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Post by Availle »

Ravi,

I've just listened to your recording of the first section. Well done, I loved it! :clap:

There are three little things to fix though, please have a look/listen at:

15:06 sentence is cut off at "accident": this is simply a sadden and fleeting accident! -
17:09 two stumbles at "Exclusive of offerings of scented candles, several catties " both on the exclusive and the several
24:13 sentence is cut off at "liberally": reward you most liberally.
at the very end of the file, please leave 5 seconds of room silence.

Thanks a lot!
And let me know if you want to continue here! :D
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
achen
Posts: 4
Joined: August 7th, 2017, 8:07 pm

Post by achen »

Sorry for the delay Ava, I was travelling. I will read up on editing the file and resend. And yes, I will continue.
afutterer
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Location: Wisconsin

Post by afutterer »

I would love to PL this. I have always been interested in working on one of these greats. As long as it is not in Chinese.
Anthony

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. ~Epictetus
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22428
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
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Post by Availle »

Hi anthony - nice to have you on board!

No, it's not in Chinese (except for the names which I would like to be fairly consistent), but as you can see, there's still not much going on here. Maybe now that it's on top of the forum will improve things?

We do have the first book catalogued already, by the way: :wink:
https://librivox.org/the-dream-of-the-red-chamber-book-i-by-xueqin-cao/
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
afutterer
Posts: 4862
Joined: February 23rd, 2016, 3:04 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Post by afutterer »

I am happy to take part. I will have to listen to the first book. Thanks for the link Ava!
Anthony

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. ~Epictetus
KIBBONAFIDE
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Post by KIBBONAFIDE »

This might take me a month because of wanting to get the pronunciations as correct as possible but I just did a Japanese short story and had a lot of fun working with the pronunciation guide, so let me give Section 2 a shot, if you will.
Josh Kibbey
Availle
LibriVox Admin Team
Posts: 22428
Joined: August 1st, 2009, 11:30 pm
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Post by Availle »

Hi there and welcome to this project!

Section 2 is all yours, thanks for claiming.

I warn you though: Japanese pronunciation is really simple. Definitely compared to this one!
Good luck with it!
Cheers, Ava.
Resident witch of LibriVox, channelling
Granny Weatherwax: "I ain't Nice."

--
AvailleAudio.com
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