全曲大致可分為三個部份，第一部份，用舒緩典雅的慢板奏出悠揚如歌的旋律，並配合左手的揉、吟等裝飾技巧，描繪了一幅優美的湖光山色，夕陽西下，漁船還在移動，漁人載歌而歸，同時抒發了作者內心的感受和對景色的讚賞。
第二部份，音樂節奏加快，情緒趨於熱烈，起旋律是從第一段八度跳進的音調中發展而來。富有韻味的如歌旋律，排比的小分句使樂曲情調活潑，跌宕起伏，猶如水波蕩漾，轉入下屬調性，形成對比和變化，形像地表現了漁夫盪槳歸舟、乘風破浪前進的歡樂情緒。
第三部份是快板，在旋律的進行中，運用了一連串的音型模進和變奏手法，隨著音樂的發展，速度逐次加快，力度不斷加強，加之突出運用了古箏特有的各種按滑迭用的催板奏法，展現出漁舟近岸、漁歌飛揚的熱烈情景，同時使全曲歡騰的情緒達到了高潮。
樂曲在高潮處突然切住，隨後尾聲緩緩流出，其音調是第二部份一個樂句的緊縮，下行音型的模進逐漸引向終止，曲調出人意料地結束在宮音上，使人感覺江面上夜色籠罩，一片寧靜，耐人尋味。
《漁舟唱晚》作為一首蘊含詩情畫意的優秀箏曲，還被分別改編為高胡、古箏二重奏及小提琴獨奏曲。

‘Evening Song of the Fishingboat’ is a classical Guzheng repertoire from Henan. The lively and amusing scenery of the fisherman rowing in the sunset glow is depicted with the elegant melody and tranquil tempo. The piece is the most widely known Guzheng solo repertoire in China since the 1930s.

The piece is consists of three parts. During the first part, the magnificent scenery of the mountains and lake is portrayed by a flowing melody, which is played with decorative techniques of the player’s left hand. The fisherman sings while returning under the sunset, expressing the author’s feelings and appreciation to the scenery.

In the second part, the tempo accelerates with the atmosphere turning exciting. The theme is developed from the octave disjunction in the first part. The gradually flourishing melody forms a lively and uplifting atmosphere as if the wave of water. Meanwhile, the tonality turns into the subordinate key, forming contrasts and changes, vividly portraying the joyful mood of the fisherman rowing and sailing.

The third part is the Allegro. A series of modulation and variations are used in the melody. As the music develops, the tempo accelerates, and the intensity is continuously strengthened. In addition, various unique playing techniques of the guzheng are hereby used; depicting the lively scene of the fisherman’s singing voice passing along the shore, reaching the climax of music.

The music was suddenly cut at the climax, then came the coda leisurely. The melody deprived of a diminution of a passage in the second part. The descending figure gradually modulates to the end, and surprisingly ended the melody on the ‘Gong’ note in the Chinese pentatonic system, portraying the quiet and intriguing river scenery.

‘Evening Song of the Fishingboat’ is an excellent guzheng repertoire with poetry and painting features. It has also been adapted into Duet for Gao Hu and Guzhen as well as Violin Solo. The version is adapted for concert band by Hong Kong composer Yuen-hing Yau.