A Trip to Gusu

Introduction

Jiang Xianwei's 1962 qudi solo, grown from a short Kunqu prelude he used for daily breath practice.

Gusu Xing is a solo for the qudi flute written in 1962 by the flautist and composer Jiang Xianwei, Gusu being an old name for Suzhou. Jiang had come across a short Kunqu prelude, which he played every day as a breathing exercise until it grew into this piece. Built on Kunqu music, it is counted among the representative works of the southern school of dizi playing. It is in three parts with an introduction: a free-tempo opening leads into a lyrical slow section, a brisk fast middle section, and a return of the slow theme. The music evokes the gardens of Suzhou and the pleasure of strolling through them, and leading flautists such as Yu Xunfa have recorded it.

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