MUZI · STAGE · Chinese Instrumental Music

The Art of the Guqin

The seven-string zither with thirteen studs, foremost instrument of China's literati solo tradition

10works

Piece · Known by the Three Kingdoms period, when Ji Kang was famed for itGuangling SanJi Kang played it before his execution and lamented that Guangling San would now be lost for everGuan PinghuSE10001Piece · Tang-dynasty manuscriptSolitary Orchid in Jieshi ModeThe oldest surviving qin score, written out entirely in words rather than tablature signsHanded down, its preface says, from Qiu Ming of the late LiangSE10009Piece · 1425, in the Shenqi MipuFlowing WaterGuan Pinghu's recording of Flowing Water left Earth in 1977 on the Voyager Golden RecordHanded down by generations of qin players; traditionally traced to BoyaSE10002Piece · 1425, in the Shenqi MipuThree Variations on the Plum BlossomIts harmonic theme is played three times, in the upper, middle and lower registers, hence the nameLu ChunlingSE10004Piece · 1425, in the Shenqi MipuWine MadnessThe version played today is Yao Bingyan's 1957 reconstruction, whose triple rhythm sways like a drunkardRuan Ji · Yao BingyanSE10008Piece · 1425 (printed in Zhu Quan's Shenqi Mipu)Clouds over the Xiao and XiangGuo Mian is said to have written it when clouds over the Xiao and Xiang rivers hid Mount Jiuyi from his view.Guo MianSE10051Piece · 1491, in the Zheyin Shizi QinpuThree Refrains at Yang PassA setting of Wang Wei's farewell poem whose lines are sung three times over, hence the nameZhang HeSE10007Piece · 1559, in the Xingzhuang Taiyin XupuDialogue between the Fisherman and the WoodcutterFirst printed in 1559, it appears in more than thirty Ming and Qing qin handbooksHanded down by qin players since the MingSE10005Piece · 1597, in the Lüqi XinshengEighteen Songs of a Nomad FluteTraditionally credited to Cai Wenji, it survives as a qin song and as an instrumental piece, both in eighteen sectionsCai WenjiSE10006Piece · 1634, in the Guyin ZhengzongWild Geese Landing on the SandbankFirst printed in 1634 by the Ming Prince of Lu, it survives in more than sixty later qin handbooksHanded down by qin players; authorship variously attributedSE10003