MUZI · STAGE

Chinese Instrumental Music

From Neolithic bone flutes to the modern orchestra: music blown, bowed, plucked and struck.

63works

13entries

The Art of the Guqin

10 works

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

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

Dizi and Xiao

4 works

The side-blown dizi and the end-blown xiao, China's bamboo flutes

Piece · 1926 CE (earliest printed score)Partridges FlyingA Hunan folk tune whose earliest printed score appeared in a 1926 anthologyLu ChunlingSE10026Piece · 1950sHappy ReunionFeng Zicun's bangdi solo arranged from an Errentai interlude tune of the same nameFeng ZicunSE10025Piece · 1962A Trip to GusuJiang Xianwei's 1962 qudi solo, grown from a short Kunqu prelude he used for daily breath practice.Jiang XianweiSE10054Piece · 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 ChunlingSE10004

Guzheng

5 works

A long plucked zither rooted in the music of Qin, played in regional schools north and south

Piece · 1930s (Lou Shuhua's version; some date it to 1938-1939)Fishing Boats Singing at DuskLou Shuhua's guzheng piece of the 1930s, named after a line in Wang Bo's Preface to the Prince of Teng's Pavilion.Lou ShuhuaSE10052Piece · 1965Fighting the TyphoonWang Changyuan's 1965 guzheng solo depicting Shanghai dockworkers battling a typhoonWang ChangyuanSE10060Piece · Date unknownJackdaws Playing in the WaterOne of the ten great suites of Chaozhou string music, so popular that it is jokingly called Chaozhou's own anthem.Traditional, Chaozhou folk musiciansSE10016Piece · Date unknownLotus Emerging from the WaterA traditional Hakka zheng piece that takes the lotus, unstained by the mud it grows in, as its image.Traditional, Guangdong Han music playersSE10017Piece · Date unknown; in print by 1929Autumn Moon over the Han PalaceA Chongming-school pipa classic that Liu Tianhua transcribed for erhu from a gaohu record in 1929.Liu TianhuaSE10015

Pipa

9 works

The pear-shaped, bent-neck lute, once played flat with a plectrum and now upright with the fingers

Piece · Manuscript dated 1528 (Ming)The Moon on HighA classic civil-style pipa suite whose earliest known version survives in a Ming manuscript dated 1528.Traditional pipa repertoire of the Ming and QingSE10013Piece · 1818, in Hua Qiuping's pipa collectionAmbush from Ten SidesIt tells the Battle of Gaixia from the Han side, and Hua Qiuping's 1818 collection calls it simply Ten SidesHanded down by pipa players of the Ming and QingSE10010Piece · 1818, in Hua Qiuping's pipa collectionThe Overlord Takes Off His ArmourIt tells the Battle of Gaixia from Xiang Yu's side and includes a farewell to Consort YuHanded down by pipa players of the QingSE10011Piece · 1860 (Ju Shilin's pipa manuscript Xianxu Youyin)Flute and Drum at SunsetAlready notated in Ju Shilin's pipa manuscript of 1860 and expanded into ten titled sections by Li Fangyuan in 1895.folk pipa playersSE10059Piece · 1895, in Li Fangyuan's printed collectionWhite Snow in Spring SunlightEach section opens on the first eight bars of Lao Liuban, and Wang Yuting's seven-section version is the Little YangchunHanded down by the Pudong, Pinghu and other pipa schoolsSE10012Piece · Suite form first printed 1895 (Qing)Song of the FrontierA pipa suite on Wang Zhaojun's longing for home, first joined into one large piece in Li Fangyuan's score of 1895.Li ZufenSE10014Piece · Date unknown; in print by 1929Autumn Moon over the Han PalaceA Chongming-school pipa classic that Liu Tianhua transcribed for erhu from a gaohu record in 1929.Liu TianhuaSE10015Piece · Date unknown; recorded 1950Great Waves Sifting the SandA pipa solo by Hua Yanjun, recorded by Yang Yinliu and Cao Anhe in 1950.Hua YanjunSE10020Piece · 1925 (ensemble arrangement at the Datong Music Society)Spring River in the Flower-Moon NightLiu Yaozhang's 1925 ensemble arrangement of an old pipa piece, titled by Zheng Jinwen of the Datong Music Society.Liu Yaozhang · Zheng JinwenSE10055

Erhu

9 works

The two-string bowed fiddle descended from the xiqin, leading voice of the huqin family

Piece · 1918Soliloquy of a ConvalescentAn early erhu solo by Liu Tianhua, usually dated 1918 and originally titled Anshi.Liu TianhuaSE10021Piece · Begun 1918 CE, finalised 1928 CEBirdsong in the Empty MountainsAn erhu solo Liu Tianhua began in 1918 and finalised for publication in 1928Liu TianhuaSE10024Piece · 1928 CEA Fine EveningImprovised by Liu Tianhua on lunar New Year's Eve 1928; first titled A Little Song for New Year's EveLiu TianhuaSE10023Piece · Late 1930s (approx.)The Moon Reflected on the Second SpringHua Yanjun's best-known erhu piece, which only received its title when it was recorded in 1950.Hua YanjunSE10018Piece · Early 1930s (approx.)Listening to the PinesAn erhu solo by Hua Yanjun, recorded in 1950 at the same session as Erquan yingyue.Hua YanjunSE10019Piece · 1931Towards BrightnessLiu Tianhua's 1931 erhu march, written to show that Chinese music was anything but listless.Liu TianhuaSE10022Piece · 1959Horse RacingHuang Haihuai's 1959 erhu solo, in which the soloist plucks broken chords beneath the tune.Huang HaihuaiSE10053Piece · 1981 (premiered 1982)Great Wall CapriccioLiu Wenjin's erhu concerto, completed in 1981 and premiered by Min Huifen at the 1982 Shanghai Spring festival.Liu WenjinSE10058Piece · Date unknown; in print by 1929Autumn Moon over the Han PalaceA Chongming-school pipa classic that Liu Tianhua transcribed for erhu from a gaohu record in 1929.Liu TianhuaSE10015

Suona and Drum-and-Wind Bands

3 works

The suona, brought in under the Jin and Yuan, and the folk wind bands it leads

Piece · 1950sA Spray of FlowersA suona solo Ren Tongxiang built from the crying tune of Shandong bangzi opera and local folk melodiesRen TongxiangSE10028Piece · 1953 CEA Hundred Birds Pay Homage to the PhoenixRen Tongxiang's suona arrangement caused a national stir at the 1953 folk music and dance festival in BeijingRen TongxiangSE10027Piece · Traditional; date unknownThe General's CommandA traditional piece kept in both the Shengzhou chuida and Xuzhou guchui traditionsFolk wind-and-percussion musiciansSE10029

Chaozhou Music

3 works

The gong-and-drum bands and string music of eastern Guangdong, in their own notation

Suite · Date unknownTwo Geese PeckingA long-form suite of Chaozhou suona-and-big-drum music that draws on village life.Chaoshan folk gong-and-drum musiciansSE10046Piece · Date unknownLittle Peach RedA traditional Chaozhou tune heard in string ensembles, in the three-instrument xiyue and in su gong-and-drum bands.Chaoshan folk string musiciansSE10047Piece · Date unknownJackdaws Playing in the WaterOne of the ten great suites of Chaozhou string music, so popular that it is jokingly called Chaozhou's own anthem.Traditional, Chaozhou folk musiciansSE10016

Jiangnan Sizhu

8 works

Silk-and-bamboo chamber music of southern Jiangsu, western Zhejiang and Shanghai

Piece · 1860 (Sihe in the Xianxu Youyin manuscript)Sihe RuyiIts forerunner Sihe appears in an 1860 pipa manuscript; later players dropped the gongs and drums.Jiangnan folk sizhu musiciansSE10035Piece · 1895 (printed in Li Fangyuan's pipa collection)SanliuA Qing-era prelude to Suzhou tanhuang singing, printed in 1895 under the borrowed title Meihua Sannong.Jiangnan folk sizhu musiciansSE10034Piece · 1895 (printed by Li Fangyuan as the Warm Breeze Tune of Emperor Shun)Zhonghua LiubanThe most important elaboration of the old tune Lao Liuban, also known as the Warm Breeze Tune.Jiangnan folk sizhu musiciansSE10038Piece · 1919 (printed in Zhou Shiseng's Guosheng Ji)XingjieA tune for playing on the move; its original score was printed in the 1919 Guosheng Ji.Jiangnan folk sizhu musiciansSE10036Piece · 1919 (printed in Zhou Shiseng's Guosheng Ji)YunqingGrew out of one section of the percussion suite Luogu Sihe; printed in the 1919 Guosheng Ji.Jiangnan folk sizhu musiciansSE10037Piece · Traditional; date unknownOrnamented Three-SixOne of the Eight Great Pieces of Jiangnan sizhu, made by slowing and ornamenting San LiuFolk silk-and-bamboo musicians of JiangnanSE10031Piece · Traditional; date unknownSong of JoyOne of the Eight Great Pieces of Jiangnan sizhu, moving from a slow opening to a lively closeLu ChunlingSE10032Piece · Traditional; date unknownSlow Six BeatsOne of the Eight Great Pieces of Jiangnan sizhu, grown from Lao Liu Ban by slowing and ornamentingLu ChunlingSE10033

Nanyin

2 works

Quanzhou's string-and-wind ensemble of pipa, dongxiao and clappers

Suite · 1857 (included in the Wenhuantang score collection)Plum Blossom SuiteA plum-blossom suite of nanyin in five sections, already in the Wenhuantang collection compiled in 1857.Handed down by generations of southern Fujian nanyin playersSE10048Suite · Date unknownEight SteedsOne of the Four Great Suites of nanyin, eight sections that drive from free tempo to a racing finale.Handed down by generations of southern Fujian nanyin playersSE10049

Cantonese Music

7 works

Silk-and-bamboo ensemble music of the Pearl River Delta, led by gaohu, yangqin and qinqin

Piece · 1916 (Qiu Hechou's Xiange Bidu; some say 1917)Rain Beating on Banana LeavesFirst printed in Qiu Hechou's Xiange Bidu of 1916, where it is listed among the old tunes.Guangdong folk musiciansSE10039Piece · 1916 (Qiu Hechou's Xiange Bidu; some say 1917)Thunder in DroughtYan Laolie's yangqin reworking of Sanji Lang, the second tune of the old suite Sanbao Fo.Yan LaolieSE10040Piece · 1930 (New Moon recording; composed in the late 1920s)Autumn Moon over the Calm LakeWritten by Lü Wencheng after a visit to West Lake and recorded in Shanghai by 1930.Lu WenchengSE10043Piece · 1931 (Gelin recording)Lovers' SorrowRecorded on the Gelin label by 1931; it opens in the plaintive yifan mode and ends in a fast liushui section.Guangdong folk musiciansSE10041Piece · 1938 (printed in the Qinxian Yuepu)Stepping Higher and HigherLü Wencheng's gaohu classic, whose score appeared in the Qinxian Yuepu in 1938.Lu WenchengSE10042Piece · Date unknown (composer died 1942)Merriment in a Time of PeaceA signature piece by the Taishan musician Qiu Hechou, known for its brevity and buoyant mood.Qiu HechouSE10044Piece · Date unknown (He Liutang died 1933)Dragon Boat RaceDrafted by He Bozhong and revised four times by his grandson He Liutang into a dragon-boat race piece.He Liutang · He BozhongSE10045

Modern Chinese Orchestra

6 works

The modern Chinese orchestra in four sections: winds, plucked strings, bowed strings and percussion

Piece · 1925 (ensemble arrangement at the Datong Music Society)Spring River in the Flower-Moon NightLiu Yaozhang's 1925 ensemble arrangement of an old pipa piece, titled by Zheng Jinwen of the Datong Music Society.Liu Yaozhang · Zheng JinwenSE10055Piece · 1934 (recorded by Pathé)Dance of the Golden SnakeNie Er's 1934 arrangement of the folk tune Daobaban, recorded by Pathé in Shanghai that June.Nie ErSE10050Piece · 1935 (written for the Pathé Chinese orchestra)Colorful Clouds Chasing the MoonRen Guang wrote it in 1935 for the Chinese orchestra of the Pathé record company, setting it to a slow tango.Ren GuangSE10056Piece · 1951–1952 (premiered 1953)Dance of the Yao PeopleAn orchestral piece by Liu Tieshan and Mao Yuan, drawn from the Yao long-drum dance of LiannanLiu Tieshan · Mao YuanSE10061Piece · 1955 (some sources give 1955-1956)Spring Festival OvertureThe opening movement of Li Huanzhi's Spring Festival Suite, completed in 1955.Li HuanzhiSE10057Piece · 1981 (premiered 1982)Great Wall CapriccioLiu Wenjin's erhu concerto, completed in 1981 and premiered by Min Huifen at the 1982 Shanghai Spring festival.Liu WenjinSE10058

Chinese Works for Western Instruments

2 works

Chinese melodies and stories played on piano, violin and symphony orchestra

Piece · 1958–1959 (premiered 1959)Butterfly Lovers Violin ConcertoHe Zhanhao and Chen Gang's violin concerto built on Yue opera tunes, first performed in Shanghai in 1959He Zhanhao · Chen GangSE10062Piece · 1968–1969 (premiered 1970)Yellow River Piano ConcertoA four-movement piano concerto adapted from Xian Xinghai's Yellow River Cantata, led by pianist Yin ChengzongXian Xinghai · Yin ChengzongSE10063

Bone Flutes and Clay Ocarinas

0 works

The Jiahu bone flutes and prehistoric clay xun, the earliest wind instruments known in China

Works in preparation

Shengguan Ensembles

0 works

Northern temple and village ensembles led by the guan oboe with sheng mouth organs

Works in preparation

Ruan and Sanxian

0 works

The round-bodied, straight-necked ruan and the long-necked, skin-faced sanxian

Works in preparation

Shifan Ensembles

0 works

Folk ensembles of some ten silk, bamboo, drum and gong instruments, played from Jiangnan to Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan

Works in preparation

Xiansuo String Ensembles

0 works

Northern ensembles of plucked and bowed strings, without gongs or winds

Works in preparation

Yangqin

0 works

The trapezoid hammered dulcimer, from a foreign import to a mainstay of Chinese ensembles

Works in preparation

Xi'an Wind and Percussion Ensemble

0 works

Xi'an's wind-and-drum music of the temple fairs, handed down in old manuscript notation

Works in preparation

Instrumental Traditions of China's Ethnic Minorities

0 works

Morin khuur, lusheng, dombra and bronze drums: the instrumental heritage of China's many peoples

Works in preparation