Lute and Guqin in Massachusetts.

[kyokuhon]

Hi, everybody,

I want to let everyone know that I'm planning a program for lute and guqin this fall at the Renaissance Center at the University of Massachusetts, USA. It will consist of music for these two instruments, iconic in their respective cultures, and readings (in original languages and English translation) of lyrics associated with the music.

I'm hoping to find qin pieces that, at least arguably, might have been played in China during the time of the European Renaissance (1500-1620 C.E. for this purpose). It would also help if they were on the easy side, as I'm no virtuoso on either instrument. Ideas and suggestions are heartily welcome!

I'm currently thinking Qiu Feng Ci, Xiang Fei Yuan, Guang Shan Yueh, and like that for qin.

Thanks, and keep playing.

K.

[davidmdahl]

That is a cool idea. It might be interesting to add another instrument like xiao, since the lute and qin are close in sound quality to each other. The xiao, or a flute, might add some contrasting color.

Another tune to consider: 'Yang Guan San Die'. I think that is from your target period.

Best wishes,

David

[kyokuhon]

Yes, David, I thought so, too, and the people at the Ren. Ctr. are also very excited: "One of the things we're always trying to do is remind people that other things (than the European Renaissance) were going on in the world at the same time!"

I had thought about xiao, or san xian. I'm worried about getting in over my head, since it takes a bit to warm up, at least for me, on wind instruments. I'll think about it, too.

Does YGSD have lyrics? I can't remember if my sheet music has them, but I'll look when I get home. Right now I'm in Fresno, California for a week.

Thanks,
K.

[davidmdahl]

I know what you mean by getting in over your head. I have a tendency of getting overly ambitious myself - shoot for the moon to get over the fence.

If the xiao is too much to manage, maybe someone could play recorder or whistle. I think that either might have the right sound quality where the Boehm (metal) flute would not. Just a thought. What you have planned already is great.

Here is more than you probably want to know about YGSD.

www.silkqin.com/02qnpu/12fmqp/fm23ygsd.htm

Best wishes,

David

[kyokuhon]

Hi, all,
Well, the time is coming on and I've settled the program for the performance (see attached). The qin pieces I'll be playing are Ling Zhong Yi, Qiu Feng Ci, Jiu Kuang (of course!), Yang Guan San Die (of course again!), Xiang Fei Yuan, and Liang Xiao Yin. I realize this may be convoluted, and even the concept somewhat foreign, but if anyone can tell me composers of these pieces, I'd be indebted. I hate to continue a stereotype and list all the Chinese pieces as "traditional", but I'm always hampered by my lack of Chinese language.
Thanks again, and keep playing,
K.

Attachments:

[Charlie Huang]

Have you gone through ZFX's qin dictionary that lists all the the qinpu and scores by date? That's your start. However, since no-one in the audience has knowledge of this then dates are not important (half of your scores seem to date later than your date range not considering the version used).

[kyokuhon]

Hi, all,
Thanks, Charles, for the suggestions. I know some of the dates are problematic... I admit I chose pieces that I can play, and my main goal is to present the music and the style, and I have some rudimentary knowledge of the difficulty of recreating "authentic" old styles in Chinese music. I included some Scottish lute pieces that are "out" also, but seem older in style.
I haven't consulted the work you cite, I'm sure it would help. Don't have easy access to it, though.
I thought of culling John Thompson's site for some usable, if possibly inaccurate information (on the part of my interpretation, not his scholarship!!), but frankly don't have time. Your answer seems to confirm my impression that qin people tend to classify works more by published source than by composer. Would you say this is so?
I also wonder if there is any way to know whether pieces tended to have some history already when they got included in a collection, or whether they were perhaps newly created? John's site seems to indicate that most had a history before inclusion, though I could, of course, be misreading him.
Sorry if all this is common knowledge; I don't have much actual contact with other qin players.

Thanks again, and keep playing,
K.

[Charlie Huang]

Yes, they often classify by source as any given piece may have several different versions and the most accurate way is to cite the source. If I say Liu Shui, Bo Ya it could mean anything (Bo Ya is most unlikely the composer, could be some unknown player who cooked it up and then several hundreds of players editing the score down the centurries for all we know); is it SQMP version or the modern TWGQP-GPH version? Also, citing the player where it comes from helps.

[kyokuhon]

Hi, all,
Just a quick note to let you know that the recital went very well, about 20 more people have now heard guqin, though in my imperfect performance. I'm told several hearts were touched, and my lute playing friend commented: "That is SO COOL!".
Thanks again for the help,
K.