|
|
Post by guzhenglover on Jul 11, 2007 3:06:52 GMT
Does anyone know of any guqin from the Han Dynasty that's still in PLAYING condition? I was reading something the other day - written by GY, I think - and he mentioned something about this kind of qins (not that he had referred to any qin in particular). I thought that the earliest PLAYABLE qin comes from the Tang Dynasty (is it the one that LXT plays?), but the ones from the Han Dynasty or earlier from the Zhanguo (Warring States) period are relics that can no longer be played. I am just curious.
|
|
|
|
Post by Si on Jul 11, 2007 3:16:05 GMT
i would be very suprised if a piece of wood from then has survived. If it has it will be in some special container.
I remember reading I think on JT site that there is a metal qin in a museum (in shanghai I think).
|
|
|
|
Post by SCWGuqin on Jul 11, 2007 3:30:46 GMT
There are several excavated qins from the Han period and earlier. The earliest of all (and probably most famous) is from Zeng Hou Yi's tomb, late 5th century BCE. That one in particular is VERY different from the modern (=post-Han) qin. In general you see a development from a more lute-like form to the current zither one. Some of these artifacts may be playable, but who in the world thinks the museums will agree to let you string them up...
In any case, the Zeng Hou Yi qin would not be played at all like modern ones. The design suggests that only open strings (and possibly harmonics) were used, with little or no left-hand pressing. That would make the texture much more like harp or lyre music.
|
|
|
|
Post by guzhenglover on Jul 11, 2007 4:24:13 GMT
Syburn - depending on the method of preservation e.g. the way the tomb was built, etc., timber from ancient times can and does survive through to the modern era. Re metal qins - well there are also jade qins etc. But I am not attracted to those at all! Are you?
utmostvacuity2 - still it would be interesting if someone were to make repulicas of the ancient artifacts - like they have done over and over again with the Bianzhong from the Zeng Hou Yi tomb - so that musicians and musicologists could better understand those ancient qins. Well certainly I'd find that something that would fascinate me.
|
|
|
|
Post by SCWGuqin on Jul 11, 2007 5:37:09 GMT
Bo Lawergren in NYC has made a replica of the Zeng Hou Yi qin; there exist multiple reproductions of the Mawangdui qin (early 2nd cent BC) in China. One of them was used in Hero. Unfortunately I never got the chance to try out Bo's when I was in NYC...I was REALLY looking forward to it, because the entire musical character of the instrument is different.
|
|
|
|
Post by guzhenglover on Jul 11, 2007 7:35:38 GMT
Bo Lawergren in NYC has made a replica of the Zeng Hou Yi qin; there exist multiple reproductions of the Mawangdui qin (early 2nd cent BC) in China. One of them was used in Hero. Unfortunately I never got the chance to try out Bo's when I was in NYC...I was REALLY looking forward to it, because the entire musical character of the instrument is different. Sounds like there should be a school excursion for all of us who are interested in trying out the qin! I'd LOVE to try it out and be educated...! |
|
