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Post by randal on Jan 2, 2018 20:04:34 GMT
Pertaining to this music/recording (Chinese Han: above the clouds..) - I wasn't able to post the link here, yet I was able to in my introduction "Greetings."
I'm wondering if any could provide me with more information pertaining to this music - "Chinese Han: Zheng melodies: above the clouds" by Rao Ningxin, et al. For example, are these original compositions by the artists who recorded it? This sounds unlike a modern 21-string guzheng - are there models of this type (17, 18 string?) of guzheng available for order? (Carol/SOC does not carry them)
Many thanks, randal.
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 2, 2018 21:58:26 GMT
Hello Randal,
Your post came at a busy time in December, and was rather open ended, so I did not take the time to respond. I am not familiar with the tunes, but they remind me of Jiangnan Sizhu. I believe the tunes on the Zheng Melodies are traditional, without a known composer. I do not know the guzheng/zheng repertoire deep enough to be of much help. They are lovely!
The steel string zheng is likely to be a specialist instrument. There may be old steel string guzhengs around, but I don't expect they are actively sold on the international market. I think they are more common in Taiwan. The modern guzheng is much more popular.
The steel string guzheng these days lives on in the form of the Vietnamese dan tranh. It is much more lightly constructed than the zheng and the music is much different than on the Zheng Melodies album.
Carol is likely to be a better resource for information on the Zheng Melodies album, and on the zheng itself.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by randal on Jan 3, 2018 1:00:37 GMT
Thank you David. Yes I posited some of this before Carol, and on the 'guzheng forum' but there's not been a reply (re steel string, tradition, etc).
I have a CD of dan tranh music which I love, and am very much interested in studying dan tranh. However, I am just beginning study (only into a second piece on the above CD) and the florid Vietnamese forms seem not as accessible as a point of entree.
My instrument is an old 18-str guzheng. It's in rather poor condition and I'm interested in acquiring a new one. However, I'm not sure that I'm needing a large 21-str, as I'll be studying this style for the next several years. I've thought of stringing it with steel.
I wonder whether it could be feasible/appropriate to play this repertoire (zheng melodies) on dan tranh? The often wide intervallic string bending of this repertoire seems like it would be suitable for dan tranh (?)
Your thoughts much appreciated. Thank you, randal
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Post by randal on Jan 4, 2018 5:39:50 GMT
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 4, 2018 8:26:00 GMT
It's funny that you would mention Le dan tranh CD. That was one of my early favorites. The performer is a young Hai Phuong, daughter of dan tranh grandmother and teacher to so many students, Pham Thuy Hoan. Artist Thuy Hoan has written many instruction books on dan tranh and in fact wrote many of the tunes on the Le dan tranh CD you like. I have met her daughter HaiYen who lives in Houston, and Thuy Hoan herself, but not Hai Phuong.
You might check out other CDs of Thuy Hoan's ensemble Tieng Hat Que Huong (Song of the Native Land), including "From Saigon to Hanoi" and "Instrumental Textures". The latter is sometimes hard to find. There is a lot of traditional vocal music on "From Saigon to Hanoi", which is an acquired taste. I think it is delightful.
For some more dan tranh, check out the phenomenal Hoang Co Thuy. I ordered my CDs via a website, since they are not on Amazon. For a taste, check out the videos on Youtube.
If you love Vietnamese music, then get a dan tranh and a teacher. If you love Chinese music, get a modern guzheng and a teacher. The music and instruments for each are very different, and one is enough to keep you busy for years. I have studied both with teachers. In retrospect, both the guzheng and dan tranh kicked my butt. I did manage some success with both, and am likely to go back to the guzheng eventually if I can find a teacher.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by randal on Jan 4, 2018 18:05:11 GMT
Yes I would love to find a teacher. Unfortunately I'm in very rural area of US and have found no local resources thus far. Fortunately, there is youtube.
Thank you again. Randal
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Post by randal on Jan 6, 2018 4:03:14 GMT
Le Dan Tranh has been my favorite too. It is wonderful for you to have met them. What a wonderful music.
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Post by randal on Jan 6, 2018 4:21:13 GMT
Oh I wish I could edit above..ah well
The 7th track on my disc, there is striking the instrument with an object. This is evocative for me as I play the hammered dulcimer - jigs and reels etc - and love to strike strings with sticks. Something I wanted to ask months ago: do others enjoy this? The guzheng too sounds good with using the instrument with percussive concept.
I enjoy the varied techniques rendered on the dan tranh. I love the great range of the instrument.
*ah I found the edit function. Yes, metal strings enable different approaches such as using implement to strike strings. The different timbre of metal is alluring; I have similar affinity in other idioms (I play wire harp, and other metal-strung instruments).
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Post by randal on Feb 4, 2018 2:57:08 GMT
Ah, I finally found a video of Mr. Ningxin that sounds indeed like wire. youtu.be/xGAQHaZPneoNow, where to find an instrument. |
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