musings and reflections on Erquan Yingyue

[maaltan]

while listening and watching a performance of Erquan Yingyue on video and poorly imitating bits and pieces of it. I started wondering.

I assume the actual erquan is a tourist attraction. I wonder how many people that "think" they can play erquan yingyue make a pilgrimage there to play it.

I wonder if there is enough that there is a sign there prohibiting it.

Historically, I understand the song probably has little to do with the springs.

[paulv]

I suggest you stay away from water (moisture in general) with your erhu. Also, stay away from very hot/humid locations -- not good for the skin (the erhu's skin that is....).


Maybe erhu players do go to the Erquan. If I could play the Three Gates Gorge Capriccio, I would go there and try it even though my wife would tell me I'm crazy!!!

Regards,
paul...

[davidmdahl]

There is a fascinating book by Dr. Jonathan Stock (Musical Creativity in Twentieth-Century China) that discusses what we think we know about Abing and Erquan Yingyue.

Apparently the actual spring is covered by a building, so a reflection of moonlight is quite impossible. The title was applied at the time it was recorded, after Abing had already played it for many years. While it is a picturesque title, there seems to be a lot more going on in Erquan than a description of the Moon's reflection. I hear great sadness and desolation in the music, although it is often played to be simply beautiful. "Song from a troubled soul" might be more the way I hear it.

It is fun to think of a prohibition to play Erquan at the springs, similar to Stairway to Heaven in a guitar shop. <g>

There is a song in Vietnamese music that is equally powerful, that has spawned its own musical traditions (the Vong Co, Cai Luong). That song is Da Co Hoai Lang.

Best wishes,

David

[calden]

Also from Stock's book is the note that Abing was raised as an orphan and saw a lot of street life, and that the main theme from Erquan likely came from a prostitute's tune sung to get customers.

Carlos

[maaltan]

The images I get out of it is sitting alone on top of a mountain on a cool day somewhere listening to wind in the trees next to a brook somewhere. A relief from frustration or desperation. A mental reflection if you will.

its always interesting to hear what people get out of a song.

It's even more interesting (read: funny and/or annoying) to hear the "experts" tell some that they are dead wrong. Especially, with instrumental only pieces with "figurehead" titles like Erquan.

I remember reading about some impressionistic/abstract painter that donned a disguise and attended one of his art shows. He was semi -famous, maybe early 20th century I can't remember the specifics. He was amused when he heard one man with a great aire of importance dominating one of his pieces lecturing people about how this painting signifies the calm of a natural setting somewhere. The artist couldnt help himself and blurted out that the guy was an idiot and that all it was is a canvas that got messed up when, after a horrible fight with his girlfriend, he came home and trashed his own studio. The next day the gallery came by and picked up his new pieces and got that one by mistake. The pompass man of course said that guy was some bum off the street that would never have any sophistication.

well getting off topic again so i will shut up for a while

[davidmdahl]

maaltan said:

The images I get out of it is sitting alone on top of a mountain on a cool day somewhere listening to wind in the trees next to a brook somewhere. A relief from frustration or desperation. A mental reflection if you will.

its always interesting to hear what people get out of a song.

For me that describes "Ping Hu Qiu Yue" (Calm Lake Under the Autumn Moon).

Best wishes,

David

[calden]

Another musin on Erquan -

I first heard it as part of my erhu instruction book CD collection (great book by the way!) For the first year or two I was simply too lazy to look up the names of the tunes I couldn't read to pronounce them, so I didn't know what it was - but I was immediately captivated by it. I always had this image of some guy walking very slowly, sauntering, down a country road, on some oppressively hot day, as only can be found in hot and dusty China. Our man is not at all burdened by the heat, but rather grooving on some internal issues, mostly happy ones but some bittersweet, as he moves along down the road with no particular destination in mind. For me, Erquan has a fantastic, very soulful rhythmic element to it that almost speaks of Delta blues music.

Carlos

[rickwalker]

I'd suggest getting the original recording of Ah-bing playing his own composition. He plays it with such verve that to me it sounds like a trumpet playing. He has a very strong inner beat that leaks out the essence of a thousand folk tunes. I have heard no modern player interpret the song anywhere near the composer's version. It is now mostly played as a highly sentimental song, partly because of Ah-bing's tragic story. (He died shortly after recording only 4 of his claimed 400 erhu compositions). Ah-bing plays Er-chuan as a triumphant statement of his colored life as a defrocked taoist priest, blind man, and consummate folk musician.

My personal theory is that the title "moon reflected on the calm spring" is a reference to the taoist/buddhist metaphor of calming the mind (the spring) so that the ripples quiet enough for the water to clearly reflect the true inner nature (the moon). The metaphor is even more reinforced by the name of the spring. "Er" is the number "2" and can be read to refer to the dualistic yin-yang nature of reality. When the mind is quiet the turbulent yin-yang merges into the unitary tai-chi. These are common taoist metaphors that would certainly have been known to A-bing since he was raised as a taoist monk.

I think he was a rare enlightened soul that was completely misunderstood by everyone around him at the time. This is part of the tragedy of his music. What could we have learned if we had recognized and supported him when he was alive? What will we wish we could know 100 years from now about the old growth forests that are currently being clear-cut? Ah-bing's spiritual depth is evident from the complete lack of self-pity in his recordings. That spirit is a large part of what is great about his music.

[davidmdahl]

Welcome to our forum, Rick! It is great to have another experienced erhu enthusiast in our midst. I look forward to reading more of your thoughtful and helpful posts.

Regarding Abing, I am embarrassed to admit that I have a CD of his recordings (from the Stock book), but have not yet given it a listen. I will fix that as soon as possible.

Regarding Erquan Yingyue, the Stock book proposes that the music of Abing's famous tune preceeded the title by some years. A title was needed in order to publish it, so "Erquan Yingyue" was applied as an afterthought. It is certainly unclear if Abing came up with the title, based upon his experience and philosophy, or merely agreed that it was a good title for his tune.

Too bad we cannot jump into a Tardis and follow Abing around with a recorder. What did we lose?

Best wishes,

David

[maaltan]

davidmdahl said:

Too bad we cannot jump into a Tardis and follow Abing around with a recorder. What did we lose?

Best wishes,

David

yes, I Won. my friends and I were musing on who would find the first Doctor who and erhu reference in the same sentance.

And thanks Rick for the very vivid and in depth analysis of abing. i was not aware of his religeous affiliation and therefore didn't think of tao symbolism in the piece. Now I have to listen to it 10-15 more times

[rickwalker]

If you get the full recording of A-bing, you can hear what sounds like a very young man or woman's voice announcing something like:

chien dza, chien da tzo, hu chin. tsi tu: "er chuan yuen yueh".

I only can understand "hu chin" and "er chuan yuen yueh".

However it makes it clear that the name was given by A-bing no later than at the moment of the recording.

I have recordings from two sources. One recording omits the introduction and the first two measures of introduction. There is also a one beat gap around the middle of the piece. It was quite puzzling why A-bing suddenly does a 3-beat measure until I found an earlier complete recording. I think the original piano-wire magnetic spool recording was damaged at one point. Probably the complete recording is a transcription from the widely available phonograph record published at the time.

[YouLanFengChune]

hmm...

I played a Xiao Solo for Min Huifen before, as accompaniment for Erquan. I was 16 going 17

Min Huifen's interpretation was simple for me.
"Sad, but no tears should flow" The tears are to well up in ur eyes, but no wailing, no screaming.

Years later, as i grew up, i realised such sadness prevails in life. There are many times u wish you could kick up a fuss, cry and scream and shout, but NO. The entire system forces u to be brave and smile, though you may be crying.

A bing's Erquan was based on his life. He was a street entertainer of sorts, and no matter how poor he gets, he still has to be brave and live on. Thats the strength of Erquan tome.

A small joke: One friend said that his Du Xian Cao (a tune on a string) came about cos he broke a string and was too poor to buy 1. That is one of the highest pieces today.