Favorite Guzheng CDs

[davidmdahl]

I just received an order of CDs from Wind Records, and have been listening to a delightful recording of solo guzheng "The Lotus that Stands Out", performed by Wang Lien.

I would love to know of other guzheng jewels. What are your favorite guzheng CDs?

Best wishes,

David

[davidmdahl]

After returning from a trip, I found waiting for me a CD of Lunlun Zou that I recently ordered. I don't have that many guzheng CDs, but among the artists I have heard, Lunlun's style appears to be pretty unique. I would say that Lunlun uses every bit of what a guzheng has to give, in an exhuberant, almost orchestral sense. She uses tremulo more than I have noticed on other recordings, but I should review my other CDs to be sure of that.

I highly recommed Lunlun's CD. It is even on sale up until Christmas for a very good price.

Best wishes,

David Dahl
Portland, Oregon

[Vi An]

Hello,

Great thread. I haven't already added something because I lent all my favorite gu zheng CDs to a friend.

One of them I still have its called:

"Guzheng Special Feature - Xu Ling Zi"
Overall it is pretty good, filled with the essentials of zheng music and very nicely put together, great arrangements zheng solo and with symphony. The interesting thing about this album is the first track which is "High Mountain and Flowing Stream" -- it doesn't sound like the one I'm used to!

There is one other album for guzheng in this series but its at a friends I'll let you know next time!

I have a recording of zheng solo on cassette tape and I'm just going mad here because I'm looking for the CD release of it and just can't ever find it. I picked it up when I was 15 (when I could actually spend money) and I noticed the CD version there, yes ironic cos I didn't have enough cash for it! Now it seems non-exsistent. The title of the album atleast is "The Moon Is High Above"?? I guess her name in Cantonese is Poon Man. Lost the actual cover! It just has the product code: MCS-1027 (P) (C) 1992 :-(

The style of this performer and the sound of the guzheng is my absolute favorite. The zheng is mellow, deep and robust and the playing isn't flashy, no missing notes and not extra notes. She has great rhythm sense and skill!

:-)

More soon.

Vi An.

[davidmdahl]

Thanks, Vi An, for the CD suggestions. I will keep an eye out for "The Moon is High Above."

I know I should keep an open mind, but guzheng with symphony does not appeal to me.

Best wishes,

David

[Vi An]

Here is my list:

1.Poon Man
2.Lou Jing
3.Wang Zhongshan
4.Xu Ling Zi
5.Xian Sihua

Vi An.

[YouLanFengChune]

Yeah!

Wang ZhongShan is in Singapore. I'll be performing with him tommorrow!!

web.asia-compass.com/cco/events.asp

[sleepy]

Some up-to-date & accurate info--

Ms Poon Man (or rather, Pan Wen in mandarin) is now teaching guzheng at the Shanghai Conservatory's middle school. A student of hers has recently won 3rd place in the professional section of a major Guzheng performance contest held by China's Ministry of Culture.

Xu Ling Zhi teaches Guzheng degree course at the HK Academy of Performing Arts.

Wang Zhong Shan-- Ah, still a middle school teacher at the China Music Conservatory's middle school Last Autumn (in 2004) he joined several other performers in a debut concert at the Lincoln Center in NYC.

Xiang Si Hua--probably retiring if not completely retired, she's a resident of Vancouver Canada. Every now and then she still tours in Asia to give lectures and performance.

Luo Jing, the youngest in Vi An's list (still in her 20s), is now based in Hong Kong, as a Guzheng soloist and Harpist for the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. And she of course gives lessons, too.

[sleepy]

And now my list:

1. Ode to Guizhou (Qian Zhong Fu)-- Qiu Ji, soloist
Hugo CD

2. The Best Chinese Classical Melody--various performers, including the late virtuoso Ms Zhang Yan (playing her own composition "Dong Hai Yu Ge") --very rare

3. Minoru Miki Koto Works (not chinese guzheng, though, CDs came with notation book, unknown performer)

4. Got to be "Hon See Wah (Xiang Si Hua) plays Zheng Favorites" vols 1 & 2 by Naxos