Minimal Zheng.

[Vi An]

Hello everyone, hope this message finds you all in well spirits!

I enjoy the concept of "less is more" when it comes to creative new compositions for gu zheng. I don't mean less strings though as you all know by now! I mean allowing individual notes to really be heard and allowing each resonance to be deep. To create pieces with many subtle sounds, you really have to be patient to hear the complexities and variations of progressions; as opposed to having too much going on all at once (in your face).

It is all very fascinating to see fast finger master techniques and all but in the end if it just creates a bed of "noise" what is the use? Noise is good don't get me wrong when used very sparse or rhythmically it can be very moving! I mean -- the gu zheng is capable of such amazing pure tones and you really have to really listen to it, you MUST really really know the nature of the instrument to find these sweet tones. The less you try to be so difficult and complex is when the sounds that come out of the instrument -- will vibrate way better all over, not only your body but it peirces into your audience like "love" and they will melt.

I wish to hear more new compositions for gu zheng, I'm quite frankly sick of the rehashed over and over pieces -- I have heard them to death. Every new age has to have new inventiveness. Musicians on gu zheng can choose to be artists, inventors (pioneers) or classical *reinterpitors* or even all of the above. But the main thing is to be subtle and supple...

Thanks,

Vi An

[Peter Kahl]

Hi Vi An and all,

I couldn't agree with you more.

While it is nice to enjoy the traditional folk music of China and Vietnam, it can get rather tiring to hear it over and over.

We are eager to find more interesting, inspiring, enjoyable music. We are eager to be part of a community which offers such environment and resources which create such art. Art is our inspiration - to make our lives better and the world better as well.

The Guzheng is now gaining popularity - especially in China. Lunlun is one of many Guzheng musicians in Hong Kong, and also the best, but that is not enough.

Lunlun and have traveled the world a bit and these are our impressions:

* Japan is very opened to Chinese Guzheng music. Japanese people are rather open minded about world cultures, not just their own. Japanese people are highly educated (overall) and mostly have good taste.
* Hong Kong is slowly realizing it belongs to China and has Chinese cultural heritage. However, people here are very practical and prefer money over culture (greedy). Hong Kong people are slowly getting used to listening to Guzheng and other traditional Chinese instruments, but we don't expect any miracles here.
* Paris is very artistic city, very liberal, open and laid back. The French are curious and open-minded and love the sound of "exotic instruments". We vote Paris to be the number one city in the world for Chinese traditional instruments.
* Vienna is the city of music, but somewhat more conservative than Paris.
* America - the empire of ingnorance. Aren't Americans the best people in the world? I think they'll keep playing Chicago, Abba, Eagles and Michael Jackson and hip-hop for many more years.
* India - one of the largest (by population) countries in the world, with rich history of art and philosophy. Indian music is perhaps the most complicated music in the world - often inspiring western musicians. This is the world to explore ..........

Lunlun is now working on new original Guzheng compositions. Please keep your fingers crossed and send us some happy thoughts.

Perhaps some day, Lunlun will have a chance to jam with you, Vi An.

Sincerely,
Peter

[davidmdahl]

Peter said:

While it is nice to enjoy the traditional folk music of China and Vietnam, it can get rather tiring to hear it over and over.

I have just started to explore Asian traditional music during the past three years, and I find it more rewarding the deeper I go. I think there is plenty of variety, although sometimes it takes some persistence to find it. At this point in my education, listening over and over is my means of assimilating the styles and sounds.

Peter said:

* Hong Kong is slowly realizing it belongs to China and has Chinese cultural heritage. However, people here are very practical and prefer money over culture (greedy). Hong Kong people are slowly getting used to listening to Guzheng and other traditional Chinese instruments, but we don't expect any miracles here.

It is my impression that Western popular culture has been choking out traditional culture in E/SE Asia. What music people make and listen to is certainly not up to me, but I believe that it is good for everyone that traditional music and instruments thrive.

Peter said:

* America - the empire of ingnorance. Aren't Americans the best people in the world? I think they'll keep playing Chicago, Abba, Eagles and Michael Jackson and hip-hop for many more years.

The observation is not without merit, although it loses some punch by the misspelling of ignorance. <g> It is true that there is a lot of ignorance and bad taste among Americans, but there is a lot of brilliance and good taste as well. In this we are not that much different from any other country or culture. I know people who are passionate in their love of traditional music, and others who are equally passionate about creativity on the edge.

Peter said:

* India - one of the largest (by population) countries in the world, with rich history of art and philosophy. Indian music is perhaps the most complicated music in the world - often inspiring western musicians. This is the world to explore ..........

I sure agree with you there! Indian music is a world treasure. My city has a good-sized Indian community, with North Indian and Carnatic components, and we have frequent opportunities to attend performances of dance and music.

I am very much a fan of traditional music from all over the world. I can't do it all as a musician of course, but I listen with a musician's ears. I think that a solid grounding in traditional music and instruments is an excellent base from which to be creative making music of our time.

Best wishes,

David Dahl
Portland, Oregon
USA

[Peter Kahl]

Hi David,

I appreciate your comments, and here is a few of mine, before I fall asleep above the keyboard .....

The wonderful thing about Asia, and especially China, is that this part of the world has long been in isolation, and as such has kept it's own cultural character. However, with borders opening up, we can already see the western culture destroying the treasures of China ...... Now it's KFC and McDonalds and western rubbish music on every corner.

I have lived half of my life in Europe and 20 years in the US. I left the US exactly 1 year ago, because I could't stand the cultural vacuum. (That was California.) The moment I left, I immediately started feeling better. Other people before me said (Kurt Vonnegut, I believe, was one) that America has no culture. Perhaps America is what will become of the world one day, when all barriers of travel and communication are removed.

Yes, I ran into few culturally brilliant people in the US, but that wasn't enough for me.

Cheers,
Peter
American in exile
Hong Kong, where 50,000 Americans hide

[Charlie Huang]

I agree with you there, Peter-san.

I'm also taking a glimse at traditional Japanese music as well, and I find it very hypnotic to listen to! I especially like the koto.

[Peter Kahl]

Hi Charlie,

I also lived in Japan for 6 months and visited there many, many times. Thought about living there ........

I love the Asian culture. It's often misunderstood by the Western people.

I love the philosophy which originated in Asia, the arts, music.

Japanese people are amazing! I called them once "the Swiss of the East", but they may get upset if they heard it, maybe not. They are such obsessive perfectionists, detail oriented, traditions following people.

Peter

[Vi An]

Good day to all,

Its been awhile since I have been able to contribute.

I'm very curious if anyone has come across CD or DVD of performances with 26 + stringed guzheng?

My friends at CADENZA say that 26 stringed instruments are very common, when I mentioned that I had to have my Jinyun custom made, what I meant was that I had certain specific requirements I needed to meet.. Like the frame wood and custom "look" and possibly sound of the instrument -- which I got in the end.

So if the 26 stringed zhengs are so common, I guess the next question is have any virtuosos attempted at them and composed with them?

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In regards to my 31-stringed guzheng "dream" it isn't looking very up, CADENZA informed me that a lot of the makers they had lined up to do it are backing out. Loosing confidence and plain just delcining from the idea of such a grand guzheng! But friends at CADENZA are so very helpful still and managed to keep a few pros still on board for the project so I still have some hope.

A friend sent me picture of what looked like a guzheng with 49 strings but what was most piculiar was it had this big round pillar right under the playing side and at the foot of this pillar were a series of pedals ? ! I instantly thought that I was looking at a horizontal version of the vertical Chinese harp! Its so fascinating..

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With regards to minimal zheng style and music now -- I'm still working hard on "Delighting In Simplicity" and it is not at all simple to complete, as some of you have mentioned listening to a sample of the intro theme from my website. I'm taking a lot of the ideas you all have thrown at me and it is working out fabulously. I have so many projects on the go that it is so extremely hard to just "focus" on one, *grrrrrrrrrh*.

Thought I'd share,

Vi An.
Hope all is well.

[Charlie Huang]

Hi Vi_an-san. I'm thinking about a project to resurrect the 25-stringed se in the future (around 10-15 years time). Can't imagine my excitement! It would be so... XD

Yes, I saw the same picture of the 49-stringed zheng. It looked rather ugly for my liking...

Good luck in your quest!

[Vi An]

Thanks Charlie,

I look forward to being a part of the resurection of the 25 stringed se project! Sooooo exciting indeed!

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Now onto what I stated above regarding my great friends at CADENZA:

The CADENZA team has been the most dilligent and most particular with details when it comes to my custom 31 stringed guzheng order. They are sticking to my dream and they are helping me in every single step to making it come true -- 110%(+).. Do not get the wrong impression that they are "backing out" at all because they don't intend to, these people are brave and they really are passionate about the guzheng as I am!

I mentioned only that there are certain makers who are not confident, I have dealt with other makers myself who may not be as confident with this idea either. I mean this isn't a "Mickey-mouse" endevour, this is a big deal, it isn't going to be an easy ride.. But our friends at CADENZA are committed to this and really want to see it come together just as perfectly as possible! Lets give them all our positive encouragements and support anyway we can..

They are doing a great thing for the guzheng. They are helping me (this small aspiring musician) become the best she can be and deliver the best music from one of Asia's most astonishing instrument!!

Thank you all *Cheers*,

Vi An.