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Post by Charlie Huang on Sept 6, 2004 9:41:46 GMT
On the 5th of September, in London UK at the house of Cheng Yu, the 9th yaji of the London Youlan Qin Society was held.
More information about this event will be posted shortly.
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Post by Charlie Huang on Sept 16, 2004 11:13:41 GMT
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Post by Charlie Huang on Nov 4, 2004 22:41:16 GMT
The London Youlan Qin Society would like to invite you to its end of year yaji for 2004. As usual, please bring something to eat or drink. The agenda will include:
* LYQS review of the year 2004 and a look ahead to 2005.
* Dan-Nung Ing's qin experiences in Hong Kong and China, Autumn 2004.
* Cheng Yu's Chinese music visit to Hong Kong and China, Winter 2004.
* Next year's qin summer school.
* Society funding.
* Qin playing by members.
Charlie Huang.
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Post by Charlie Huang on Dec 16, 2004 14:44:20 GMT
OK, I hope the computer does crash before I finish this message (like it did last time)...
Here's a summary of what happened at the yaji last Sunday (if I can remember all of it):
First, Julian Joseph gave a brief summary of what happened during the year. This included visits from Jim Binkley, Stephen Dydo, Li Xiangting, Mingmei Yip, etc from overseas. Then, a discussion into what happened at the Chinese Music Summer School at the RAM (Royal Academy of Music) in London, funded by the AMC (Asian Music Curcuit).
Cheng Yu talked about her visit to China and Hong Kong. In HK, she visited the qin maker, Choifookkee. Very old and not in good health, he gave her a set of Taigu silk strings. Also, she discovered that most qin players in HK don't buy their qins, they make them themselves! In Bejing, she visited Wang Peng and Li Xiangting, as well as continuing with her 5 stringed pipa project. She showed us pictures from her trip, which contained numerous photos of instruments and 'qins in the making'.
The issue of society funding was discussed. Since we cannot rely solely on outside charities, like the AMC to fund and promote Chinese music, we suggested that we should fund them ourselves, like to ask overseas musicians to come to the UK to teach and perform.
About next years Summer School, there is still a maybe. The AMC said that turnout was low, compared to the Indian Music Summer School (consequently, ran side by side with the CMSS. But that ia an unfair analysis, since the IMSS was establisahed for a very long time, whilst the CMSS only began last year! This lead onto the discussion of the position of Chinese music in the West. Indian music fared more favourably because it had been promoted in the West more extensively by famous Western artists for a long time. However, Chinese music recieved no such treatment. Some people think that Chinese music isn't strictly 'music' in itself! This was a dilemma. But, someone in the yaji, a Western woman who loves Chinese culture and qin music, said that at first, she thought Chinese music was 'load and chaotic', but as she learnt about Chinese culture and developed a love and understanding of Chinese culture and art, she began to appreciate and love Chinese music. Thus, one can say that one needs to first understand Chinese culture and thinking to truly appreciate its music.
However, the promotion of Chinese music isn't being helped in Asia and China, because much of music education is concerned with Western music, rather than Chinese music. Children are taught about piano, violin, etc before they have even seen or heard what a pipa, or a dizi is. Only those brought up in a traditional Chinese music family would have the privilage to experience Chinese music. Western music has more or less taken over the world, so there is no immediate need to 'rescue it from decline'. However, Chinese music (as with any other cultural music) needs to be promoted and be taught in its homeland. Also, the younger generation needs to experience this, which isn't helped with the growing trend of turning towards 'bubblegum' popular music.
Unfortunately, Dan Nung was still on a plane returning from China, so he couldn't talk about his qin stories in China, which is a shame.
Afterwards, qin playing began.
A full report would be published on the LYQS website soon.
CCC.
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Post by Charlie Huang on Feb 1, 2005 12:59:43 GMT
The next Yaji will be on 25th February 2005 at 6pm at Cheng Yu's house. This is straight after her concert on her 5-stringed pipa. There is an earlier concert on the 16th with a chance to meet her and the composers.
More information soon.
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Post by Charlie Huang on Nov 18, 2006 10:39:52 GMT
Pics from the lastest:    More later |
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Post by Charlie Huang on Nov 19, 2006 18:34:11 GMT
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Post by Charlie Huang on Apr 29, 2007 21:13:05 GMT
Lin Youren is coming to the UK for a yaji on the 6th (concert on the 5th) May. Details on the LYQS site.
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