Bamboo

guzheng

古箏國樂

Calm traditional

A complete list of my guzheng recordings in mostly reverse chronological order.  The difficult ones took as many as a hundred trials before I could get a version that I feel listenable, and there is only one piece that I was able to do it in just one take.  The mode is perhaps 10 to 15 takes.  I deeply admire those of you who can improvise or get a satisfactory track in one take.

Guzhengman's Guzheng Tracks

chinese traditional

chinese traditional folk

Japanese Traditional Folk Music - Reiki - Yoga Chinese Bamboo Flute (Meditation)(1) (1)

Guzheng | 神圣的伊甸园 Shénshèng De Yīdiànyuán (Naked) by Abel Vegas

Chinese Traditional Folk Music-Wave Of Happiness

Scores from: Choingarsi Guzheng Institute
Date of This Recording: 2014-03-05

樂譜來源：蔡雅絲古箏學院中二課程
樂曲類型：粵器樂曲
錄音日期：2014-03-05

中国汉族民间器乐曲。乐谱最早载于1921年丘鹤俦所编《弦歌必读》，后由潘永璋改编，成为广东音乐代表性曲目。曲首以流畅明快的旋律表现人们的喜悦之情，然后接以句幅短小、节奏顿挫、并比排列的乐句互相催递，短促的断奏，犹似雨打芭蕉淅沥之声，极富南国情趣，最后为气氛热烈的快板段落，风格朴实清新，初夏时节，雨打芭蕉淅沥之声，表现出人们的欣喜之情，体现了广东音乐清新流畅活泼的风格。 （百度百科節錄）

Raindrops Dancing On The Banana Leaves 雨打芭蕉

Ancient Chinese music was not regular like western music, was ad hock, flowed like river, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Organic.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guqin
Western composers have noticed that the rhythm in a piece of qin music can change; once they seem to have got a beat, the beats change.

Ancient China (Traditional Chinese Folk Music by Pablo)

Scores from:  Choingarsi Guzheng Institute
Date of This Recording: 2014-07-01

樂譜來源：蔡雅絲古箏學院中二課程，項斯華演奏譜
樂曲類型：漢調箏曲
錄音日期：2014-07-01


Waves Scouring the Sand 浪淘沙

This is a piece that I have been much afraid to play.  Although there are a few errors in the fast passage, It has taken me a week to record to the current state, so it is the best that I can do as of today. Glad that I am beginning to overcome some difficult fingering.

Liuyang River is a main branch of the Xiang River in Hunan province, China.  The original song, composed in 1950s, was written to praise the river and Chairman Mao Tse Tung who was born in Xiangtan county, although geographically it was the Xiang River instead of Liuyang River that flowed through Xiangtan.  The song was arranged for guzheng playing in the 1970s by virtuoso Zhang Yan.

Scores from: The Central Conservatory of Music Examination Pieces for Guzheng, Grades 1-6
Date of This Recording: 2014-07-07
Original song composed by: Tang Bi Gwang
Arranged for guzheng solo by:  Zhang Yan

樂譜來源：《中央音樂學院古箏考級曲目 1-6 級》
樂曲類型：現代箏曲
原作：唐璧光 曲；張燕 改編
錄音日期：2014-07-07

此曲原始二十世纪五十年代一首著名的歌曲，七十年代改编为古筝曲。乐曲中各段虽然都是对原旋律的原样重复和不加发展的变奏，但多样的演奏技法使音乐产生出鲜明的层次和对比，尤其是双手交替演奏的快速乐段及采用竖琴下行琶音的手法，精炼准确的表达湖南人民对家乡、对生活的热爱之情和对未来的美好憧憬。 (節錄百度百科)

歌詞：

浏阳河，
弯过了几道湾，
几十里水老到湘江。
江边有个什么县哪？
去了个什么人？
领导人民得解放吗
阿伊呀伊子哟。
（白：喔，我可不晓得喔）
浏阳河，
弯过了九道湾，
五十里水老到湘江。
江边有个湘潭县哪，
去了个毛主席，
领导人民得解放吗，
阿伊呀伊子哟，
毛主席，象太阳，
他指引着人民前进的方向，
我们永远跟着毛主席也！
幸福的日子万年长吗，
阿伊呀伊子哟。

Liuyang River 瀏陽河

Chiu Chau, or Chaozhou in Mandarin, is a major genre of Chinese guzheng music.  There are several music scales within Chiu Chau music.  This piece is one of "Heavy Six" type.  In a nutshell, the Heavy Six means that the 4th note is a little higher than normal, and the 7th note is a little lower than normal.  Since this piece is played in the G key, it means that the 4th note would be a little higher than C, and the 7th note would be a little lower than F#.

The piece consists of 4 sections.  The 2nd to last sections are variations of the 1st section's melody.  This style of variation is quite common in Chiu Chau music.

This is a difficult piece for me, even though I learned it many years ago.   There are some glitches in the last section, which will serve as a reminder for me to improve.

Scores from: Choi Nga Si Guzheng Institute
Date of This Recording: 2014-07-15

樂譜來源：蔡雅絲古箏學院中二課程
樂曲類型：潮洲民間樂曲
編曲：郭鷹
錄音日期：2014-07-15


Thoughts In Autumn 秋思曲

The placement of the microphone was changed in this recording. Since my instrument was facing the wall, the microphone had been placed about 2 meters behind me.  This time, however, I moved it forward to 1 meter at compass bearing of 250 degrees relative to my body.  I have also changed the recording volume from "default" to "medium" since one to two recordings ago.  The recorded sound now seems to be less fuzzy, and I can hear the replay clearly even with the computer monitor's built-in loud speaker.

Translation of music title is part of the fun.  In order to understand the original title better, I google around to find explanations in plain Chinese language as well as other musicians' interpretation.  Then, if I cannot think of a good translation by myself, the web knowledge is borrowed again.  In this case, "Gild The Lily" seems to best fit the title metaphorically.

The photo is of a Class 1 military officer's Rank Badge in early 15th Century.  The woven or embroidered badges were usually of the finest workmanship, and metal (gold and silver) threads were often used.   More information on Rank Badge is explained in this link from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York:
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1988.154.1

Scores from: Choingarsi Guzheng Institute
Date of This Recording: 2014-07-21

樂譜來源：蔡雅絲古箏學院中三課程
樂曲類型：潮州箏曲
錄音日期：2014-07-21


Gild The Lily 錦上花

Chinese music - Beautiful melody

The title of this music may be a bit odd, but it is a literal translation.  In the old days when there was no postal service, one way to deliver letters was to use birds.  If you feel the title doesn't relate to the music, just treat it as an untitled piece.

Scores from:  Choi Ngar Si Guzheng Institute
Date of This Recording: 2014-08-05

“鸿雁传书”的典故，出自《汉书•苏武传》中“苏武牧羊”的故事。据载，汉武帝天汉元年（公元前100年），汉朝使臣中郎将苏武出使匈奴被鞮侯单于扣留，他英勇不屈，单于便将他流放到北海（今贝加尔湖）无人区牧羊。19年后，汉昭帝继位，汉凶和好，结为姻亲。汉朝使节来凶，要求放苏武回去，但单于不肯，却又说不出口，便谎称苏武已经死去。后来，汉昭帝又派使节到匈奴，和苏武一起出使匈奴并被扣留的副使常惠，通过禁卒的帮助，在一天晚上秘密会见了汉使，把苏武的情况告诉了汉使，并想出一计，让汉使对单于讲：“汉朝天子在上林苑打猎时，射到一只大雁，足上系着一封写在帛上的信，上面写着苏武没死，而是在一个大泽中。”汉使听后非常高兴，就按照常惠的话来责备单于。单于听后大为惊奇，却又无法抵赖，只好把苏武放回。

有关“鸿雁传书”，民间还流传着另一个故事。唐朝薛平贵远征在外，妻子王宝钏苦守寒窑数十年矢志不移。有一天，王宝钏正在野外挖野菜，忽然听到空中有鸿雁的叫声，勾起她对丈夫的思念。动情之中，她请求鸿雁代为传书给远征在外的薛平贵，但是荒郊野地哪里去寻笔墨？情急之下，她便撕下罗裙，咬破指尖，用血和泪写下了一封思念夫君、盼望夫妻早日团圆的书信，让鸿雁捎去。

以上两则“鸿雁传书”的故事已经流传了千百年，而“鸿雁传书”也就渐渐成了邮政通信的象征了。
(節錄自“飛象百科”)

樂譜來源：蔡雅絲古箏學院中二課程
樂曲類型：山東箏曲，項斯華演奏譜
錄音日期：2014-08-05


Swan Goose Delivers The Letter 鴻雁捎書

This recording is another lesson for me to keep calm and play at a slower tempo, as shown by several wrong notes in the recording.

Shandandan (山丹丹) is a common name of a plant in the Lily family.  It grows wild in Loess Plateau, which covers the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River.  It’s flowers are mostly red or orange red.  

This music piece originated from a song of identical name.  The song was created with “collective wisdom” in Shanxi province, with material coming from folk songs of the Shanxi and Gansu areas.  The final version of the song, sung by a lead singer and accompanied by chorus and orchestra, was completed in 1971, the middle of the Cultural Revolution period.    The lyrics was a tribute to Chairman Mao and the Red Army.

In 1972, guzheng virtuoso professor Jiao Jinhai rearranged the music for guzheng solo.  The music describes the people's admiration of beauty of the blossoming of the flowers across the hills, and wishes for a bright future.

Scores from: The Central Conservatory of Music Examination Pieces for Guzheng, Grades 1-6
Original composition: “collective wisdom” 
Rearranged By: Jiao Jinhai for guzheng solo
Date of This Recording: 2014-08-13

樂譜來源：《中央音樂學院古箏考級曲目 1-6 級》
樂曲類型：現代中國歌曲
原作：李若冰、关鹤岩、徐锁、冯福宽作词， 刘烽作曲
原唱： 杨巧领唱
錄音日期：2014-08-13

歌曲《山丹丹花開紅豔豔》是一首民族風味較濃的陝北信天遊，是勞動人民集體創作。全曲曲調明亮，旋律優美。描述紅軍長征勝利抵達陝北時，正逢滿山的山丹丹花開的美麗情景。《山丹丹開花紅豔豔》1971年中央廣播電台首次播出，當時擔任領唱的是陝西省歌劇舞劇院楊巧老師。

古筝曲《山丹丹開花紅豔豔》由焦金海于1971年開始創作、1972年春天完成創作。當時，焦金海正在河南省周口地區淮陽市“五七幹校”學習，接到古筝獨奏的演出任務後創作了這首樂曲。


　　第一部分，音樂從遼闊、悠揚的散板引子開始，逐漸轉入富有高原牧歌式的優美旋律，猶如婉轉、悠揚的牧笛，描繪出一幅迷人的風光。 

　　第二段，音樂變爲歡快的、熱烈的，表達了人們對漫山紅透的山丹丹開花的美景的贊美，同時也是對鄉土風物的一種戀情。 

　　最後一部分，音樂又回到第一部分主體旋律的原型。樂曲在尾句中表達了人們對未來充滿希望和對美好生活的追求。

Shandandan Lilies Blossom In Glowing Red Beauty 山丹丹開花紅艷艷

This is one of my most favourite guzheng music pieces.  It utilizes a important characteristic of the instrument - sweeping of the finger over the strings to make a flow of notes similar to playing a long arpeggio except with much ease.  

My usual problem of being hasty is avoided in this playing.  In the second half of the piece about flowing water, however, I should have produced a more continuous and smooth water flow pattern.  Well, another homework for the future.

The story of Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi (adopted from the Wiki article:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Ya )

Boya was a government official and musician during the Spring and Autumn Periods. One evening he was travelling along the Changjiang river in a boat for government business. The moon was bright and wind fresh so he decided to play his guqin as his boat was moored beside some hills. As he played a string on the qin suddenly broke. As superstition goes that a broken qin string means someone is hiding nearby listening, Boya called for the listener to come forward. A woodcutter named Zhong Ziqi stepped out.

Though a peasant, Zhong Ziqi also study diligently. But he could not leave his aged parents for even a day, because they were very poor and relied on Zhong Ziqi to take care of them, so he couldn't attend the government recruitment exams to become a government official.

At first Boya was skeptical, but soon become amazed by Ziqi's ability to understand his music.  When Boya's will was towards high mountains in his playing, Zhong Ziqi would say, "How towering like Mount Tai!" When Boya's will was towards flowing water in his playing, Zhong Ziqi would say, "How vast are the rivers and oceans!"  Whatever Boya thought of Ziqi would never fail to understand.  He wished they can spend more time together, but he had to leave for government business, so they made an agreement to meet again around Mid-autumn Day the next year. When the time came there was a flood upstream and Boya's boat was delayed for over 10 days. He arrived at the same spot but Ziqi wasn't there. He waited, but his friend never came. Boya went onshore to look for Ziqi. There were only two tiny villages in that area, so he found Ziqi's home easily, only to learn that Ziqi had spent night after night waiting by the river for him, after chopping wood all day, and as a result caught a cold and eventually passed away.  Boya was stricken with grief, he went to Ziqi's tomb to mourn, and broke his guqin there, vowing to never play again, and saying that no one would ever understand his music again.

Scores from: The Central Conservatory of Music Examination Pieces for Guzheng, Grades 1-6
Date of This Recording: 2014-08-16

樂譜來源：《中央音樂學院古箏考級曲目 1-6 級》
樂曲類型：傳統浙江箏曲
錄音日期：2014-8-16


High Mountain, Flowing Water 高山流水

Beautiful Chinese Music - Cherry Blossoms

Jia Peng Fang Jia Peng Fang Best 11 Memory of Childhood

Soniccouture Guzheng - The Disappearance of Lao Tze (Featuring additional sounds)

This is a recording of the 2000 year old chinese guzheng.  The guzheng is a 21 string zither or harp and is a traditional chinese instrument. The goal of this recording is to make the listener feel the emotion of mystical tranquility and peaceful harmony.  Please download this song and be at peace. 

Lullaby for Cedar

Red roses (erhu)

Chinese Instrumental Music for Relaxation- Pipa

但願人長久 古筝曲

Composed by: Matt Hirt (BMI)/Haoyue Kuang (ASCAP) 
Produced by: Dragon Scale Production 
Voice & Guzheng: Haoyue Kuang

Published by: Black Toast Music (BMI); Burnt Toast Music (ASCAP)
All rights reserved.

Lantern Day

Chang An Street

African Drum Ensemble Take one

A perpetual learner of music in search of the world's fine voices and to share his passion.

Unless specifically stated, all tracks are covers played by myself.  Most cover photos are borrowed from Google images.

Gild The Lily 錦上花

guzhengman