MUSIC
Linan - The City of Eternal Lamentation
This guzheng piece tells the poignant story of Yue Fei, a revered war hero who dedicated his life to defending his nation and people. However, despite his loyalty and valor he was betrayed by a treacherous official and unjustly imprisoned. Before his execution, he wrote the poem "Manjiang Hong," from which this piece drew its thematic inspiration. In lines 8-9 of the poem, he laments, "As long as the Jingkang disgrace remains unavenged, when will my sorrow finally be laid to rest?" This passage echoes the hero's enduring anguish and unwavering patriotism.
Butterfly Lovers
The Butterfly Lovers (梁祝) is one of the most famous love stories in China, often likened to Romeo and Juliet for its themes of tragic romance. This passage captures the moment of the Butterfly Transformation. On the day Zhu Yingtai is forced to marry Ma Wencai, she begs for one last visit to Liang Shanbo’s grave. Standing before it, overwhelmed with sorrow, she prays intensely for the grave to open. In a miraculous response to her prayer, the earth splits open, and Zhu Yingtai leaps into the grave. In the final moments, two butterflies emerge from the grave, soaring into the air, symbolizing their reunion in eternal freedom.
Night Mooring at Maple Bridge
Night Mooring at Maple Bridge (Fengqiao yebo) is a contemporary guzheng composition inspired by the Tang Dynasty poem entitled Fengqiao Yebo (枫桥夜泊). This slow passage conveys the poet's sorrow as he crosses the Maple Bridge after failing his scholarly exam.
In a world where we perceive the “I” as an observer of external objects, everything becomes tinged with subjective colour. Laozi, the founder of Taoism, contends that a higher state of awareness can be attained when the “I” becomes the object itself; in such moments, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the subject and the object. In this piece, the poet's emotional state is intertwined with the natural world.
The Five Mausoleums
The "Five Mausoleums" refer to the imperial tombs of the Han dynasty situated on the Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi. This guzheng passage vividly portrays the grandeur of the surrounding landscapes—towering mountains, expansive plains, and the solemn, dignified presence of the mausoleums. Drawing on influences from Qinqiang (秦腔) opera, the composition fuses the deep, resonant bass tones of the piano with the guzheng. It features distinctive expressive techniques of left-hand portamento and vibrato, with subtle alterations of scale degrees 4 (微升4) and 7 (微降7), creating a seamless ebb and flow that mirrors the lyrical quality of operatic vocals.
Fantasia
This guzheng piece draws inspiration from folk music of the Yunnan-Guizhou region, capturing the musical essence of the Miao people's "flying song". It begins with a free-tempo introduction that conveys an ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and lyrical quality of the Miao dance tradition.
The Courtyard in Ruins
The Courtyard in Ruins (Luoyuan) is a traditional Henan zheng piece.