Like the dizi and the xiao, the pipa instrument is also about 2000 years old. This melody, “Pi Pa Language” is so beautiful. I can listen to it all day.
Charles Liusays
nice!
ZZ Zhousays
Very nice tune, but the arrangement is a little too “pop”, highly simplified. Traditional pipa techniques are not used; that’s fine; but why all singular notes with no chords or bass line?
You probably have a better set of trained ears than me. Following piece, I’ve read, is not playable by many pipa players, even if they train their whole life for it. Not sure how true that is.
风华国乐 阳春白雪 (Sunny Spring White Snow) 琵琶独奏 (Pi Pa solo) 李晖演奏
Stevesays
yinyang, the first song was good but this one I like much better. Is it an old song? I noticed she used harmonics and I wonder if that was something that has been around for a long time or a more modern touch?
According to link below, this music was composed during the Spring and Autum period (first half of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, 800BC – 500BC), by musician Shi Kuang of State of Jin (or some other musicians, Qi Liu or Juan-Zi).
This is really ancient stuff. A lot of development in relation to this music occurred throughout Chinese history.
Stevesays
Wow, I didn’t realize it was that old. I wonder if it is still played in its original form or if it has been embellished over the centuries? Regardless, it’s a great piece! I put it on my Facebook page and have already received compliments. 🙂
justkeepersays
Well I doubt it’s from the Spring and Autumn era, Chinese music instruments back then were nearly all percussion ones. Today’s Pi Pa was more an exotic instrument for barbarians(sorry, I have to use this word to describe the concept “Hu”) then, and it was not widely imported and modified into the central plain until the Han Dynasty. But in Tang the foreign music instruments become dominant in the Middle Kingdom and replace the percussion instruments as the main instruments played in the royal court. At least that’s the Chinese music history I can remember.
YinYang says
Like the dizi and the xiao, the pipa instrument is also about 2000 years old. This melody, “Pi Pa Language” is so beautiful. I can listen to it all day.
Charles Liu says
nice!
ZZ Zhou says
Very nice tune, but the arrangement is a little too “pop”, highly simplified. Traditional pipa techniques are not used; that’s fine; but why all singular notes with no chords or bass line?
YinYang says
Hi ZZ Zhou,
You probably have a better set of trained ears than me. Following piece, I’ve read, is not playable by many pipa players, even if they train their whole life for it. Not sure how true that is.
风华国乐 阳春白雪 (Sunny Spring White Snow) 琵琶独奏 (Pi Pa solo) 李晖演奏
Steve says
yinyang, the first song was good but this one I like much better. Is it an old song? I noticed she used harmonics and I wonder if that was something that has been around for a long time or a more modern touch?
YinYang says
Hi Steve,
According to link below, this music was composed during the Spring and Autum period (first half of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, 800BC – 500BC), by musician Shi Kuang of State of Jin (or some other musicians, Qi Liu or Juan-Zi).
Google Translation of http://baike.baidu.com/view/17094.htm
This is really ancient stuff. A lot of development in relation to this music occurred throughout Chinese history.
Steve says
Wow, I didn’t realize it was that old. I wonder if it is still played in its original form or if it has been embellished over the centuries? Regardless, it’s a great piece! I put it on my Facebook page and have already received compliments. 🙂
justkeeper says
Well I doubt it’s from the Spring and Autumn era, Chinese music instruments back then were nearly all percussion ones. Today’s Pi Pa was more an exotic instrument for barbarians(sorry, I have to use this word to describe the concept “Hu”) then, and it was not widely imported and modified into the central plain until the Han Dynasty. But in Tang the foreign music instruments become dominant in the Middle Kingdom and replace the percussion instruments as the main instruments played in the royal court. At least that’s the Chinese music history I can remember.
YinYang says
Hi justkeeper,
I meant the music was from Spring and Autumn era, not the instrument. Pipa is about 2000 years old.
linho says
Flowing Stream Arranged by Bao Yuankai Conducted by Chen Zuohuang Performed by China National Symphony Orchestra
鲍元恺: 云岭素描 之 小河淌水
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNUAACyM_i8
linho says
This performance by Vienna Philharmonic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eGg3lcflok