十面埋伏 (Ambushed, Pipa, 琵琶曲, Shi Mian Mai Fu) is a best-known piece for the pipa based on historic events, and is one of the top 10 Chinese classical music masterpieces.

The earliest extant tablature can be found in Hua Qiuping’s pipa score dated 1818, but the origin and composer remain unknown. It is clear that, the music had been popular before or during Tang Dynasty (618-907) at least, according to the famous poem of The Song of Pipa by Bai Juyi (772-846).

The story behind this music is the key battle of  the … Read the rest

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Background of 高山流水(High Mountain and Running River, Gao Shan Liu Shui, Guzheng, 古筝曲)

高山流水(High Mountain and Running River, Gao Shan Liu Shui, Guzheng, 古筝曲 ), Guzheng (古筝, Zither) Solo, was composed by Bo Ya (伯牙) before 221 BC. Listed as one of ten best ancient Chinese music pieces.

There are two variants: Guzheng (古筝) and Guqin (古琴). Guqin (古琴) version of 高山流水(High Mountain and Running River, Gao Shan Liu Shui) is usually considered as the original one. Guzheng (古筝曲) version is significantly different from Guqin version and was composed by later musicians based on the same story.

“High Mountains … Read the rest

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“Er Quan Ying Yue” (二泉映月 – The Moon Reflected In Er-Quan, or Moon Reflected on Second Spring, Moon Mirrored in the Pool) was composed and played on erhu (二胡) on by A Bing (阿炳), whose real name is Hua Yanjun (华彦钧), a blind street musician.

Shortly before his death in 1950, two Chinese musicologists recorded A Bing playing Er Quan Ying Yue erhu solo. The recorded work won the Twentieth Century Classical Chinese Music Awards.

“Er Quan Ying Yue” is a representative work of A Bing.

The location … Read the rest

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