Thick strings clatter like splattering rain,
–Bai Juyi, Song of the Pipa, Tang Dynasty
Fine strings murmur like whispered words,
Clattering and murmuring, meshing jumbled sounds,
Like pearls, big and small, falling on a platter of jade.
Yesterday, as I was going through my audiophile music collection, I rediscovered Moonlight on Spring River, a track which I haven’t listened to for quite a while. The track features the extremely talented Zhao Cong on the pipa, a traditional Chinese musical instrument.
The pipa, a pear-shaped stringed musical instrument similar to a lute, is extremely popular in China and has been played there for about 2,000 years. Although the origins of the pipa are uncertain, it is thought to have been introduced into China from Central Asia, India, or the extended Peshawar Valley area (Gandhara).
Moonlight on Spring River, taken from the album The Sound Of China by Danish jazz and fusion guitarist, Hans Nielsen. It was recorded and produced across China, Denmark and Prague, Czech Republic. The song is best heard on reasonably good stereo equipment to appreciate the wide soundstage, deep bass notes, and the recording’s stunning dynamic range.
For her part, Zhao Cong is an exemplar of pipa musicianship. She has dedicated her life to promoting the instrument worldwide, having toured more than 50 countries, and is well known outside China. Her full biography can be found here on the Dresdner Philharmonie website.
* Image: Zcpipa, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
lenny unencumbered 