Three Variations on the Plum Blossom
Passed down by Tsar Teh-yun

This was originally a dizi piece associated with Huan Yi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420). It was later arranged for the guqin in the Tang Dynasty, and had become a favourite piece among guqin players ever since. The music describes the loftiness and pureness of plum blossom. The “three variations” in the title refers to the three times the harmonic section played, progressing from tranquility to brightness. These three sections start at 1:16, 2:10 and 3:51 respectively in the video.

Guqin (silk strings): John Yiu Shek-on

The Moon Over Mountain Guan
Mei’an Qin Handbook (1931)

This short piece reflects the spirit and emotions of the poem of the same title by Li Bai, depicting the sufferings of war in ancient times. Different ways of sound production are used in different musical phrases, as well as interpolated in a single phrase, bringing out characteristic tone colour effects

Guqin (silk strings): Wong Chun-fung
Xiao: Ken Wu Yun-kan

Tune for a Pleasant Evening
Passed down by Tsar Teh-yun

The piece has been popular since its first publication in a late Ming Dynasty guqin handbook. With the frequent use of soft sliding tones, the music depicts a relaxed atmosphere of a pleasant evening meeting with good friends, bringing out a subtle and serene poetic mood.

Guqin (silk strings): John Yiu Shek-on

Drunken Elation
The Mysterious and Fantastic Handbook (1425)
Reconstructed by Yao Bingyan

This piece was attributed to Ruan Ji (210-263), one of the “Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove”. The music was reconstructed by famous guqin player Yao Bingyan (1921-1983) in the 20^th century. It is a short and lively piece, depicting a literatus trying to escape from precarious politics by indulging in wine.

Guqin (silk strings): Wong Chun-fung

Three Poems by the Drunken Li Bai (excerpt)
Tse Chun-yan (2017)

This piece depicts Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai writing a set of three famous poems The Tune of Qingping while drunk for Emperor Xuanzong and Lady Yang during their visit to the peony garden. The poems were then set to music and sung by the court musician Li Guinian. A special hemitonic pentatonic scale found in past court music is intermittently used in the guqin and xiao parts, creating an interesting contrast to the elegant main melody.

Vocal: Chan Chak-lui
Guqin (silk strings): Tse Chun-yan
Xiao: Ken Wu Yun-kan