Introduction to Zheng 古箏A Chinese musical

instrument

Zheng can be called GuZheng, too. Gu means “ancient” in Chinese.

Live performance

• Title: Spring Sprouts ( 春苗 )

• Composed by Jian Lin( 林堅 ) in 1986

• Based on Miao( 苗 ) tribe’s folk tune

箏 Origin Unknown: Legends

• Legend 1: comes from Se( 瑟 ), 25-string instrument

• Legend 2: comes from Zhu( 筑 ) ， 5 strings on bamboo;

Artifact from Han Dynasty (168 BC)

Evolution

• 12-string: Warring States Period (446 BC ~ 221 BC)

• Popular during Chin( 秦 ) dynasty (221 BC ~ 206 BC):

• 13-string,Tang dynasty (618-907 AD) – Silk string– Played with real finger nails

Painting from Dun Huang Cave-- a Buddism Treasure Cave

Evolution

• 13-string, Tang (618-907 AD):

• 14-string, Ming (10-15th century)

• 16-string, Ching ( 1636 ~ 1911):

• 21-String, Chaozhou: • 21-String, 1961, S shape

mount

Experimental: not popular yet

• 25 strings, Experiments:

• ButterflyExperiments:

Japanese Koto

• Introduced in 7th-8th century from China

• 13 strings

Korean Gayaeum( 가야금 / 伽倻琴 )

• 1st century BC: 12 strings

• Evolved into 13, 17, 18, 21, 25 strings too.

ZitherBelongs to zither family

Poems聽箏　李端

鳴箏金粟柱，素手玉房前．欲得周郎顧，時時誤拂弦．

The Zitherist 　 by Li, Duan

How clear the golden zither rings

When her fair fingers touch its strings!

To draw attention of her lord,

She strikes now and then a discord.

Description

• Resonant cavity made from Wu Tong wood (Paulownia tomentosa ). Other parts from other woods, e.g. red wood.

• Movable bridges.

• 21 strings (23, 25 are not popular yet).

• The strings used to be silk, but nowadays most are metal wound with nylon, some made of steel.

Playing Styles

• Plunking ( 彈撥 )

• By picks attached to fingers (fake nails).

• Picks are from tortoise shell or plastic

• Pentatonic scale: Do Re Mi Sol La,

other notes by left hand pressing

• Tremolo ( 搖指 )

• Slide ( 滑音 )

Playing Style

• Cascading waterfall (eg 高山流水 )

• Used to be court instrument, or in lady’s chamber--> sad songs ( 漢宮秋月 )

• New techniques from western instruments • Arpeggio from harp • Both hands from piano

• With great potential as a solo instrument

Dance of Yao Tribe( 傜族舞曲 )

• Based on Yao Tribe’s dance tune

• Tells the happiness and joy of the Yao Tribe people when they celebrate the festival

Spring’s coming in Lhasa( 春到拉薩 )

• Based on Cang( 藏 ) tribe folk tune (Tibet)