Guqin Collection. Volume 1

Author: Institute of Music Research, Chinese Academy of Arts
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-06-01
Features: This book compiles a total of 62 qin pieces performed by 24 qin players from various parts of the country. It includes both traditional pieces and newly discovered qin pieces. Some of them share the same name but differ in version, style, or interpretation. They are compiled together for readers to compare and study. This is only a part of the achievements in discovering and organizing the qin repertoire. Many qin pieces by renowned players still await further organization and publication in the future. Although this book is a continuation of the Qin Music Compendium published in 1956, there have been some new developments in the organization methods, editorial format, accumulation of materials, and understanding of the content. Therefore, the following explanations are provided:
1. Based on general playing practices, we have standardized the tuning positions of the "Zhengiao" (standard tuning) method. This makes it easier to identify changes in fingerings and reduces the use of accidentals.
2. The "walking tones" (shoushouyin) formed by moving fingers create significant differences in timbre compared to open and harmonics. To accurately reflect this in the score, we have used curved arrows as symbols.
3. The division of sections within the pieces follows traditional qin music score conventions, which may not fully align with the actual musical structure but serve as a reference.
4. Some fingerings that function as ornamental notes have considerable flexibility in performance and are not always clearly defined. In such cases, we have avoided creating additional symbols for them.
5. For some double notes with very wide intervals that occasionally appear in the score, we have used the "8va" symbol when rewriting the grand staff.
6. The order of the pieces is arranged as much as possible according to chronological order. However, determining the era of a piece is a complex issue, so the current arrangement is preliminary and intended for reference.
7. The introductions to the qin pieces are primarily based on the available information and provide clues for understanding. They do not include in-depth analysis or research and are intended for reference purposes.