A Complete Collection of Traditional Chinese Guzheng Music. Volume 1, Henan and Shandong Guzheng Schools

Author: Li Meng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The guzheng is one of China's ancient plucked string instruments. It has a long history, with various schools, a large number of tunes, and rich techniques. Throughout the long course of historical changes, the guzheng has been passed down both among the common people and in the imperial courts. However, the main players and disseminators of guzheng music have been local folk artists. These individuals have integrated the musical culture of the guzheng with local cultural customs, especially local opera, storytelling, and folk music, resulting in the formation of many distinctive guzheng schools. These diverse guzheng schools and musical traditions have collectively formed the overall body of Chinese guzheng music. As far as is currently known, the earliest written records mentioning the guzheng can be found in a passage from "Li Si's Letter of Dissuasion Against Expelling Foreigners" in the "Biography of Li Si" of the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji): "Hitting jars and clapping on thighs while playing the guzheng and singing mournful songs that delight the ears—this is truly the music of Qin; while the music of Zheng, Wei, Sangjian, Zhao, Yu, Wu, and Xiang is the music of foreign lands. Now, why do we abandon the music of jars and clapping in favor of Zheng and Wei, and withdraw the guzheng while adopting the music of Zhao and Yu? What is the reason for this? It is merely for fleeting pleasure and immediate enjoyment." Based on this, guzheng music was already being played in the Qin region around the 2nd century BC during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, with a history of over two thousand years of transmission. Throughout its long history, guzheng music has been passed down in different regions of China, continuously absorbing the essence of local folk music. In each era, guzheng players from different regions have incorporated their own innovations and the essence of local music into the traditional guzheng music, allowing it to be maintained through natural folk transmission methods. The development of personalized characteristics in guzheng music by guzheng players in various regions has made it possible for numerous guzheng schools based on local styles to emerge. The existence of various schools of Chinese guzheng music symbolizes its richness and diversity. Today, the main schools of Chinese guzheng primarily include: