First London International Chinese Music Festival 2023
English translation (modified from ChatGPT)
People's Daily Overseas Edition (June 16, 2023, Edition 06)
Reporters: Oyang Ning and Zhang Jiani
Turns out the guqin has such a beautiful tone" (Overseas Attention)
"The qin, as an instrument, holds virtue within." The guqin, as one of the Four Arts, is representative of China's ritual music culture.
Today, more and more overseas Chinese devote themselves to promoting the culture of the guqin, establishing elegant and traditional qin societies, allowing the melodies to resonate abroad.
Setting Sail with Dreams
Playing the qin and nurturing one's character has become an interest cherished by many British people. One of the factors driving this interest is Cheng Yu, the president of the London Youlan Qin Society. Cheng Yu is a performer on the guqin and pipa, a PhD in ethnomusicology, the founder of the UK Chinese Ensemble and the London Youlan Qin Society, a five-time recipient of the UK National Arts Fund, and has collaborated with Lang Lang, Tan Dun, and the London Symphony Orchestra on multiple occasions. She currently serves as a postgraduate tutor for the pipa and guqin at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and as a researcher in the Department of Chinese Music.
" From a young age, I dreamt of having 'a qin, a pot of wine, and a flowing stream', " says Cheng Yu. In 1990, she moved to London with the intention of furthering her studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies. However, the response she received was, " The school does not have a Chinese music department or mentors in related fields."
Cheng Yu was both surprised and disappointed. "The guqin holds the highest position among 'qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting.' Its music should be heard all over the world!" A seed quietly sprouted within her. Later, through her continuous applications, the School of Oriental and African Studies established the Chinese Music Department, and Cheng Yu stayed on as a teacher.
However, promoting the guqin abroad was not as simple as Cheng Yu had imagined. There were few opportunities for performances in the beginning, and even when there were, audiences were sparse. "I never thought Chinese music would face such a situation in the West," Cheng Yu lamented.
On the other hand, the guqin's subtle and delicate sound quality requires high standards for performance venues. "Westerners judge music based on rhythm and sound," Cheng Yu explains. "Once, I rehearsed with a Western orchestra. Afterwards, the members of the orchestra said that the guqin's sound was too gentle and tranquil for stage performance. It was only after I explained and amplified the sound that they marvelled at the beauty of the guqin's tone."
"Indeed, some Western individuals are deeply captivated by the guqin," says Cheng Yu. "Even King Charles himself has a special fondness for the instrument. He has attended our qin society's performances, and we have received sponsorship from his Prince's Charities Foundation."
In 2003, through the joint efforts of Cheng Yu and her qin friends, the London Youlan Qin Society was officially registered and established in London. " The society was founded on July 13, symbolizing the seven strings and thirteen positions of the guqin," Cheng Yu explains.
Following the establishment of the qin society, Cheng Yu reached an agreement with the School of Oriental and African Studies to host regular summer qin schools and gatherings. These events invited renowned qin masters from China and around the world to deliver lectures and perform live. With the aroma of tea and the lingering melodies of the qin, these lectures attracted a significant number of overseas Chinese individuals interested in the guqin as well as foreign friends.
Incorporating Education and Entertainment
"The guqin has a life of its own," says Cheng Yu. "It is not just an instrument; it transcends being just that." Behind each guqin and every piece of sheet music lies a treasure trove of cultural memories and legendary stories. According to Cheng Yu, the London Youlan Qin Society's mission is not only to bring the guqin into the public eye but also to continue and preserve the historical and cultural significance embodied by this ancient instrument.
"Each guqin is a story, and each piece of music is a chapter of history." To generate more interest in the guqin, Cheng Yu doesn't rigidly instruct her students on how to play a particular piece. Instead, she begins by recounting the stories behind the compositions, allowing students to experience the emotions conveyed through the music. By merging education with entertainment, she guides students to develop a closer relationship with the guqin, learn about it, and ultimately fall in love with it.
Famous stories such as "Bo Ya and Ziqi Seeking Kindred Spirits" and the philosophical tale of Zhuangzi's dream of being a butterfly, as well as the timeless masterpiece "Guangling Melody" by Xi Kang, often ignite foreign students' interest and admiration for Chinese culture. "The guqin expresses emotions," says Cheng Yu. "Only by understanding the emotions the music aims to convey can we produce sounds that resonate with others."
Cheng Yu also combines the guqin with other traditional Chinese arts, such as incense appreciation, tea art, and painting, to achieve a synergistic effect that goes beyond the sum of its parts.
In 2019, the Qin Society was invited by the Bulgarian authorities to organize a cultural concert based on "Dream of the Red Chamber." After more than a month of rehearsals, Cheng Yu and the members of the Qin Society collaborated with elite artists, encompassing film and television adaptations, Kunqu opera performances, Chinese painting, and recitations of poetry. The fusion of melodious strings and the essence of the guqin with the cultural significance of "Dream of the Red Chamber" elicited enthusiastic applause from the audience.
"Authenticity fosters a deep connection." The heartfelt and diverse teaching methods employed by the Qin Society have garnered students' appreciation and love for the guqin. Cheng Yu was pleasantly surprised when one foreign student, deeply captivated by the guqin, designed a tie resembling the instrument and wore it. "At first, we didn't even notice. He kept adjusting his tie to get our attention," Cheng Yu recalls. Eventually, this creative and thoughtful design became one of the trademarks of the Qin Society.
The students' dedication brings great joy to Cheng Yu. She states, "I am deeply moved by having such a supportive group, and I hope to continue building the Qin Society together with them, making it even better."
Embracing Innovation and Change
Constantly adapting to the changing times is a principle firmly embedded in Cheng Yu's mind. "The guqin is a living art," she explains. "We need both the determination to uphold tradition and the courage to move forward."
"Though the ancient tunes may be cherished, few people play them nowadays." Cheng Yu and the members of the Qin Society continuously adapt and create new compositions. Well-known Western folk songs, popular TV series soundtracks, and contemporary music are rearranged for guqin performances. During this year's celebration event at Trafalgar Square, the Qin Society performed "The Sleeping Dragon," receiving widespread acclaim. Cheng Yu states, "Every era should have its own repertoire. We aim to leave a mark of the 21st century on the guqin."
Cheng Yu also boldly explores the collision and fusion of the guqin with other musical instruments. In 2018, she collaborated with Taiwanese pianist An-Ting Chang to perform "Resonance of Qin and Bell," attempting to combine the guqin with the piano, which received high praise. She has also collaborated for several years with the "C-Eurocolor" band, creating a refreshing auditory feast by blending the guqin with electronic music, opening up new horizons for the relatively niche guqin.
During the process of promoting guqin culture, Cheng Yu faced a challenge: parents often do not want their children to spend too much time on niche cultural activities. "If there were a grading system that could be recognized by mainstream society, it might dispel parents' concerns," Cheng Yu began preparing for this endeavour. She engaged in a five-year-long communication and negotiation process with the China National Orchestra Society and the School of Oriental and African Studies, ultimately realizing the implementation of a "grading system." In August of this year, the first International Chinese Music Festival in London will host the inaugural "Music Grading Examinations and Competitions."
"Through these examinations, not only can students have a clear understanding of their own proficiency, but it will also inspire everyone to continuously pursue further improvement," Cheng Yu explains. "With the support of these two authoritative institutions, in the future, grading certificates can also be considered as academic credits for students and can be used as a basis for applying for scholarships, contributing to the promotion of Chinese music."
"The fragrance of wine fears not the length of the alley. To spread the sounds of the qin far and wide, the power of media is indispensable." Today, the Qin Society has gradually established a dissemination matrix consisting of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Bilibili. "Next, we plan to register an account on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book)," Cheng Yu says. "I will continue moving forward, continuously promoting the overseas inheritance of the guqin, and enabling more people to hear its beautiful melodies."
Original Chinese text
The original Chinese text is available here.
© People's Daily 2023.