© The London Youlan Qin Society 2003-2010



Meeting 8 March 2014



Introduction

This, the 68th meeting of the London Youlan Qin Society, was held in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

Many members renewed their annual subscriptions, which became due on 1st January, and we were pleased to welcome several new members.

Tea ceremony

Audrey Sun gave a 15 minute demonstration of a style of tea ceremony revived from the Ming Dynasty. She was accompanied by Dennis Lee on the xiao. She used Tie Guan Yin tea (鐵觀音, literally translated as “Iron Goddess of Mercy”) produced in Southeast China. The roasted leaves are described as “as heavy as iron”, and the shape of the leaves as “as beautiful as Avalokitesvara” (the original Indian name for this goddess). She briefly introduced the four different procedures for making and enjoying tea: “warming up the tea set”, “cleaning the tea leaves”, “smelling the aroma”, and “tasting the tea”, which combine functions and aesthetics.

Music

The following music was played:

  1. Fenglei Yin 风雷引 (Wind and Thunder Prelude), played by Charles Tsua
  2. Ping Sha Luo Yan 平沙落雁 (Wild Geese Descending on the Level Sand), played by Zou Yuan
  3. Shishang Liu Quan (A Stream Flowing over Stones), played by Ashley Guan
  4. Meihua San Nong 梅花三弄 (Three Variations on the Plum Blossom), played by Cheng Yu
  5. Xiang Jiang Yuan 湘妃怨 (Lament of Concubine Xiang), played by Chen Ran
  6. Ping Sha Luo Yan 平沙落雁 (Wild Geese Descending on the Level Sand), played by Frank Bo
  7. Puan Zhou 普庵咒 (Mantra of Puan), played by Marnix Wells
  8. Yili San Yue 伊利三月 (Spring in Yili), played by Peng Xiao (pipa solo)
  9. Bang Zhuangtai 傍妆台 (Lament at the Dressing Table), played by Dennis Lee (xiao solo)
  10. Yu Qiao Wen Da 渔樵问答 (Dialogue of the Fisherman and the Woodcutter), played by Charles Tsua (qin) and Dennis Lee (xiao)
  11. Liang Xiao Yin 良宵引 (Tune for a Pleasant Evening), played by Zou Yuan
  12. Changmen Yuan 长门怨 (Lament at Changmen Palace), played by Cheng Yu
  13. Wo Long Yin 卧龙吟 (The Crouching Dragon), played by Frank Bo
  14. Shi Mian Maifu 十面埋伏 (Ambushed on All Sides), played by Peng Xiao (pipa solo)
  15. Guan Shan Yue 关山月 (Moon over the Mountain Pass), played by Cheng Yu (qin) and Dennis Lee (xiao)




The London Youlan Qin Society would like to thank the Department of Music at SOAS for allowing us to hold our meeting there, and Seán Kelly for taking the photographs.