Eight seven-stringed instruments of the zither family -- called guqin -- waited patiently on the dimly lit stage as the audience filled the auditorium to near capacity. Dr. Francesca Tarocco opened the brilliant event with an introduction of Dai Xiaolian, a renowned guqin player and professor of Chinese music at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and her fellow performers. Before the performance got under way, Dr. Dai offered an overview of the history of the 3,000 year old instrument.
According to Dai, the guqin is viewed as a symbol of Chinese high culture and considered the most expressive instrument of the essence of Chinese music. It boasts a substantial repertoire rich in subtext and allusions. In particular, Dai talked about the symbolic meaning of the instrument’s form as a representation of the human figure, and explained how its tablature required special instruction.
The audience was treated to an ensemble of pieces on the evening of February 3 from various traditions performed by a series of musicians who are committed to broadening both awareness and appreciation for the quality and musical range of their instrument. From the group ensemble of “The Prelude of Wind and Thunder,” to Dai Xiaolian’s closing solo, “The Dialogue between a Fisherman and a Woodcutter,” the musicians’ synchronized plucking and scholarly refinement rended idyllic melodies that spoke to the beauty of the natural world.
Dai Xiaolian offered that learning to appreciate the rich, cultural intricacies of guqin music can inspire a peaceful way of life.
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