DESCRIPTION:
Pipa is a four string chines music instrument. The first mention of Pipa in literary text date back to the 2th century BCE. Legend says that a princess Liu Xijun was at the origin of the Pipa. Originally it was played with a large plectrum, replaced, later on, by fingernails, which is the way how is played today. The technique is very complicated, there are different ways to play the instrument and many techniques and styles that allow the performer to produce a great range of effects and sounds. It is used both as a solo instrument and as part of an ensemble. Even if it mainly belongs to chinese traditional music it is sometimes used in classic western composition and even Rock.

This recording comes from a work of Liu Fang (1974 – fortunately still alive), one of the most recognized contemporary player of Pipa. She was born in Kumming, in the district of Yunnan in 1974. She performed as soloist at the early age of 9th. Later on she studied in the Conservatory of Shangai and then, at the age of 22, she moved to Canada, where still now she lives and works. You will find her discography at the bottom of the text.

The tune is traditional, it is the 4th track of the CD “Chinese traditional Pipa music”. I do not know the right of the song. Enjoy : )

This youtube channel is part of a literary web project (in spanish) which include traditional storytelling https://espacionarrativo.com
Please have a look, it worths : )

Gabi

Soloist works
The soul of pipa, vol. 3: Pipa Music from Chinese folk traditions, Philmultic, 2006
Emerging Lotus: Chinese traditional guzheng music, Philmultic, 2005
The soul of pipa, vol. 2: Chinese classical Pipa Music: from the ancient to the recent, Philmultic, 2003
The soul of pipa, vol. 1: Chinese Pipa Music from the classical tradition, Philmultic, Canada, 2001
Chinese Traditional Pipa Music: Oliver Sudden Productions Inc, Canada/USA, 1997
Collaborations
Along the Way - Duo pipa & violin: Philmultic, 2010
Changes - Duo pipa & Guitar: Philmultic, 2008
Le son de soie: Accords-Croisés/Harmonia Mundi, Paris, 2006
Mei Hua - Fleur de prunier: ATMA Classique, Canada, 2004
Arabic and Chinese music: Liu Fang et Farhan Sabbagh, Philmultic, 2000
Musique chinoise: Solo, duo, et avec orchestre de chambre, Philmultic, 1999

The picture showed is a mural from the tomb of Xu Xianxiu in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, dated 571 AD during the Northern Qi Dynasty, showing male court musicians playing stringed instruments, either the liuqin or pipa, and a woman playing a konghou (harp), courtesy of www.wikipedia.org