The Pipa is a four-string lute of
pear shape,and an instrument that witnesses cultural
communication with the West. The instrument was
introduced from Central Asia over 2,000 years
ago, and became very popular in the Tang Dynasty
(618-907), when the society embraced exotic art
forms fervently. Through the ages, this instrument
has become an indispensable part of traditional
Chinese music.
The Pipa tunes have very diverse styles, and
are traditionally classified as either Wen Qu
(civil and mild tone) or Wu Qu (martial and
fierce tone).
Si
Chun (9.56)
Pondering about spring .
Recommended, even if it is quite
long
Xi
Yang Xiao Gu (7.48)
This is a representative Pipa melody.
Yang
Chun Bai Xue (3.21)
Yang Chun Bai Xue literally means
spring snow. This piece is perhaps
the best-known Pipa tune.
Jin
She Kuang Wu (2.11)
Frantic dance of the golden snake.
This is one of the most popular
Pipa tunes.
Yi
Zu Wu Qu (6.53)
Dance of the Yi Ethnic Group, which
is an ethnic minority in southern
China.
Zi
Zhu Diao (2.32)
Rhythm of the purple bamboo. Shanghai
is planning to make this melody
its city tune.
Gan
Hua Hui (4.15)
Going to the flower fair.
Yue
Xia Huan Wu (5.01)
Joyous dance under the moon.
Ying
Zhou Gu Diao (8.39)
Ancient tune from Yingzhou.
Yue
Er Gao (9.04)
The moon hanging high in the sky.
Song
Wo Yi Zhi Mei Gui Hua (1.53)
Give Me a rose.
Sai
Shang Qu (7.06)
Tune on the north of the Great Wall.
This is a classic nostalgic melody.
Deng
Yue Jiao Hui (4.15)
Light and moon shining upon each
other.
Da
Lang Tao Sha (5.03)
Surge washing the sand.
Also listed in Top 10 classics
Chun
Jiang Hua Yue Ye (10.19)
The moon night of spring river and
flowers.
Chen
Sui (6.53)
This is the Pipa edition of Han
Gong Qiu Yue.
Ba
Wang Xie Jia (9.56)
Overlord taking off the armour.
Long
Chuan (4.56)
Dragon Boat
Han
Gong Qiu Yue (4.15)
Autumn moon of the palace in the
Han Dynasty. The music reveals the
bitterness and grief of the young
maids in the palace.
Also listed in Top 10 classics
with longer version (7.32)
Pipa: History and
General Information
The pipa (Chinese:
琵琶; pinyin: pípá) is a four-stringed Chinese instrument
(There are a few 5-stringed versions), belonging
to the plucked category of instruments (弹拨乐器/彈撥樂器).
Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument
has a pear-shaped wooden body with a varying number
of frets ranging from 12-26.
The pipa appeared in the Qin Dynasty and developed
by the Han Dynasty. It is one of the most popular
Chinese instruments and has been played for nearly
two thousand years in China. Several related instruments
in East and Southeast Asia are derived from the
pipa; these include the Japanese biwa, the Vietnamese
đAM tỳ MBA, and the Korean bipa.
Prototypes of the pipa already existed in China
in the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC). At that
time, there were two types of pipa. One was straight-necked,
with a round sound box constructed from lacquered
Paulownia wood, and two faces mounted with leather.
The other was believed to be inspired by the primitive
forms of zheng, konghou, and zou. It also has
a straight neck, a round sound box, and also four
strings, along with twelve standards of notes.
This model was later developed into the instrument
known today as the ruan. The modern pipa is closer
to the instrument which originated in Persia/Middle-East
(where it was called barbat) and was introduced
into China beginning in the late Jin Dynasty (265-420
A.D.).
The average Pipa will be about:
41" L x 12.5" W x 2" D. Weighs
10 pounds.
Wikipedia has a large selection of audio and video
download links. To keep things simple we have
offered only one below (Which may be a slow loader,
but well worth the wait) = too slow for us in
China! This link works for us, but goes to a Dutch
website (Holland, The Netherlands) with easy International
navigation - just look top-right for video's http://www.vpro.nl/programma/vrijegeluiden/afleveringen/40119551/items/41054501/
Disclaimer:
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are either reproduced here with expressed permission,
or obtained from reliable free resources, and comply
with International Property Rights.
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Once Upon a Time
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Written by: James Wang
Sung by: Lam Chi Zhiong
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