Guan Pinghu
Encyclopedia
Guan Pinghu (1897–1967), was a leading player of the guqin
(古琴), a Chinese 7-string bridgeless zither. Born in Suzhou
, Jiangsu
, Guan came from an artistic family, and started to learn the guqin from his father, Guan Nianci. After the death of his father when he was thirteen, Guan continued with his father’s friend Ye Shimeng and Zhang Xiangtao. He also studied with the leading players of three different schools; Yang Zongji (1865–1933), the leading player in Beijing, the Daoist Qin Heming, and the Buddhist monk Wucheng.
Before 1949, Guan did some teaching at the Yenching University
, but had most of his meager income from selling paintings and repairing old musical instruments and furniture.
In 1952, he became a teacher and assistant researcher at the Zhongyang Yinyue Xueyuan (Central Conservatory of Music) and a leading force at the Beijing Guqin Yanjiuhui (Beijing Guqin Research Institute), both in Beijing
. He also recreated and performed many pieces, including Guangling San (《广凌散》), Youlan (《碣石調幽蘭》- Secluded Orchid), and Hujia Shiba Pai (《胡笳十八拍》 - Eighteen Pieces for Barbarian Pipes), that only existed as notation through a process known as dapu (打谱) http://www.silkqin.com/08anal/dapu.htm. These pieces have become part of the core repertory of guqin music. Though he trained few prominent students, Guan's numerous recordings–notable for their austerity, subtlety, and bold presentation–have exerted wide and continuing influence.
In 1977, a recording of "Liu Shui" (流水; Flowing Water), as performed by Guan, was chosen to be included in the Voyager Golden Record
, a gold-plated LP recording containing music from around the world, which was sent into outer space by NASA
on the Voyager 1
and Voyager 2
spacecraft. It is the longest excerpt included on the disc (lasting seven minutes and 37 seconds) and the only excerpt of Chinese music.
Guqin
The guqin is the modern name for a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family...
(古琴), a Chinese 7-string bridgeless zither. Born in Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
, Guan came from an artistic family, and started to learn the guqin from his father, Guan Nianci. After the death of his father when he was thirteen, Guan continued with his father’s friend Ye Shimeng and Zhang Xiangtao. He also studied with the leading players of three different schools; Yang Zongji (1865–1933), the leading player in Beijing, the Daoist Qin Heming, and the Buddhist monk Wucheng.
Before 1949, Guan did some teaching at the Yenching University
Yenching University
Yenching University was a university in Beijing, China. It integrated three Christian colleges in the city in 1919. Yenching is an alternative name of Beijing - derived from its status as capital of Yan state, one of the seven Warring States from 5th century BC to 3rd century BC.The university...
, but had most of his meager income from selling paintings and repairing old musical instruments and furniture.
In 1952, he became a teacher and assistant researcher at the Zhongyang Yinyue Xueyuan (Central Conservatory of Music) and a leading force at the Beijing Guqin Yanjiuhui (Beijing Guqin Research Institute), both in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. He also recreated and performed many pieces, including Guangling San (《广凌散》), Youlan (《碣石調幽蘭》- Secluded Orchid), and Hujia Shiba Pai (《胡笳十八拍》 - Eighteen Pieces for Barbarian Pipes), that only existed as notation through a process known as dapu (打谱) http://www.silkqin.com/08anal/dapu.htm. These pieces have become part of the core repertory of guqin music. Though he trained few prominent students, Guan's numerous recordings–notable for their austerity, subtlety, and bold presentation–have exerted wide and continuing influence.
In 1977, a recording of "Liu Shui" (流水; Flowing Water), as performed by Guan, was chosen to be included in the Voyager Golden Record
Voyager Golden Record
The Voyager Golden Records are phonograph records which were included aboard both Voyager spacecraft, which were launched in 1977. They contain sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth, and are intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form, or for...
, a gold-plated LP recording containing music from around the world, which was sent into outer space by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
on the Voyager 1
Voyager 1
The Voyager 1 spacecraft is a 722-kilogram space probe launched by NASA in 1977, to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space. Operating for as of today , the spacecraft receives routine commands and transmits data back to the Deep Space Network. At a distance of as of...
and Voyager 2
Voyager 2
The Voyager 2 spacecraft is a 722-kilogram space probe launched by NASA on August 20, 1977 to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space...
spacecraft. It is the longest excerpt included on the disc (lasting seven minutes and 37 seconds) and the only excerpt of Chinese music.