Liang Tsai-Ping
Encyclopedia
Liang Tsai-Ping was a master of the guzheng
, a Chinese traditional zither
. He is considered one of the 20th century's most important players and scholars of the instrument.
, where he began his studies with Professors Ying-mei Shih (Shi Yingmei) and Tze-you Wei (Wei Ziyou). After printing his first work, Ni Cheng Pu (Ni Zheng Pu), a guzheng teaching manual in 1938, he brought his instruments and conferred with several masters and companies. He graduated from Beijing Jiaotong University
, majoring in applied science.
He moved to Taiwan
in 1949, where he lived for the rest of his life. He worked in the Ministry of Commerce while continuing his musical activities. Liang had much to do with the revival of the guzheng in the 20th century, helping to establish the instrument as one of the major Chinese traditional solo instruments, as well as a component of the Chinese orchestra
. Throughout his life, he preferred the older steel string version of the instrument. For 25 years, he served as the president of the Chinese Classical Music Association, which was organized in Taipei
in 1951.
In addition to performing on the guzheng, he researched the instrument's history and repertoire, studying the playing of elder guzheng masters from various parts of China, learning and comparing their styles.
He also created new works for the instrument. In 1951, following the release of his first composition, Longing for an Old Friend, he composed more than forty pieces for the guzheng. His book, Music of the Cheng, has been published in six editions.
while on his way to the United States
. While at Yale University
in 1945-46, he introduced a performance on the "China Program" with the American writer Emily Hahn
, on DuMont Television
. A colorful sound film called Melody of Ancient China was produced for him by the Harmon Foundation in 1946. Under the sponsorship of Pearl S. Buck
, Liang gave solo performances in several major U.S. cities.
He traveled to Japan
in 1952, where he was greeted by the renowned koto
player Michio Miyagi
, and also traveled to Seoul
, Korea, performing at Sarabul Art College and the The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts
.
Liang introduced the guzheng at the First Southeast Asia
Music Conference in Manila
, Philippines
in 1955. He performed in ten European nations in 1958, participated in the International Music Symposium in Manila, and served as the Chief Delegate of the Republic of China
in April 1966. Under the sponsorship of the Honolulu Academy of Arts
, he performed and lectured on seven U.S. college campuses in May 1967.
For the Asia Society in New York, he directed the Shantung Music Ensemble in 50 recitals in the United States in the spring of 1972. Invited by the overseas Chinese Teachers Federation, Liang performed in Singapore
and in four cities of Malaysia, Bangkok
, and Hong Kong
in 1973.
Invited by the Performing Arts Programs, Asia Society, Liang conducted a three-month recital (including Carnegie Hall
) and lecture tour to Japan, Canada
, and the United States in the spring of 1974.
composer Lou Harrison
(1917-2003), who became the first American to become a proficient guzheng performer, and also a composer of idiomatic music for the instrument. In 1962, Harrison went on to form (with two other American musicians: his student Richard Dee, b. 1936, and William Colvig
; along with the singer Lily Chin) an ensemble that toured the California playing traditional Chinese music, the first American group of its type.
Liang's son is the scholar and composer David Mingyue Liang.
Guzheng
The guzheng or "gu zheng", also called zheng is a Chinese plucked zither. It has 18-23 or more strings and movable bridges....
, a Chinese traditional zither
Zither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
. He is considered one of the 20th century's most important players and scholars of the instrument.
Early career
At age 14, Liang moved to BeijingBeijing
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...
, where he began his studies with Professors Ying-mei Shih (Shi Yingmei) and Tze-you Wei (Wei Ziyou). After printing his first work, Ni Cheng Pu (Ni Zheng Pu), a guzheng teaching manual in 1938, he brought his instruments and conferred with several masters and companies. He graduated from Beijing Jiaotong University
Beijing Jiaotong University
Beijing Jiaotong university is one of the oldest universities in Mainland China.-History:It is a component of Jiaotong University....
, majoring in applied science.
He moved to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 1949, where he lived for the rest of his life. He worked in the Ministry of Commerce while continuing his musical activities. Liang had much to do with the revival of the guzheng in the 20th century, helping to establish the instrument as one of the major Chinese traditional solo instruments, as well as a component of the Chinese orchestra
Chinese orchestra
The term Chinese Orchestra can refer to either:* The ancient Chinese Orchestra, or* The modern Chinese Orchestra-The ancient Chinese Orchestra:...
. Throughout his life, he preferred the older steel string version of the instrument. For 25 years, he served as the president of the Chinese Classical Music Association, which was organized in Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
in 1951.
In addition to performing on the guzheng, he researched the instrument's history and repertoire, studying the playing of elder guzheng masters from various parts of China, learning and comparing their styles.
He also created new works for the instrument. In 1951, following the release of his first composition, Longing for an Old Friend, he composed more than forty pieces for the guzheng. His book, Music of the Cheng, has been published in six editions.
International tours
Liang performed widely throughout the world. He first performed in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
while on his way to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. While at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1945-46, he introduced a performance on the "China Program" with the American writer Emily Hahn
Emily Hahn
Emily Hahn was an American journalist and author. Called "a forgotten American literary treasure" by The New Yorker magazine, she was the author of 52 books and more than 180 articles and stories...
, on DuMont Television
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
. A colorful sound film called Melody of Ancient China was produced for him by the Harmon Foundation in 1946. Under the sponsorship of Pearl S. Buck
Pearl S. Buck
Pearl Sydenstricker Buck also known by her Chinese name Sai Zhenzhu , was an American writer who spent most of her time until 1934 in China. Her novel The Good Earth was the best-selling fiction book in the U.S. in 1931 and 1932, and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1932...
, Liang gave solo performances in several major U.S. cities.
He traveled to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1952, where he was greeted by the renowned koto
Koto (musical instrument)
The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument, similar to the Chinese guzheng, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum and the Vietnamese đàn tranh. The koto is the national instrument of Japan. Koto are about length, and made from kiri wood...
player Michio Miyagi
Michio Miyagi
was a Japanese musician, famous for his koto playing.He was born in Kobe. He lost his sight in 1902, when he was 8 years old, and started his study in koto under the guidance of Nakajima Kengyo II, dedicating the rest of his life to the instrument. In 1907 he moved with his family to Incheon, in...
, and also traveled to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, Korea, performing at Sarabul Art College and the The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts
The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts
National Gugak Center, located in Seoul, South Korea, is the primary institution of learning for Korean traditional music.With a history dating back to the Eumseongseo music institute of the Silla kingdom in the 7th century, The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts was founded...
.
Liang introduced the guzheng at the First Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
Music Conference in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1955. He performed in ten European nations in 1958, participated in the International Music Symposium in Manila, and served as the Chief Delegate of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
in April 1966. Under the sponsorship of the Honolulu Academy of Arts
Honolulu Academy of Arts
The Honolulu Academy of Arts is an art museum in Honolulu in the state of Hawaii. Since its founding in 1922 by Anna Rice Cooke and opening April 8, 1927, its collections have grown to over 40,000 works of art.-Description:...
, he performed and lectured on seven U.S. college campuses in May 1967.
For the Asia Society in New York, he directed the Shantung Music Ensemble in 50 recitals in the United States in the spring of 1972. Invited by the overseas Chinese Teachers Federation, Liang performed in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and in four cities of Malaysia, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1973.
Invited by the Performing Arts Programs, Asia Society, Liang conducted a three-month recital (including Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
) and lecture tour to Japan, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the United States in the spring of 1974.
Students
Among Liang's students was the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer Lou Harrison
Lou Harrison
Lou Silver Harrison was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison...
(1917-2003), who became the first American to become a proficient guzheng performer, and also a composer of idiomatic music for the instrument. In 1962, Harrison went on to form (with two other American musicians: his student Richard Dee, b. 1936, and William Colvig
William Colvig
William Colvig was an electrician and amateur musician who was the partner for 33 years of composer Lou Harrison, whom he met in San Francisco, California in 1967...
; along with the singer Lily Chin) an ensemble that toured the California playing traditional Chinese music, the first American group of its type.
Liang's son is the scholar and composer David Mingyue Liang.
Books by Liang Tsai-Ping
- Liang, Tsai-Ping (1962). On Chinese Music. Taipei, Taiwan.
- Liang, Tsai-Ping, ed. (1970). Chinese Musical Instruments & Pictures. Taipei, Taiwan: Chinese Classical Music Association.
- Liang, Tsai-Ping (1971). Music of Cheng, Chinese 16-Stringed Zither. [Taipei, Taiwan]: Chinese Classical Music Association.
Discography
- Liang, Tsai-Ping. Chinese Masterpieces for the Cheng. LP. Lyrichord.
- China's Instrumental Heritage. CD. Lyrichord Discs. Recorded c. 1960.
- Liang, Tsai-ping. The Chinese Cheng: Ancient and Modern. CD. Lyrichord Discs.
See also
- GuzhengGuzhengThe guzheng or "gu zheng", also called zheng is a Chinese plucked zither. It has 18-23 or more strings and movable bridges....