Welcome to Silk and Bamboo Journey. I’m Liu Mali, and tonight we begin our summer series with a special focus on Ming dynasty music and the art of touring with instruments. As summer unfolds, musicians take flight—across borders, across oceans—carrying not only melodies but the weight of logistics, customs, and cultural preservation.
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Welcome to Silk and Bamboo Journey. I’m Liu Mali, and tonight we begin our summer series with a special focus on Ming dynasty music and the art of touring with instruments. As summer unfolds, musicians take flight—across borders, across oceans—carrying not only melodies but the weight of logistics, customs, and cultural preservation.
In the second half of tonight’s program, we launch our three-part feature: “To Master the Craft, First Love the Instrument.” This series explores the intersection of music and creative industry, diving into the challenges of instrument transport, CITES regulations, and insurance for touring artists.
But first, we return to the Ming dynasty, where the guqin was not merely an instrument—it was a vessel of philosophy, poetry, and personal refinement. From Zhu Quan’s Shenqi Mipu to the poetic annotations of Wuxue Shan Fang Qinpu, Ming scholars curated and interpreted ancient melodies with care and reverence.
Tonight’s selections include:
Autumn Thoughts at Dongting Lake, evoking misty waters and distant memory.
Spring, a celebration of renewal and vitality.
Fisherman’s Song, based on Liu Zongyuan’s poem, capturing the quiet dignity of solitude.
Lament of the Xiang Concubine, a tale of longing and loss drawn from ancient legend.
Beside the Dressing Table, adapted from Ming-era xiao notation.
Fragrant Orchid, attributed to Mao Minzhong, expressing purity and grace.
Song of Ascension, originally a Kunqu aria, portraying a woman’s yearning for freedom.
And finally, a tale from the court of Emperor Zhengde, where music became power, and favor turned into influence. Through these stories and sounds, we glimpse the elegance, tension, and spirit of Ming music.
Goodnight.