© The London Youlan Qin Society 2003-2010



Meeting 9 January 2021



Introduction

This, the 110th meeting of the London Youlan Qin Society, was held online using Zoom. It was the fifth time our society has held a yaji meeting online, and it enabled many qin friends around the world to join our meeting, from China, Thailand, the USA, and Ireland as well as the UK. We had approximately 76 attendees. This yaji was held jointly with 日本古琴辰興会 (the Japan Society for Promotions of the Guqin). Our special guest was qinge performer He Yi 何怡, who joined us from Beijing.

The meeting began at 12 pm UK time and ended at approximately 3 pm. Cheng Yu introduced the yaji and welcomed everybody. Highlighs included two wonderful performances of qin songs by He Yi 何怡, and Cheng Yu's performance on a qin once owned by Dutch diplomat, sinologist, writer and qin scholar Robert Hans van Gulik and the eminent ethnomusicologist Laurence Picken. This qin was made in the 1930's, and was fitted with silk strings from the same period. Cheng Yu gave a very enlightening presentation on this qin and its history. Members of the Japan Society for Promotions of the Guqin plyed some unfamiliar and very interesting pieces, including one, Youling Gongzhu 幽霊公主 (Princess Mononoke) on two qins simultaneously.

Video highlights from this yaji are on our YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQqrkklcRs8MW6kq-wqoFYw

Two newspapers reported on this yaji:

欧洲时报 Nouvelle’s Europe (UK edition) 15-21 Jan 2021伦敦幽兰琴社2021新年雅集

英国侨报 - UK Chinese Journal, 伦敦幽兰琴社举办云雅集

Music

The following music was played:

  1. Liang Xiao Yin 良宵引 (Prelude for a Pleasant Evening), Group qin performance: Cheng Yu, Elaine Yu, Julian Joseph, Azalea Qin, Charles Tsua, Andrea Lioy, Viola Qiu; Esmeralda Herrero (Ireland); xiao Dennis Lee) (UK)
  2. Anxiang Jiushi Yuese 暗香·旧时月色 (Hidden Fragrance in the Moonlight in Ancient Times) – He Yi 何怡 (China)
  3. Guiqu Laici 归去来辞 (Returning after Resigning) – Shougou Tsushima 津島彰悟 (Japan)
  4. Liang Kuan Shi 良宽诗 (Ryoukan Poem) qin song – Shun Kuremoto 呉本舜 (Japan)
  5. Yangguan Sandie 阳关三叠 (Three Variations on the Yang Pass) – He Yi 何怡 (China)
  6. Da Zai Yin 大哉引 (The Way of the King) – Takako Otagiri 小田切貴子 (Japan)
  7. Oulu Wang Ji 鸥鹭忘机 (Without Ulterior Motives) – Shima Kawase 川瀬史麻 (Japan)
  8. Bi Jian Liu Quan 碧涧流泉 (A Spring Flowing in a Green Valley) – Akie Fukano 深野明恵 (Japan)
  9. Feng Qiu Huang 凤求凰 (The Phoenix Seeks his Mate) – Yoshiyuki Kamada 鎌田嘉之 (Japan)
  10. Youling Gongzhu幽霊公主 (Princess Mononoke) – Yuki Takei 武井欲生 (Japan)
  11. Douce Dame Jolie (Peiyou’s transcription for qin of the 14th century French song by Guillaume de Machaut) – Peiyou Chang (USA), with recitation of the English lyrics by Andrea Lioy (UK)
  12. Qiu Sai Yin 秋塞吟 (Autumn Thoughts from Beyond the Border) – Stephen Dydo (USA)
  13. Ping Sha Luo Yan 平沙落雁 (Wild Geese Landing on the Level Sand) – Cheng Yu (UK) - Using 1930’s Van Gulik’s Silk-stringed qin “龙吟 – Dragon’s Chant” and 1930’s silk strings
  14. Chang Xiangsi 长相思 Eternal Longing, to the words of the poem Shan Yi Cheng 山一程 (Another Range of Mountains) by Nalan Xingde 纳兰性德 – Daniella Gordon (UK)
  15. Zuiyu Changwan 醉鱼唱晚 (Evening Song of the Drunken Fishermen) – Julian Joseph (UK)
  16. Gaoshan Liushui 高山流水(High Mountains and Flowing Water) – Guzheng 古筝: Li Muqi (UK)
  17. Meihua Sannong 梅花三弄 (Three Variations on the Plum Blossom Theme) – Esmeralda Herrero (Ireland)
  18. Liezi Yu Feng 列子御风 (Liezi Rides the Wind) – Jenny Zhao (UK)
  19. Liang Xiao 良宵 (A Pleasant Evening) – xiao 箫: Dennis Lee (UK)
  20. Xiao Xiang Yeyu瀟湘夜雨 (Night Rain Over the Xiao and Xiang Rivers) – Charles Tsua, his own dapu from Tianwenge Qinpu (1876) (UK)
  21. Loulan San 楼兰散 (Song of Loulan) – Elaine Yu (UK)
  22. Interaction with Zoom audience 琴友观众互动