China Popular Itineraries |
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| Pipa has a long history. The Tang Dynasty was the period of great pros-perity of Pipa. There are innumerable players recorded in the annuls of histo-ry, among who are Duan Shanben and Kang Kunlun. In its later develop-ment, its performance styles and forms have been continuously improved. At first, it was held, when performed, by the player horizontally and played with a plectrum. Now it is carried upright and played with five fingers. Its voice box is of a half-pear shape covered with tung tree wood. The neck part is slightly bent backwards. Its tune is usually set at the fourth and fifth. The most famous players of the modern times are Li Tingsong, Wei Zhongle, Liu Dehai and Lin Shicheng. The traditional music pieces of Pipa are An Overall Ambush, Playing Xiao, Drum Under the Setting Sun and An Ancient Tune in the Spring. |
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