The Sound of the Soul

Rarely do traditional Chinese instrumental recordings come in handsome packaging, with English and Chinese texts so well laid out. Rarely are they so informative and inspirational to the listener. This collection provides not only solid background history, with complete translations of ancient texts, but also music fully worthy of their packaging. Deng Hong and Chen Shasha, both female graduates of the China Conservatory of Music, offer excellent performances.

This recording also traces a serious artistic lineage. Producer and annotator Cecilia Lindqvist was a Swedish student in Beijing between 1961 and 1962 under the tutelage of Wang Di (1923¬2005), a disciple of 20th-century Chinese qin master Guan Pinghu (1897-1967). Lindqvist invited Wang Di’s daughter, Deng Hong, and two other young Chinese musicians to cover a vast repertory of qin solo works – the qin being a seven-string zither-like instrument – as well as qin music accompanied by xiao (vertical flute), percussion and voice. Classics such as ‘Flowing Waters’, the three variations on the melody ‘Plum Blossoms’, and pieces inspired by Tang and Song poetry – many passed on by Guan Pinghu – were all recorded at Beijing’s Hua Yin Studios by sound engineers who specialise in traditional repertoire.

Qin music is refined and scholarly, providing food for thought for the player as well as the listener. This recording has achieved a great balance: as an educational tool, it is invaluable in providing verbal content and pictorial illustrations; for pure auditory enjoyment, the sound quality is never overly dry, with a sweet and crisp sonority to the impeccable delivery.