The ancient literary canon, Songs of the South (Chuci), known for its fantastic themes and romantic imageries, has been a major source of inspiration for painters and musicians since China’s antiquity. A particular section of the composition, the Lisao (Encountering Sorrow), encapsulates the zeitgeist of a dissonant age that was the Warring States period (c. 475–221 BCE). In the original Chinese language, these poems are characterized by a haunting sensuousness and cacophonous musicality that is the quintessential spirit of the poetry of the south in Chinese literature.
The qin is a seven-string zither of ancient Chinese origins and is traditionally favored by scholars and gentlemen as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement. This special event will feature a general introduction to this musical tradition, followed by a performance of compositions on the qin inspired by Songs of the South, with singing.
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