Guqin Master Chen Leiji

NEW YORK, January 20, 2018 - Chen Leiji, one of the world’s foremost exponents of the guqin, performs a rare concert at Asia Society New York. He is joined by special guests Sarah Tao He (erhu) and Guo Yazhi (suona). (42 min., 38 sec.)

[@bennigan88]

I love this. It's like jazz. It's not going anywhere, not here, not there. No expectations, just in this present moment the Dao sings.

[@amvprod4877]

He hit the first string with so much passion I swear I felt it in my bones

[@josh539]

AMVprod I did too, huh

[@crystalwu7400]

that “dunnnn” rlly hits hard

[@matthewharvey8755]

I use to like blues.... Then I heard guquin masters play. Ancient Asian blues

[@ingwiafraujaz3126]

This guy gets it.

[@nujauh445]

Genius!

[@brachydactyl7534]

I used to like dobro ... then I heard guqin masters play. Ancient Asian bluegrass.

[@eelamite]

where did the harmonica come from? (the cheng!)

[@celycely219]

absolutely beautiful, the guqin is a beautiful instrument which requires a great inner peace I feel to express your feelings

[@MsCellobass]

Matherul Chan maybe a beautiful instrument but this guy did not held up its beauty.

[@art7046]

@@MsCellobass this is a pretty good performance what are you talking about

[@aconfusedshoe6240]

No it requires a lot of dedication, knowledge, hard work, skill, memorization, repetition. Not "inner peace". "Inner peace" is temporary as it should be and whoever claims to have inner peace has remained stagnant in life and has stopped moving forward.

[@MarieElenaCambria1]

@@aconfusedshoe6240 what a terrible reply. Apparently you have not experienced the absolute resolute power of inner peace.

[@Ibis-]

@@MarieElenaCambria1inner peace is just another word for crack cocaine

[@cjanvier1536]

I love Spanish guitar for its passion, fury and fiery, but having watched many Chinese historical dramas , I love how the guqin brings peace and calm. I am taken back to a mountain forest full of bamboos, chattering birds and a panda sitting on his back while eating a bamboo stick next to a gushing river. stream .

[@taylordiclemente5163]

Both of these traditions can express the full human range of tranquility and passion. As a classical guitarist I find Chinese classical and traditional string players to be extremely dynamic, capable of striking the strings with immense controlled force and then instantly relaxing. They inspire me to no end...

[@lolmysteries]

The Yamaha store hates me, because that's how I play their grand pianos...

[@kyu5882]

XD

[@gl0ckfather]

That’s not very epic of them

[@tristanvadimterranova8053]

Then I should call you Master.

[@ls-rp6244]

IM DEAAD

[@thezimra9429]

yamaha makes motorbikes...

[@rashadulmer3008]

I put this on to sleep. Woke up feeling like I just meditated for 50 years strait on a mountain top

[@amanial-fahad6655]

Automatically thought of lan zhan

[@shakirar5453]

THIS COMMENT MADE ME SMILE 😂 THX

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

That grace, that poise and that amount of control.... I can also only think of Lan Zhang

[@flourishflour2922]

Oh crap how many of us are there?? I want to play this instrument so bad and I have no idea where to get one in the U.S... much less a teacher 😭 pls send help

[@hanasanaide]

Un lan zhan grandpa

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

@Χρυσή Πετρίδου we're such a devoted fandom XD it's a great way of learning more about epic performances too

[@adarshgangwar7320]

The untamed has stuck to my sprit because of its most beautiful sound effects.

[@LimpBizkit999]

Beautiful instrument I can see how it’s considered the “saddest instrument in the world” ☹️

[@kurtingemayn3273]

for me its sounds like keep going but yeah my tears

[@Faus4us]

Isn't it fascinating that no matter where you go, humanity has some form of music? I love that.

[@robinstrickler2302]

Because it's a philosopher's instrument, sometimes the player makes a gesture which you think will be playing and then there is silence. That's part of the performance -- the unexpected, the "sound of silence" -- a very Buddhist connundrum.

[@aylentenskwatawa4260]

His music takes me to a place deep in the subconscious and fills me with an awareness of self and oneness and brings me peace ... within a well of chaos and stillness I see my inner self It's wonderful - thank you :)

[@joebenjamin7465]

The creaking of that table when he's vibrating and glissing is driving me nuts

[@billyjohnie]

me too

[@Djjobless]

Yep

[@letolune]

Same, but I thought that was just the sound of his finger pads against the guqin wood. I've heard it in other guqin vids

[@triedkiss]

It’s part of the instrument, you can say that it gives it an authentic feel, but yes it’s quite annoying sometimes

[@Fish88048]

It's part of the instrument, not the table...

[@TheLordChiefRocka]

Had this on while studying, calming and enriching.

[@iahelcathartesaura3887]

I want to learn this instrument so greatly. I don't think there are any teachers much in the US, certainly not in my area of Western North Carolina 😕 I will keep my hope alive. I am heading toward age 60, and I've played guitar. I feel I've finally found the instrument for my soul here in this Guqin. Sigh. I will pray & meditate to attract & manifest my teacher & my opportunity. This master plays it like a Spanish guitar master! Every time I hear or see anyone play this, I learn how infinitely different it can sound & feel. Unbelievable.

[@selethiel1]

Iahel Cathartes Aura Try the locals Chinese restaurant.

[@derrickpoon5130]

I know some in san francisco, but I live in los angeles and I only know of 1 teacher as of right now(my teacher. you'll have to move to socal or new york unfortunately

[@matthewharvey8755]

Everything is possible. You could order one online and take online classes.

[@icyboy771z]

Now with the modern internet age there's nothing that can't be learn online. If you truly have a will you have a way

[@woowayinvs1736]

did you ever find a teacher in the US? I am in similar situation - I am in DC area .. but i am in my 40s. I wonder if it's too late to pick it up. It just rips through your inner seoul I feel, the sound of Guqin that is.

[@kellirichins1548]

I don't think I've ever been quite so relaxed or present during a performance, lovely.

[@mirschultz9761]

How beautiful his hands are while playing.

[@stevenshaneyfelt]

i liked the moments where either low low bass notes were playing, or the sound overall just got really quiet, makes the piece really flow, and was observing how his body moves while he plays- you can tell its a full body experience for him

[@purple4216]

I'm here because I saw Dijun play a Guqin and fengjiu dancing and NEEDED this music in my life ASAP. No regrets I am at peace now. 😌 Not dead. just calm.

[@vaughnchiew]

Clarity of Mind, Inner Strength , Peace at Heart and Awareness of Tao. Rare to come by .. thank you Master Chen.

[@adamtabl]

thank you for your intelligent comment

[@thaliagraichen8312]

Supereb technique, good musicality and finesse. Thank you for uploading.

[@swasti6906]

U know I was looking for a slow guqing like the way lan zhan played in mdzs anime while defeating the madam mo fierce corpse in first episode it was awesome 😍😍😍😍

[@jvg5854]

*see guqin* *remember lwj* *click* WEEEIII YIIIINNNNGGGG

[@bonelessorca7220]

Jvg that’s exactly why I’m here

[@hopezhang4771]

I was going through a slump with the guqin and started reading/watching mdzs, and now I cry whenever I play because the story is just too beautiful.

[@s.w9458]

Sameee😂😂

[@elizabethpalacol9826]

Yup

[@dewiwulansari4383]

Yesss me too😀

[@m.gunter4254]

The immense passion and sense of love for the music is a true work of art with this man. I found this while studying for my gen ed in college and am rather pleased with what I have come across. I wish I lived in an area that respected and welcomed more cultures, where I can see people like this playing there soul out. I may even try this musical piece for my meditation practices. The off-beat lack of rhythm could really help my mental discipline while meditating.

[@cay4624]

the absolute power this man holds

[@mikamikochka]

masterpiece! breathtaking! thank you!

[@SSS_ZERO]

The first note he hit...i felt chills through every part of my body..

[@eelamite]

i heard sum real lore brother

[@bluegreenyellowme]

Same

[@vitorgoncalves9124]

It's a real shame I can't find any of this style of Guqin playing on Souncloud. I find this quite sublime.

[@MimiYuYu]

If you like this then you may like Luna Lee’s music. She plays the Korean Gayageum which is similar. She also covers a lot of classic hits like Creedence Clear Water’s Have You Ever Seen the Rain and Foo Fighters EverLong. She has some CDs and the music is mesmerizing.

[@MimiYuYu]

Look her up on KZbin

[@HiveBeresrker]

I dont know about soundcloud, but on youtube there is an awesome channel called Fei Sun that has hours and hours of this style.

[@TheRealKoyKO]

Pandora has a station called Chinese Traditional. Try to find Traditional Oriental Orchestra and you will probably find something close to your preference mate.

[@karenrunnels9082]

@@MimiYuYu Thanks!!

[@Kiproll26]

well this was simply a lovely 40 minutes

[@stars_who_knows9254]

wow, the dynamic control is amazing and the he plays is so rhythmic and accurate.

[@freakyflow]

I typed "60's Hippies drug music" boom here i am

[@lawabidingcitizen5153]

I would have expected a Sitar, but this is ok too

[@MrEvelyn04]

You mean Psytrance? That’s edm and hippie drug music lol

[@LAFORGUS]

Were you high as well? we have to stop these google search while doped up.

[@purple4216]

The whole exchange I read with you guys was freaking hilarious! I'm sorry...

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

Wtf XDDD

[@lijusav]

Thank you for sharing the concert!

[@joxua19880306]

陈老师 弹的真好 清慢缓急 高潮一波接一波 就是琴姿 我眼瞎了

[@gnehzeey]

For those who criticizes a musician's posture, is not music made for the ears? each musician has different appearances and habits of posture when playing, but its the sounds of music that count. So if you do not like the images, do not watch, just listen. This the same with singing. With dance and other action performance, then movement becomes the key.

[@cheeeeezewizzz]

You are right in respect to western instruments. However in China and Japan (and possibly other countries) there are strict postures which are supposed to be adhered to when playing various instruments. The play the instrument with bad posture is considered wrong. These instruments were developed during a time when learning to play an instrument was considered part of the highest attainment in education and arts. The elegance and poise of a musician playing a traditional Chinese instrument is no less important than the instrument itself. One should give the appearance of total mastery and fusion with the instrument.

[@smokethat6131]

@@cheeeeezewizzz 他们是美国人。所以他们不会理解中国文化。

[@BromoDragoonFly]

+Joshua Son OR you can stop being such a pretentious douche, just sayin

[@cheeeeezewizzz]

@@BromoDragoonFly not pretentious. I'm just learning to play several Chinese instruments and I understand some (not all) of the cultural aspects of it. Since when was telling someone interesting information that they don't know pretentious?

[@cheeeeezewizzz]

@@smokethat6131真的我也是美国人。如果他们没有学习中国文化那他们怎么理解？如果他们学习我觉得他们要理解

[@tomdennehy9773]

Wanted relaxing mood music and specifically searched for Guqin music (after searching what that instrument is called), found this and wasn't disappointed, beautiful music and wonderful instrument.

[@holycam7521]

Same

[@nanyanguo1]

this music conures imageries of ancient times , soldiers on lonesome guard duties out in the wilderness at nite on the Great Wall accompanied by the sound of music playing in the cold dark still nite .

[@DedenHabibi]

Really interesting visualization, hopefully someone can create it in a movie

[@jeremiahcastro9700]

Empty Fort Strategy used against Sima Yi Zhuge Liang! Love the opening song played which I first heard in the _Three Kingdoms_ TV series.

[@leeming1317]

This masterpiece accompanied by gentle rainfall makes my grandson grow into the deepest sleep. Waters of a hurricane laments a peaceful fisherwoman and her kin.

[@liliencalvel6151]

Wow! Suddenly KZbin is throwing so many great recommendations at me all at once. I'm overwhelmed. Thank you!

[@MrHarry1]

play the silences.

[@arturtoth3185]

This is my favorite music of all.

[@PriyankaSati7302]

I really like this music ❤

[@thedeerhuntingpyro3214]

Wow that was amazing so beautiful 👏👏🙏

[@bhiksusamantabhasa386]

雖然陳大師彈此流水一曲，琴韻生動，緩而清幽，聲音如水，自然是讚歎的地方。可是指法、動作、神情太過於浮誇。要真正作為一名琴師、音樂家，對古琴的音樂應該抱著平常心、安逸的心態去撫琴才是，要達到琴人合一的境界並非易事。

[@user-vk9pn6od1n]

表情动作确实浮夸，但应该是为了表演的需要吧

[@bhiksusamantabhasa386]

李万军 應該是，但我覺得有點失去古琴原本的精神價值和意義。

[@yann8593]

@@user-vk9pn6od1n 表演就失去古琴不讨好不为取悦的本质了

[@arturzin0625]

?

[@user-hg1ou6kv4m]

穿西装弹古琴，这画面有点扎眼。

[@princekrice3819]

I want to learn how to play guqin but in my country isn't a popular instrument I want to travel to other contry to learn it Isn't important how long it takes I love it Sorry for my bad english I speak spanish

[@still451]

Wish you all the best, you can make it. Just like many Asian students travel to western countries to learn western instruments. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@princekrice3819]

@@still451 thank you, I will learn mandarin and try to go there to learn more about that country and his instruments

[@still451]

@@princekrice3819 he is the professor in Central Conservatory of Music (He did studied in France before), but his teacher is from Shanghai Conservatory of Music. You can try, actually there are many scholarship offered by China government to oversea students now, you can try for it. All the best.

[@princekrice3819]

@@still451 That is what I want to get, a scholarship from the Confusio school of my country, I already have the books, the only thing I need now is going to class. I hope everything will be ok. ✨☄

[@Qingling]

@@princekrice3819 I also learn guqin from my master，he is a monk，you can came to my city study chinese in shenzhen university，also learn the guqin，the tution is very cheap

[@jameslytle8220]

Chinese music is so masterful how can anybody not just enjoy this art

[@kitebabe05]

Wonderful played, truly a master👏

[@leeming1317]

quick, precise, focused, lament-ful, amazing! reminds me of focusing on a piece!

[@torci2008]

Потрясающе! Целое повествование

[@svbastel]

saw this instrument for the first time in te movie "hero" . love it

[@wikkrmusic]

i gotta get myself one of these

[@marslio_hdvndoan5245]

Guzheng and Guqin. They are both amazing. If I had daughter, i would want her to learn playing those instrument .

[@mateuslopes193]

Your sons can learn too

[@user-rr7tp7wm1d]

nearly all the masters of guqin from the ancient to nowadays are male. you also should let your son learn it

[@user-fp9kp6ym3e]

古筝娱人，古琴娱己。

[@matthewharvey8755]

@Average Dude Taglharpa is a good one to throw in as well lol. It is a bow instrument, but definitely a good one. I just started learning tuvan overtone singing :)

[@rtcbr3328]

2:44 door closing

[@BingQilin]

WEI YING COME BACK TO GUSU WITH ME

[@hexa823]

Anyone come from Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation? Because I sure did xD #lanzhan

[@EvanHeldt]

Haha yeah. One of first good Chinese anime. 蓝湛(蓝忘机) makes look so cool. Next season come out in July 2019! 僕は興奮している!

[@hexa823]

英三佐々木 , Can’t waIT for the next season! 蓝湛 can make about anything he touches look cool XD

[@Stefneh123]

that and A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to be Appreciated... lottts and lotss of qin / guqin references as well.

[@Hanul._.2618]

Me! ❤💙

[@haengbok637]

Nami Volkonskaya me! I love it when he plays that ♥

[@sasufreqchann]

this instrument is such a cool thing ! ! !

[@toddaron]

AMAZING. I first heard this type of music in Hero when they were having a battle in their minds. I've been hooked since.

[@necrisuni]

Don't know why, but the beginning brings that Borderlands spirit ...

[@TheSanbao]

Superb, great for long Tea sessions

[@profesorenlinearefrigeracionye]

Great. I'm student of mandarín (but no onda lenguaje, also chinese culture) . Congrats from Argentina.

[@moonomu]

so beautiful and calming

[@francoislaopi2596]

Wonderful! The best ever! Guo Yazhi, the wind player is playing here a flute called dongxiao 洞簫, not suona.

[@PearlLee-ni9jc]

才碰到您，幸运，谢谢。

[@CutiepieTinWhistle]

Does anyone know what instrument the lady on the left plays at 29:57? Thanks! :)

[@koldertjenkins1422]

its an erhu

[@matthewharvey8755]

Gotta love that python skin :)

[@raorehan6701]

太棒。对耳朵的一种享受。

[@rafaelfreitasgt]

That sound incredible! 😮

[@carolinedavis922]

beautiful!

[@tristanvadimterranova8053]

Hail to the Master.

[@chardansantosraydansilva6720]

Muito bom som desse instrumento musical

[@HisomiUndy]

Quem também veio aq só por causa do anime/novel de "Mo Dao Zu Shi", ou por outras novel's q usa o guqin tbm?

[@andrewlast1535]

What an interesting instrument. Not what I expected. Like a harp, slide guitar, piano combo. Very dynamic.

[@minchaoqing9027]

真的大师！！！

[@lftmunzeviyat]

Ahaha, most people came here after watching The Untamed like me. I admire Lan Zhan

[@anakinemanolo1949]

I love its like m’y country country of Algéria 🇩🇿song of the désert touareg

[@zerisenaybahremichael6640]

So beutiful ❤❤❤fantastic

[@Goodmorningroosterlive]

太棒了！

[@c.e.htaylorfmsfsmallbatchf7066]

damn. how exquisite

[@wingplum]

Somebody still thinks there is a national boundary for music. Sign !

[@thanathept]

How perfectly marvellous

[@DarkMuj]

this is my jam right here son

[@johnwillard849]

If I were given ten minutes alone with God, the Creator, I would play this instrument

[@jean-gillesgauthier5609]

Great

[@fangfang7180]

I'm interested to learn this Guqin.. Because of Lan Zhan 😂 but this Guqin not available in my country

[@alpenjon]

You can learn it on you own or with online classes.

[@famipersua]

Impresionante instrumento de la milenaria China!

[@armelinrameta5359]

Amazing!!!!

[@himiguel7920]

Legend of Futian.

[@herb0321]

@clumsypotato same here bro! Check Ancient Godly Monarch you'll like it, it's similar to Legend Of Futiian in some ways.

[@moonlitsky8642]

@@herb0321 same author i think?

[@herb0321]

@@moonlitsky8642 yeah bro it's really good I swear if you fuck with AGM read this as well... N also check out WARRIOR'S PROMISE bruh.

[@tc2334]

I like guqin alone, but I feel like it's best accompanied with speech like poetry or something.

[@tc2334]

paul w I said, “I FEEL” indicating that, while I am aware that both ways exist, I am of the opinion that the sound of guqin is more appealing when accompanying spoken words. This is my opinion.

[@vanessayazheng7919]

Absolutely forbidden 🚫

[@tc2334]

@@vanessayazheng7919 it isn’t forbidden at all lol happens quite often actually

[@Sage-and-Scholar]

Your feelings actually make sense and are absolutely correct! Most Guqin pieces like 關山月 and 陽關三叠 are modeled (both in phrasing and in musical storytelling) after Chinese poetry and poetic meters. Guqin is used to evoke the imagery, rhyming and feel of a poem so that its sound becomes a sort of poetry without words, and, when played with absolute stillness of mind can reflect the inner self. Coupled with poetry, the experience that the listener gets is twofold, like two poems happening at once. So, it is completely natural to connect poetry and Guqin.

[@famipersua]

在這種禁閉之內帶給和平與放鬆。

[@AresHeartbreaKid]

So Much Swagger on that guy

[@gnehzeey]

is not music made for the ears? each musician has different appearances and habits of posture when playing, but one its the sounds of music that count. This the same with singing. With dance and other action performance, then movement becomes the key.

[@Omagatsuhi]

My old Guqin master would whack my wrist down if the wrist goes way too high. He is retired now but still makes his own guqin. There is the ‘lotus’ hand type of movement.

[@fonix32]

@@gnehzeey But this is a video. And in a live performance you cannot ask the audience to not watch but just listen. Also the movements and expressions of the player reflect his mind and emotion status. He was too excited / too emotional to play this piece of music.

[@djklose1]

I would've been disappointed if I paid to see this. Just from a musical standpoint this is lacking. The real guqin musicians at Zi De Guqin Studio smoke this guy. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIK9Y4idq9qtjZo

[@221Dw]

@@djklose1 They tend to not perform traditional pieces though and use chords more.

[@kazukikochiguji7919]

where can i find a physical copy of this concert? on cd or vinyl

[@williamsshane21]

I recently learned of these new Chinese instruments.. i did not know they existed before a week ago. This is really cool... but I think there is some songs that express the musical instruments performance better than this...... like DE QUQIN STUDIOS channel....

[@fireflyhaze4938]

FYI this is an ancient instrument that has been played in China for thousands of years. It's known as the "father of Chinese instruments".

[@froobreht]

龙翔操 (操 = 曲) = Soaring Dragon (song)

[@jianfeibai]

he is the musician who played on the opening ceremony of 2008 Beijing Olympics games. that's what I thought

[@ianinjapan2]

The guy on the left who starts playing at 30:13 is not playing a "suona"; a suona is a reed instrument that sounds like a high squeaky oboe. He's playing a xiao, an end-blown wooden flute that resembles the Japanese shakuhachi. Maybe you want to fix the notes under your video? ^_^

[@ianinjapan2]

@Dave WA Point taken! (^o^)

[@Glazed4Dayz]

Stay Blessed

[@user-yf8zd1tw7l]

asian blues 4 ur soul

[@laobiaozi6360]

It is so similar to the music that plays during the fight between donnie yen and Jet Li in the movie Hero

[@matthieufritz2624]

That's not suona, that's xiao... Beautiful music

[@edwardlorenz3437]

perfect