Guqin embodies the essence of over 3,000 years of Chinese cultural tradition. This concert features a special recital by Yao Gongbai, among the first batch of representative inheritors of the art of guqin as an Intangible Cultural Heritage at the national-level, who has devoted nearly 70 years to the instrument. Of the eight selected works spanning the Ming and Qing dynasties, four originate from the earliest extant guqin tablature collection, Shenqi Mipu (1425), and were reconstructed through deciphering historical guqin tablature by Yao’s father, Yao Bingyan. A particular highlight is the world premiere of Flowing Water from Zhifa Huican Quejie (1821). This version marks its transition from poetic abstraction to musical realism, and sheds light on the fascinating history underlying the 1977 version of Flowing Water being launched into outer space by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The performance will run for about 1 hour and 35 minutes including a 15-minute intermission.