Book

Impressions of a Pipa Player

I worked as editor on this book, “Impressions of a Pipa Player: Profiles of the World’s Most Premier”, with an editorial team comprising Louis Kwok, Joshua Leng, Catherine Tan, Jude Chan, Daniel Yap, Jonathan Han, Zayed Talib, Kelvin Bik, Joan Goh, Anne Ng, Joey Tan, and Sarah Wu. Published out of Singapore, this book of collected interviews and creative nonfiction is authored by Samuel Wong Shengmiao. The sound of the pipa has been likened to that of pearls falling on a jade tray. A fully functional three-and-a-half octave instrument with four strings, the pipa is one of the most expressive and intriguing Chinese traditional instruments. Like a constantly unravelling enigma, its performing techniques are always developing with a palette of sounds, which just broadens over time. Through interviews with 21 of the world's premier pipa players, composers and teachers, Samuel Wong Shengmiao travelled as far as Beijing, Shanghai and Copenhagen to document the personal biographies of stalwart pipa players, stories which might have otherwise passed into unwritten history with a player's own passing. This is a rigorously researched opus, packing in numerous box stories on famous pipa songs, a detailed bibliography and index, and a first-ever listing of pipa symbols and techniques explained in English. The book also includes exclusive photo portraiture of many of the featured players.

ISBN: 981-04-8464-X

publisher: Beaumont

year: 2003

internet store: http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/