Zhao Manqin Explained

Zhao Manqin (Chinese: 赵曼琴; born in 1953) is a Chinese musician and educator. He is a member of the Chinese Musician's Association, Director of the Chinese National Orchestra Society, Visiting professor at the China Conservatory of Music.

Zhao Manqin developed the kuaisu zhixu (Fast Finger Sequence Technique System) which drew on the playing techniques of piano, violin, and pipa.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Biography

Zhao Manqin was born in 1953 in the Xinye County of Henan Province, China. He started writing and publishing music at the age of 16.^[5] Zhao Manqin attended the Xinye County Middle School in 1965 and continued his education at the Seaman School in Xinye County in 1962. He later attended the Xinye County Middle School. Due to his father's persecution during the Cultural Revolution, Zhao was sent to perform agricultural work in the countryside in 1966. Despite this, he continued his involvement in music and joined various performance groups, including the Xinye County Cultural Troupe in 1972.^[6]

In 1972, he developed the kuaisu zhixu (Fast Finger Sequence Technique System), which drew on the piano, violin, and pipa playing techniques. This system is widely used by the Guzheng industry in China.^[7]

In 1978, his fast-fingering composition, "The Sun is Shining Red on Jinggang Mountain", was included in the curriculum of the Central Conservatory of Music.^[8]

From 1980, he was invited lecturer at major music conservatories and academies in China and internationally, including the Central Conservatory of Music, Folk Music Department of the Central Conservatory of Music, Xi'an Conservatory of Music, Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Normal University Music College, Guangxi Arts College, Kunming Medical University, Eastman School of Music in the United States and the National Australian University in Australia.

In the mid-1980s, he began work on Guzheng education and established the Guzheng Art Institute. He subsequently conducted educational courses in Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Xinzheng, Xingyang, Henan Youtian, Nanyang, and Haikou and provided training to professional and amateur Guzheng teachers across China.^[9]

In 1986 his work "Symmetry and Inertia" was presented at the First National Guzheng Academic Conference along with the performance of the Guzheng piece dahu shangshan (Fighting the tiger in the mountain) by his disciple Wang Zhongshan using the fast fingering he developed which led to the recognition of his technique.^{[10] [11] [12]}

Many of his students and master class students hold leading positions in various music performance groups and music institutions, including, Wang Zhongshan (Professor at China Conservatory of Music),^[13] Li Meng (Professor at the Central Conservatory of Music),^[14] Fan Yifeng (Professor at Xi'an Conservatory of Music),^[15] Wang Wei (Professor at Shanghai Conservatory of Music),^[16] Luo Xiaoci (Director of Shanghai National Orchestra), Gao Liang (Professor at Shenyang Conservatory of Music),^[17] Chen Weimin (Associate professor at Xinghai Conservatory of Music),^[18] Zhang Tong (Professor at Harbin Normal University),^[19] Sun Zhuo (Professor at Shaanxi Normal University),^[20] and Mao Ya (Lecturer at the University of Tokyo in Japan),^[21] and others.^{[22] [23]}

Guzheng performance techniques

In 1972, he developed the kuaisu zhixu (Fast Finger Sequence Technique System) which drew on the playing techniques of piano, violin, and pipa. This system is widely used by the Guzheng industry in China. This system solved the limitation of Guzheng in playing fast passages of heptatonic scale and facilitated the inclusion of the Guzheng to perform with the rest of the traditional instruments in an orchestra setting. This system changed three finger wearing plectra playing in octave symmetry to all eight fingers wearing plectra plucking approach. This change expanded the potential Guzheng fingering sequences, allowing playing fast passages of pentatonic scale, heptatonic scale, and chromatic scale.^{[24] [25] [26]}

In 1978, his fast-fingering composition, "The Sun is Shining Red on Jinggang Mountain", was included in the curriculum of the Central Conservatory of Music.

After the 1986 presentation of his work "Symmetry and Inertia" at the First National Guzheng Academic Conference, along with the performance of the Guzheng piece dahu shangshan (Fighting the tiger in the mountain) by his follower Wang Zhongshan using the fast fingering he developed, his technique gained recognition. This performance contributed to the nationwide spread of Zhao Manqin's fast finger sequence compositions such as "The Sun is Shining Red on Jinggang Mountain", "Climbing the Mountain to Beat the Tiger", "Ode of Shan Dan Flower", "Evening Party", and "Hora Dance". It also led to the nationwide implementation of the fast-fingering system into Guzheng practice and performance. Composers subsequently started to compose contemporary repertoires using the fast-fingering sequence techniques, including "Dance of Yi Tribe", "Spring in Xiangjiang River", "Eternal Lament of Li'an", "The Fantasia", "The Caprice of the Western Regions", "Ming Mountain" and "Forest Spring". Most of these pieces have been chosen as part of the grade 9 and grade 10 repertoire for the National Examination Board.^{[27] [28]}

Selected compositions

• "Fantasy of the Embroidered Gold Plaque" – First prize in the Henan Provincial Ethnic Instrumental Music Awards in 1983.^[29]
• "Moon Gazing" – First prize in the Henan Provincial Ethnic Instrumental Music Awards in 1983.
• "The Sun Shines Over Jinggang Mountain" – Second prize in the Henan Provincial Instrumental Music Awards in 1983.^[30]
• "Gazing at the Moon" – Award of Encouragement, "National Third Music Works Competition" held by the Ministry of Culture and China Musicians Association in 1984.
• "Springing from the Roaring Yellow River" (Collaboratively composed piece) – awarded the Second Prize in Vocal Composition by the Henan Musicians Association in 1985.
• "Soul of the Yellow River" – Gold Award at the second "Star Award" competition held by the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Broadcasting in 1991.^[31]
• "The Melody of Henan" – Gold Award at the 15th "Star Award" competition held by the Ministry of Culture in 2010.

Publications

• "A Brief History of the Guzheng", published in "Music Research," (the most authoritative academic journal in China), issue 4,1981.
• "Symmetry and Inertia", published in the "Proceedings of the National Guzheng Academic Exchange Conference" and "Discussion on Guzheng Study", 1986.
• "On the Application of Percussion in Nanyang Opera" (co-authored), published in "Opera Art",1982.
• "Urgent Problems Affecting the Development of Guzheng Art", published by the Chinese National Symphony Orchestra in the "Guzheng Collection of Papers",1999.
• "Problems in Guzheng Performance Mechanics- A Discussion with Mr. He Baoquan", published in the "Qin Zheng", Issue 1, 2006
• "The Artistic Crisis of Guzheng Under its Prosperous Appearance", presented at the Beijing International Guzheng Art Festival (Highest National level Forum), 2008
• "Questioning the Temperament of Chinese Folk Music", published in the "Journal of Henan Education College, Philosophy and Social Edition", 2010.
• "A Preliminary Exploration of the Pitch of Shaanxi Guzheng Performance", published in "Qinzheng", Issue 1 and 2, 2010 and issue 1, 2011.
• "New Theory of Temperament", published in the "Journal of Henan Education College", issue 2, 2019.

Books

• "An Introduction to Guzheng Fast Finger Sequence Technique" (Volumes I and II), published by China Culture Publishing Company, 2002.
• "Zhao Manqin's Guzheng Teaching Sheet Music", published by Tongxin Publishing House, 2004.
• "The Way to Practice Basic Guzheng Skills" (Volumes I, II, and III, co-author Zhao Guanhua), published by Shanghai Music Publishing House, 2012.
• "The Way to Practice Guzheng Fast Finger Sequence" (Volumes I and II, co-author Zhao Guanhua), published by Shanghai Music Publishing House, 2012.

References

1. Web site: 《赵曼琴快速指序技法练习之道》将出版-人物_古筝新闻-古筝精品阅读-中国古筝网 . 2024-05-09 . www.guzheng.cn.
2. Web site: 快速指序技法创立人赵曼琴在中央音乐学院讲学-活动_古筝新闻-古筝精品阅读-中国古筝网 . 2024-05-09 . www.guzheng.cn.
3. Book: Silverberg, Ann L. . A Contemporary History of the Chinese Zheng . 2022-12-12 . Hong Kong University Press . 978-988-8754-34-2 . en.
4. Web site: Research on the Inheritance and Innovation of Guzheng Art Performance Techniques from the Perspective of Culture . 2024-05-09 . webofproceedings.org.
5. Web site: 2022-04-12 . Introduction to Zhao Manqin（guzheng）Master performer,composer,music educator . 2024-05-09 . 民族乐器网 . en-us.
6. Web site: 赵曼琴-赵曼琴简介-中国古筝网 . 2024-05-09 . www.guzheng.cn.
7. Book: 中国音乐年鉴 . 1996 . 文化藝術出版社 . zh.
8. Book: Silverberg, Ann L. . A Contemporary History of the Chinese Zheng . 2022-12-12 . Hong Kong University Press . 978-988-8754-34-2 . en.
9. Web site: 赵曼琴古筝艺术专修院 乐器乐器演奏培训班 北京中器研究院 www.yqyjy.com . 2024-05-09 . www.yqyjy.com.
10. Web site: 王中山《中国古筝艺术的传承与发展》_古筝视频-古筝入门教学视频-古筝电视频道-中国古筝网 . 2024-05-09 . m.guzheng.cn.
11. Web site: 2018 . The Development of Guzheng Playing Technique and Its Application in Teaching . 2024-05-09 . atlantis-press.com.
12. Web site: 王中山 (WANG Zhong-shan) – 中國民族音樂資料館 Chinese Music Archive . 2024-05-09 . zh-CN.
13. Web site: 王中山-王中山古筝曲-王中山古筝谱-中国古筝网 . 2024-05-09 . www.guzheng.cn.
14. Web site: 国乐名家 . 2024-05-09 . dunhuangguoyue.com.
15. Web site: 著名古筝演奏家-樊艺凤-华音网 . 2024-05-09 . www.huain.com.
16. Web site: 王蔚 // 中国古筝艺术家、上海音乐学院教授、博士生导师 . 2024-05-09 . 新加坡亚洲艺术协会 . zh-CN.
17. Web site: 沈阳音乐学院 . 2024-05-09 . www.sycm.edu.cn.
18. Web site: 陈蔚旻 . 2024-05-09 . concerthall.com.cn.
19. Web site: 张 彤 - 古筝名家 - 敦煌国乐网 . 2024-05-09 . www.dunhuangguoyue.com.
20. Web site: Introduction to Sun Zhuo（guzheng）Master performer - zgmzyq.cn . 2024-05-09 . 民族乐器网 . en-us.
21. Web site: 对话古筝演奏家毛丫：筝艺与日本 - 大龢论坛 - 中乐图鉴 . 2024-05-09 . www.zhongyuetujian.com.
22. Web site: 上海文化Talk｜上海市政协委员、上海民族乐团团长罗小慈：江南文化焕发新生靠的是打破惯性和世界格局 . 2024-05-09 . www.why.com.cn.
23. Web site: "似是故人来"·四季诗词引 刘颖古筝音乐会暨2023古筝邀请赛开启-演出_古筝新闻-古筝精品阅读-中国古筝网 . 2024-05-09 . m.guzheng.cn.
24. Book: 中国民族管弦乐学会编 . 乐谭.第七集，"新绎杯"杰出民乐演奏家（弹拨乐、打击乐）论评 . 2019-05-01 . Beijing Book Co. Inc. . 978-7-103-05637-0 . zh.
25. Book: 音乐, 舞蹈硏究 . 1995 . 中国人民大学书报资料社 . zh.
26. Web site: 古筝演奏技法的三次革命 . 2024-05-09 . guzhengw.cn.
27. Book: 馮志遠 . 學生音樂學習手冊 . 2011-01-01 . 遼海出版社 . zh.
28. Book: 林玲 . 古筝入门教材: 简谱版 . 2000 . 华乐出版社 . 978-7-80129-039-7 . zh.
29. Web site: 绣金匾随想曲古筝谱-赵曼琴古筝谱-古筝曲谱-中国古筝网 . 2024-05-09 . www.guzheng.cn.
30. Web site: 古筝考级曲谱（九级）《井冈山上太阳红》 国乐网 . 2024-05-09 . gz.bjguoyue.com.
31. Web site: 黄河魂 - 古筝名曲 - 大秦古筝网古筝网 . 2024-05-09 . www.guzhengw.cn.