Thoughtfully crafted and a fun read I am always tracing the roots of sound always in process of my Mvskoke language recovery teachings and lessons all of our language is built on sound tone changing meanings- I have made all sorts of instruments from random objects- traditionally we use turtle shells filled with pebbles strapped on our calves for ceremony- it’s very crucial to understand the strongest sounds coming from which shells and turn those towards the fire -we circle in prayer usually overnight- really dug the article-
Thanks for this rich comment, that’s very interesting! I’m happy you enjoyed this read. Ancient Chinese divination methods also used turtle shells with fire — the cracking sound and lines on the shell were interpreted as the answer from gods.
An enchanting read! Thank you for teaching me about this piece of history. Your beautiful writing pulls me back in time. And including the music makes it so immersive. Thank you 🤎
What a wonderfully comprehensive tribute to the pipa, Lucia. So much knowledge, skill, history and culture packed into one instrument. The linked music is exquisite.
this is beautiful. the first one, the waves of lake kokonor, made me think of indigo nights and late seafood dinners outside restaurants in my country (I'm from turkey), but the second, Wang Zhao Jun was my favourite (I'm not sure why). it sounded like something I'd love to play on guitar (even though I'm almost entirely sure guitar is much easier). it also made me dream of a lot of old-school dancing from here. thank you for educating me, this is super interesting 🤍
i think what i was imagining was inspired by Zeybek. dates back to the 16th-century Ottoman Empire, the music is very different, but the dance itself is enthralling to watch and was a favorite of Atatürk. somehow my brain decided it could match some moves to the pipa music, i guess?
I had never thought about the music that must have played constantly along the silk roads!! I’m not a musical/auditory person (very much visual), and so I tend to think without auditory imagination when I think of the past… but this was such a wonderful dive into sound & history & restoring ancient traditions! 🥹🩷
Thank you for your kind words! That’s super interesting, it makes me think how layered our daily realities are and how much it takes to explore that historically… and yea the auditory aspect can be so fun, especially because we have such a different relationship to music and sounds now than even a couple of decades ago!
Another gorgeous essay from you, thank you! Initially, because my eyes are tired today, I read 'onomatopoetic' - wondered if that was a word, and if so, what a wonderful new addition to my poetic vocabulary. Then I checked and saw you had used the appropriate 'onomatopoeic' - BUT I now think onomatopoetic, if it existed, it would catch the essence of the pipa, from how you write about it, even more precisely!
Stunning instruments. I will save and refer back to this as the pipa comes back up in my travels. 🙏
Thoughtfully crafted and a fun read I am always tracing the roots of sound always in process of my Mvskoke language recovery teachings and lessons all of our language is built on sound tone changing meanings- I have made all sorts of instruments from random objects- traditionally we use turtle shells filled with pebbles strapped on our calves for ceremony- it’s very crucial to understand the strongest sounds coming from which shells and turn those towards the fire -we circle in prayer usually overnight- really dug the article-
Thanks for this rich comment, that’s very interesting! I’m happy you enjoyed this read. Ancient Chinese divination methods also used turtle shells with fire — the cracking sound and lines on the shell were interpreted as the answer from gods.
We use them for music to accompany prayer songs -the world is so interesting
An enchanting read! Thank you for teaching me about this piece of history. Your beautiful writing pulls me back in time. And including the music makes it so immersive. Thank you 🤎
thanks for the lovely comment and reading!
❤️❤️❤️
What a wonderfully comprehensive tribute to the pipa, Lucia. So much knowledge, skill, history and culture packed into one instrument. The linked music is exquisite.
Thank you Debbie! The whole album of Immeasurable Light is amazing, I’m glad you liked it!
this is beautiful. the first one, the waves of lake kokonor, made me think of indigo nights and late seafood dinners outside restaurants in my country (I'm from turkey), but the second, Wang Zhao Jun was my favourite (I'm not sure why). it sounded like something I'd love to play on guitar (even though I'm almost entirely sure guitar is much easier). it also made me dream of a lot of old-school dancing from here. thank you for educating me, this is super interesting 🤍
Thanks for reading & listening, I love the associations with the sea and old school dancing! Do you know what kind of dance that is?
i think what i was imagining was inspired by Zeybek. dates back to the 16th-century Ottoman Empire, the music is very different, but the dance itself is enthralling to watch and was a favorite of Atatürk. somehow my brain decided it could match some moves to the pipa music, i guess?
I had never thought about the music that must have played constantly along the silk roads!! I’m not a musical/auditory person (very much visual), and so I tend to think without auditory imagination when I think of the past… but this was such a wonderful dive into sound & history & restoring ancient traditions! 🥹🩷
Thank you for your kind words! That’s super interesting, it makes me think how layered our daily realities are and how much it takes to explore that historically… and yea the auditory aspect can be so fun, especially because we have such a different relationship to music and sounds now than even a couple of decades ago!
Another gorgeous essay from you, thank you! Initially, because my eyes are tired today, I read 'onomatopoetic' - wondered if that was a word, and if so, what a wonderful new addition to my poetic vocabulary. Then I checked and saw you had used the appropriate 'onomatopoeic' - BUT I now think onomatopoetic, if it existed, it would catch the essence of the pipa, from how you write about it, even more precisely!