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DigMandarin Community Forums Traditional Chinese Music Played With Pipa

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    • #316
      CaoJing
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      • #317
        CaoJing
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          There was a famous Chinese traditional poem which described how to play this traditional musical instrument Pipa (琵琶). 

          “轻拢慢捻抹复挑” (qīng lǒng màn niǎn mò fù tiǎo)

          Literally,
          轻:light
          慢:slow
          复:again, repeatedly 

          拢、抹、捻、挑 are four different playing ways. They indicate how your fingers play. 

          There are various translations to help you understand :

          • Lightly she pinches in the strings, slowly she strums and plucks them.(杨宪益、戴乃迭 译)
          • She lightly plucked, slowly stroked and twanged loud.(许渊冲 译)
          • Pressing, sliding, stroking, plucking.(张廷琛、魏博思 译)


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