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New York Qin and Calligraphy Salon Concert

– Dr. Mingmei Yip and Her Students

The Qin, the earliest Chinese string instrument had a special status – it was one of the five literary pursuits along with chess, poetry, calligraphy and painting. These were highly favored by the Chinese literati, and is now more popular than ever. This performance will be a tribute to Jin dynasty calligrapher Wang Xizi (303?-361?) whose Orchid Pavilion Preface is considered the greatest masterpiece in the history of Chinese calligraphy, thus bringing together these two art forms. One composition was written for this concert by New York Qin Cultural Salon host Dr. Mingmei Yip using Wang’s famous text as lyrics. The other composition was created by Taiwan’s famous pop singer Jay Chow, with original lyrics by Fang Wenshan. During this concert, there will also be   Orchid Pavilion Preface recitation, calligraphy display and tea tasting.  

Program:  

1. Peaceful Evening, from Hearing Heaven Pavilion Qin Handbook 1876, Qin: Mingyue Zhang
2. Lamenting Antiquity, from Yinyin Pavilion Qin Handbook 2000, Qin: Yi Qian
3. Drinking Spree, from Spiritual and Marvelous Mysterious Qin Handbook 1425,Qin: Xiaoning Wu
4. Brook Flowing over Rocks, from Compendium of Qin Studies 1910-1923, Qin: Ashley Li
5. Paulownia Leaves Dancing in the Autumnal Wind , from Spring Grass Pavilion Qin Handbook（1744）,  Qin: Bin Ma                                                                                                               Intermission
6. Evening Song of the Drunken Fisherman, from Yinyin Pavilion Qin Handbook 2000 , Qin: Ruomeng Cui
7. Three Variations of the Plum Blossoms, from Spring Grass Pavilion Qin Handbook , Qin: Xiaoxiao Zhang
8. Evening Cry of the Crow, from Spiritual and Marvelous Mysterious Qin Handbook 1425，Qin: Mingmei Yip
9. Flowing Water, from Hearing Heaven Pavilion Qin Handbook 1876,Qin: Mingmei Yip
10. Orchid Pavilion Preface,composed by Mingmei Yip 2017,Qin and singing: Mingmei Yip, recitation: Xiaonan Chu
11. Orchid Pavilion Preface, composed by Jay Chow, lyrics by Fang Wenshan, arranged for the qin by Zhao Xiaoxia. Qin: Ruomeng Cui, singing: Mingmei Yip, Ashley Li, Haodan Tan, Xi Siwen and audience.

Mingmei Yip, PhD in musicology from the University of Paris (Sorbonne) on a scholarship from the French Government. A master performer on the Qin, she has given lectures and performances at venues such as Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, New York Philharmonic, Columbia University, Oxford University, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Beijing University, the University of Paris, Amsterdam University, Oberlin Conservatory, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the China Institute in New York. Mingmei has served as consultant for Beijing’s Chinese Qin Association, director for Chinese Kun Opera and Guqin Research Association, artistic consultant for New York Cultural Art Association, as well as on the academic board of the Chengdu International Qin Conference.

Also a writer, Mingmei’s literary career began at fourteen when her essay about art was published in a literary magazine.  She has published fourteen books, with two on the qin. Her latest being her 7th novel The Witch’s Market (Kensington Books) which received a glowing review from the New York Times and her 2nd children’s book Grandma Panda’s China Storybook  (Tuttle Publishing, 2014) which she both wrote and illustrated. She wrote columns for seven major newspapers and has appeared on over 50 TV and radio programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and the United States. Her poems were published and performed in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the U.S.

Mingmei is also accomplished as a painter and calligrapher. A one-person show of her paintings of Guan Yin (the Chinese Goddess of Compassion) and calligraphy was held at the New York Open Center Gallery in SoHo in 2002. This exhibit was the subject of a full hour special program on CHN cable in New Jersey.

Mingmei was a professor of music in Hong Kong, and in 2005, an International Institute of Asian Studies fellow in Holland. She has taught qin playing and calligraphy at two major Hong Kong Universities.

Books on the Qin by Mingmei Yip: 

Guqin Music and Art, Commercial Press

Guqin Music and Chinese Culture, Chonghua Bookstore

Qin: Musical Transmission of the Dao (chapter), Oxford University Press

Contact Mingmei at: mingmeiyip@aol.com

Mingmei’s website: www.mingmeiyip.com