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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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