Events

The Guqin is a zither-like traditional Chinese instrument that has been used for generations. Long associated with the rich intellectual life of the ancient literati, mastery of the guqin was seen as part of the “Four Arts” required to become a scholar.

During this event, singer and Guqin player HE Yi will discuss the history and beauty of songs for the guqin and perform a selection for the audience. HE Yi will be joined by Wu Lin, an accomplished Konghou (Chinese harp) player and associate professor from the Central Conservatory of China.

A graduate from China’s premier music school, the China Conservatory in Beijing, Ms. HE Yi has toured and lectured extensively as a concert performer and scholar around the world. Her performances total over 1000, spanning Asia, Europe, and North America. She has also given lectures at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in China, Leiden University in the Netherlands among many other academic and art institutions.

He Yi and Wu Lin will hold a concert, Moonlight, at Merkin Concert Hall. See ticket information here. China Institute members will receive a 50% discount. Please contact [email protected] for more details.

琴歌，即抚琴而歌，是诗词与音乐相结合的艺术。琴歌是世界非物质文化遗产——古琴艺术的重要内容之一，其历史可追溯到4000年前。从上古时期《神人畅》《南风歌》，到春秋战国时期“诗三百零五篇，孔子皆弦歌之”；从唐代“以诗入乐，无诗不歌”，到两宋时期“为歌配琴，为琴曲配词”，再到明清“两代去文以存勾剔”，它代表了中国文人的审美意趣，是一种雅致的生活方式。

华美人文学会11月8日晚6时半至8时特邀中国当代古琴琴歌音乐家、女高音歌唱家何怡做题为“审琴歌之美”的讲座与演出。何怡现为中国国家大剧院艺术讲堂主讲人、美国费城圣约瑟夫大学艺术大使、中国古琴弦歌大会专家评委、北京民族乐团特邀领衔主演。何怡少年学习戏曲，毕业于中国音乐学院，之后在中国、荷兰、美国等出演了多部舞台戏剧女主角，2012年开始致力于研究琴歌艺术。她的艺术受中国国家艺术基金及敦和基金会支持，CCTV拍摄纪录片《中国女高音歌唱家何怡》，中国唱片总公司发行专辑《南熏琴歌》，荷兰莱顿大学等学术机构邀请她做专题讲座；她的演出足迹遍布全球多个国家地区，参演音乐会上千场，曾在中、美、德、法、荷等国家成功举办近百场独唱音乐会。她不仅从中国戏曲、民歌和古典音乐汲取了丰富的营养，而且通过专业学习深入了解西方音乐的特质，站在世界角度来演绎中国音乐之大美大善。

本次讲座何怡女士将从琴歌初印象、琴歌的历史、琴歌的流传与审美四个方面介绍中国文人音乐的典范——琴歌，并以现场弹唱的方式让到场听众领悟琴歌之美。