Shop:
Shen Yun Creations
Artist Fashion
Shen Yun Collections
Shen Yun Performing Arts
  • The Performance
    9 Characteristics of Shen Yun
    Classical Chinese Dance
  • The Company
    Our Story
    Artists
    Challenges We Face
    About Shen Yun
    Performing Arts
    Symphony Orchestra
    Press Releases
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Blog
  • 5,000 Years
    Chinese Dance
    Music
    Vocal Music
    Shen Yun Costumes
    Digital Projection
    Shen Yun Props
    Stories and History
    Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
  • FAQ
  • Newsletter Support Employment Search
    English
  • 中文正體
  • 中文简体
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Français
  • Indonesia
  • Italiano
  • Nederlands
  • Polski
  • Português
  • Pусский
  • Svenska
  • Việt
  • עברית
  • Buy Tickets What's New
    Menu
    Shen Yun Logo
    Tickets
    What’s New
    Menu
    • The Performance
      • 9 Characteristics of Shen Yun
      • Classical Chinese Dance
    • The Company
      • The Company
      • Our Story
      • Artists
      • Challenges We Face
      • About Shen Yun
        Performing Arts
      • Symphony Orchestra
      • Press Releases
    • Videos
    • Reviews
    • News
    • Blog
    • 5,000 Years
      • 5,000 Years
      • Chinese Dance
      • Music
      • Vocal Music
      • Shen Yun Costumes
      • Digital Projection
      • Shen Yun Props
      • Stories and History
      • Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
    • FAQ
    • Shop
      • Shen Yun Creations
      • Artist Fashion
      • Shen Yun Gift Shop
    Shen Yun 9 Characteristics Link Image

    What Makes Us Unique?

    DISCOVER THE 9 CHARACTERISTICS
    • Employment
    • Support
    • Subscribe
    • Search
    Language
    • 中文正體
    • 中文简体
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Česky
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Indonesia
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Pусский
    • Svenska
    • Việt
    • עברית
      News
      Back News > Behind the Notes: Poets of the Orchid Pavilion

    Behind the Notes: Poets of the Orchid Pavilion

    Trekking up the mountains of southern China, not far from the picturesque coastal city of Hangzhou, our attention is arrested by the sounds of the ancient gu qin. This seven-stringed zither was the favorite of ancient Chinese scholars, honored for its humble, yet expressive tones.

    These sounds are featured in Shen Yun’s original composition Poets of the Orchid Pavilion, which is presented during this fall’s Symphony Orchestra concert tour. The music, originally written for the dance production, has been reorchestrated and is separated from dance and costumes to spark the imagination and create a mesmerizing experience.

    Music of the Scholars

    As a dance piece, Poets of the Orchid Pavilion expresses the beauty of Chinese calligraphy and poetry, as well as the strength and unparalleled grace of the creative mind. In the year 353, a group of scholars gathered at the Orchid Pavilion on Mt. Huai to share in convivial drink and play. Competing to outwit each other with lilting verse, the group created some of the most celebrated works of Chinese literature.

    In exploring the music, one can go beyond the poetic drinking party to a general celebration of scholarly reflection. In particular, the andante section is replete with sounds imitating the qin, an ancient plucked zither. The forerunner of many Chinese instruments that emerged later, it was critical to the development of plucked music throughout East Asia.

    Also called “the father of music,” the gu qin enjoys status as the scholar’s instrument along with the vertical bamboo flute, or xiao. These ancient instruments are masters of subtlety. Neither are loud. Gu qin music is known for being slow, deep, and contemplative.

    Because of its reserved nature, combining the gu qin with a symphony orchestra would be an exercise in futility. Instead, Shen Yun composers adapt pipa technique and lower strings to imitate the slides, harmonics, and stylish vibrato of the gu qin, while retaining the resonance needed for a symphonic setting.

    The most personal and introspective music in this piece is a reflection of the minds of the scholars. Poets of the Orchid Pavilion pays homage to what it once meant to be an intellectual in China.

    * * *

    Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra presents classical music from the Chinese tradition. This October, it is performing at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and several other venues across North America. Click here for calendar and tickets.

    RELATED CONTENT
    • Notes Thumb
      Behind the Notes: The Mystical Udumbara
    • Moosically Challenges Playinglutetoacow Thumb
      Moo-sically Challenged?

    Previous

    Symphony Tour Photos of the Week 1

    Next

    Dance Competition 101
    Most Recent
    • Shen Yun Creations: Transcending Persecution
    • Artist Spotlight: Chad Chen
    • Photos from Tour: Sunshine and Rainbows
    • Q&A with Dancer Seongho Cha
    • Photos from Tour: Exploring the Swiss Alps
    • Artist Spotlight: Elsie Shi
    • See You on the Flip Side
    • Q&A with Soprano Rachael Bastick
    • Photos from Tour: Down Under and Across the Pond
    • Artist Spotlight: Roy Chen
    Most Popular
    • All
    • News
    • Blog
  • 1 Artist Spotlight: Tiffany Lin
  • 2 Feature Article: Principal Dancer Marilyn Yang
  • 3 Artist Spotlight: Elsie Shi
  • 4 Artist Spotlight: Chad Chen
  • 5 Photos from Tour: Flying High in the U.S. and Europe
  • 6 Photos from Tour: Exploring the Swiss Alps
  • 7 Artist Spotlight: Roy Chen
  • 8 The Audience and Us
  • 9 Photos from Tour: Sunshine and Rainbows
  • 10 Photos from Tour: Down Under and Across the Pond
  • Show More
  • 1 Artist Spotlight: Tiffany Lin
  • 2 Feature Article: Principal Dancer Marilyn Yang
  • 3 Artist Spotlight: Elsie Shi
  • 4 Artist Spotlight: Chad Chen
  • 5 Photos from Tour: Flying High in the U.S. and Europe
  • 6 Photos from Tour: Exploring the Swiss Alps
  • 7 Artist Spotlight: Roy Chen
  • 8 The Audience and Us
  • 9 Photos from Tour: Sunshine and Rainbows
  • 10 Photos from Tour: Down Under and Across the Pond
  • Show More
    Show More
      Shen Yun logo golden
      Shen Yun logo golden

      Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world's premier classical Chinese dance and music company, established in New York in 2006. It performs classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, and story-based dance, with orchestral accompaniment and solo performers. For 5,000 years, divine culture flourished in the land of China. Through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is reviving this glorious culture. Shen Yun, or 神韻, can be translated as: “The beauty of divine beings dancing.”

      About
    • Shen Yun Performing Arts
    • Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra
    • Challenges We Face
    • Shen Yun & Spirituality
    • Meet the Artists
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Press Releases
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Videos
    • Latest & Featured
    • About Shen Yun
    • Meet the Artists
    • Reviews
    • News & Blog
    • News & Reviews
    • Featured
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Explore
    • Chinese Dance
    • Music
    • Vocal Music
    • Shen Yun Costumes
    • Digital Projection
    • Shen Yun Props
    • Stories and History
    • Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
    • Shen Yun Creations
      Artist Fashion
      Shen Yun Collections
      Friends of Shen Yun
      Tian Yin Music Store
      Guestbook
    • Support
    • Subscribe
    Shen Yun Performing Arts Official Website Artist Fashion Shen Yun Collections Friends of Shen Yun Copyright ©2022 Shen Yun Performing Arts. All Rights Reserved.
    Contact us Terms Privacy Site map