When was the pipa invented

The few lines from this poem provide an elaborate and vivid description of the abundant timbre of the pipa , a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument.

Pipa is a Chinese version of the European lute, with a history of more than 2, years. Pipa made its first appearance in China during the Qin Dynasty BC , reached its peak of popularity in the Tang Dynasty , and then became an indispensable element of Chinese folk music.

It can be played in orchestras or as a solo instrument. In addition to poems and songs, pipa has also been featured in many Chinese paintings. A typical example is the Dunhuang murals in the Mogao Caves in western China which are a cultural treasure of the ancient Silk Road. On many of the thousand year-old murals, celestial dancers are depicted playing pipa , indicating that similar musical entertainment must have been offered to travelers on the Silk Road back in the days the murals were painted.

These murals reflect the cultural and historical importance of pipa as a musical instrument in ancient China. The famous pipa performer Wu Man makes her first appearance in the 19th Beijing International Musical Festival on October 18, , and together with other musicians creates a rich musical dialogue between western and eastern melodies.

Throughout its millennia of evolution, pipa has undergone continuous modifications in terms of its number of frets, the type of material it is made from, playing methods, and so on. With over 60, articles written by over 6, music scholars, Grove Music Online GMO is the authoritative resource for music research with an ongoing mission to chart the diverse history and cultures of music and musicians from around the globe.

The instrument was integrated into three distinct cultures. It can be made of several different materials.

The pipa has even been physically positioned in separate ways. The evolving models of the instrument to its changing popular usage show that the pipa has a long and rich history.

However, it is said to have originated in ancient Persia. Citation Moore, J. Thrasher, Alan R. Chinese Musical Instruments. New York: Oxford University Press, Additional Essays by J. Peng is excited to see Wu Man perform. It combines Western music, Chinese music, African music—very traditional things and very modern things together. Open one hour before each show. Purdue Convocations is proud to be in the Division of Student Life.

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