Bamboo from the southern hills was used to make this pipe.
And its music, that was introduced from Persia first of all,
Has taken on new magic through later use in China.
And now the Tartar from Liang-chou, blowing it for me,
Drawing a sigh from whosoever hears it,
Is bringing to a wanderer's eyes homesick tears.
Many like to listen; but few understand.
To and fro at will there's a long wind flying,
Dry mulberry-trees, old cypresses, trembling in its chill.
There are nine baby phrenixes, outcrying one another;
A dragon and a tiger spring up at the same moment;
Then in a hundred waterfalls ten thousand songs of autumn
Are suddenly changing to The Yu-yang Lament;
And when yellow clouds grow thin and the white sun darkens,
They are changing still again to Spring in the Willow-Trees.
Like Imperial Garden flowers, brightening the eye with beauty,
Are the high-hall candles we have lighted this cold night,
And with every cup of wine goes another round of music.
Original Poem:
「听安万善吹觱篥歌」
李颀
南山截竹为觱篥，此乐本自龟兹出。
流传汉地曲转奇，凉州胡人为我吹。
傍邻闻者多叹息，远客思乡皆泪垂。
世人解听不解赏，长飙风中自来往。
枯桑老柏寒飕飗，九雏鸣凤乱啾啾。
龙吟虎啸一时发，万籁百泉相与秋。
忽然更作《渔阳掺》，黄云萧条白日暗。
变调如闻杨柳春，上林繁花照眼新。
岁夜高堂列明烛，美酒一杯声一曲。
Interpretation:
This poem mainly expresses the musician’s superior playing skills, and at the same time shows his own accurate understanding of the song he played.
The first part of the poem explains that although this piece of music is from the northern ethnic minorities, it has been spreading in the Han Dynasty, and that the song has become more complicated and difficult to play, showing the emotional effect of the listener’s “sighing” and “drooping tears”. “The song has been in circulation since then. However, the tone changes to say that although the listeners find the music beautiful and melodious, and are inevitably sad and emotional, they never really understand the beauty of the musician’s performance. So the musician only seems to be like the wind travelling between the earthly worlds, looking for an interpreter.
The second half of the poet’s accurate grasp of the musician’s song, he is the musician of a confidant, simply the only confidant, the song first suppressed and then raised, first played the wild and tragic sound, and then there is an important change of key, change of key, and then suddenly see the spring sunshine and beautiful, flowers like brocade! The fact that a piece of music can be played in multiple realms is the mastery of the musician. The final couplet is about his own distinctive level of appreciation, resulting in his satisfaction and love for the musician’s music.
This poem uses the technique of contrast. Neighbours and people far away from him are the contrast to his own high level of appreciation. Although they can be moved by it, they only know what it is but not why. This further highlights his own strong understanding, and also indirectly illustrates that it is difficult to find a soulmate in the world.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
