Liang Xiao Yin is one of the most widely transmitted pieces in the guqin repertoire — first appearing in the Songxian Guan Qin Score, it has since been collected in more than thirty qin anthologies across the centuries.
Transmitted by Xia Yifeng, this version is based on Mei Yueqiang's own teaching score. The piece is compact in scale but complete in spirit: its structure moves with clear logic — beginning, development, turn, and resolution — each transition unhurried and exact.
The fingering balances tension and release with precision: yin (vibrato), nian (pressing), chuo (plucking upward), and zhu (downward stroke) are deployed with restraint, giving the melody its characteristic quality of calm authority. Small in length, but harmonious and refined in tone — zheng in the classical sense: centered, correct, at ease with itself.
The Meiyan Qin Score notes at the end of the piece the words “yu huan ti” — indicating that this piece was traditionally performed in continuous repetition, cycling back to the beginning without pause. An evening piece meant to last as long as the evening lasts.
Recorded by Mei Yueqiang. Part of the ongoing series presenting his complete surviving recordings.
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