Guangling School Transmission · Composed by Mao Minzhong, Song Dynasty
Qiao Ge — Song of the Woodcutter — is one of the four great masterworks of the Guangling school, alongside Yu Ge (Fisherman's Song), Mo Zi Bei Si (Mozi's Lament), and Pei Lan (Orchid at the Belt). Among these four, Qiao Ge stands first.
The piece was composed by Mao Minzhong of the Southern Song dynasty, set in the shang mode, in thirteen sections. It appears earliest in the Ming dynasty collection Shen Qi Mi Pu (神奇秘谱), where the preface explains its origin: when Yuan forces entered Lin'an, Mao Minzhong found himself out of step with his times. Rather than serve, he chose to withdraw — composing this song to call like-minded men into the mountains, to live beyond the reach of the world.
The music moves through vast, unhurried passages of open strings and gliding tones, painting the image of a woodcutter striding through the forest, robe open to the wind, singing freely into the valley. The final section, "Drunk Dance Down the Mountain," begins slowly and builds — measure by measure — into something unrestrained and exhilarating, like long wind shaking the pines.
This recording was made by Mei Yueqiang (梅曰强), tenth-generation heir of the Jinling school and eleventh-generation master of the Guangling lineage. The piece was transmitted to him by Liu Shaochun (刘少椿), for whom Qiao Ge was a signature work. In the Guangling tradition, to play Qiao Ge well is to demonstrate that one has truly entered the school.
Recorded 1991 · China Conservatory of Music
For the best experience, we recommend listening with high-fidelity headphones or speakers.
For a deeper exploration of this piece, read: The Wind That Cannot Be Notated: Notes on Qiao Ge — a player's account of transcribing this masterwork, by William Xu.
For a deeper exploration of Mei Yueqiang's musical world, visit the Tasting Mei series.
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