听，那古老的清音，在她的波心开出一片竹林 | Guqin Song

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Guqin song (or qin song) has been part of the traditional ritual music culture in China. Legend has it that from the reigns of Emperor Yao and Shun, guqin and songs were inseparable. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the Tang dynasty and later in the Ming dynasty, guqin song witnessed three peak times, leaving behind loads of musical legacies.

琴歌，即抚琴而歌，是中国传统雅乐文化的一部分。传说从尧舜时代起，琴与歌就密不可分。在春秋战国、唐代和明代，琴歌经历了三个发展高峰，留下了大量的琴曲文献。

Li Qi, a poet of the Tang dynasty once wrote in his poem "Guqin Song": "At the first note, all else falls silent; no one talks, yet no star shines." He further thought about "Appointed as official here, far away from home; determined to retire, tonight off I go." The poem was all about his feelings of resigning and secluding. It proves that guqin songs have been an important part of the spiritual life of ancient literati.

唐代诗人李颀曾在《琴歌》一诗中以“一声已动物皆静，四座无言星欲稀”来描述琴歌之美，进而想到“清淮奉使千余里，敢告云山从此始”，表达自己辞官归隐、超然世外的心情。可见，琴歌是古代文人雅士精神生活的重要组成部分。

As time changes, guqin songs faded away from people's daily life. Since 1950s, however, some guqin players have worked hard to research the ancient pieces. They managed to recover some of the songs, giving it a hope to revive.

随着时代变迁，琴歌这种艺术形式逐渐淡出了人们的日常生活。20世纪50年代以来，一部分琴家在琴乐打谱方面进行了大量艰苦的工作，发掘并整理了一些琴歌，使得琴歌渐渐具有复苏之势。

Soprano and guqinsong singer He Yi learned ethnic vocal music in China Conservatory of Music, before she turned to German and Austrian songs and operas, and performed in the United States and in Europe. During her days abroad, she found herself strongly appealed by traditional Chinese music and culture.

女高音歌唱家、古琴琴歌歌唱家何怡曾在中国音乐学院学习民族声乐，之后转向德奥艺术歌曲和歌剧，并在美国和欧洲表演过歌剧。但是，旅居国外期间，她从心底对中国音乐和中国传统文化产生了强烈的渴求。

In 2012, HeYi began to study and explore the culture of guqin. "I was overwhelmed when I heard the sound of guqin for the first time." says HeYi, "at the very first note, I felt myself at far, far away."

于是，2012年，何怡开始潜心投入古琴的学习和探索中。“我第一次听到古琴的声音就被它彻底征服了，”何怡说，“就那么一个音，我马上感觉我能够到很悠远很悠远的地方去。”

Her research didn't go all the way smoothly though. "At first I tried ethnic vocal and bel canto, but neither sounded right with guqin. There were conflicts between the vocal and the instrument. I had a concept in my mind, but I couldn't express it precisely."

对琴歌的研究并不顺遂：“如果用民歌或者美声的方式唱，刚开始就不是那么和谐，总觉得它们在打架。我心里有一个音乐形象，但是我总没办法精确地把它表达出来。”

But she didn't give up: "I had to change the way I sang. So I played guqin, listened and tried to imitate the tones. I tried different rhythms and pronunciations. Every detail had to fit in."

但何怡并没有就此放弃：“后来还是要靠改变唱法。弹一下琴，听一听它是什么，然后模仿它。换不同的节奏组合，不同的咬字方式，一个细节一个细节地去磨合。”

In November,2015, He Yi published her first album: "Wind from the South – QinSong". The album collects both traditional and contemporary guqin music.Through her album and performances, she keeps improving and promoting the art of guqin songs.

2015年11月，何怡发布专辑《南熏·琴歌》。其中既有传统琴歌，也有现代创作的琴曲。通过专辑和演出，她逐渐改进和推广着琴歌这一艺术形式。

The songs also brought changes into He Yi's life. "Living with guqin songs, I slowed the paces down. And I don't care for gains and losses anymore. I could spend a lot of time reading, or enjoying a cup of tea. I don't want to become someone. This very moment is always the best. I'm just enjoying it."

琴歌也为何怡的生活带来了改变。“唱琴歌以后，慢慢生活节奏放慢了，得失心没那么重了。可以慢慢地看一本书，喝一杯茶。不去想成为什么人，此时此刻就挺好的。我享受它就好了。”

Cameraman: Li Wei, Wang Yusen

Film editor: Zhang Xiaomei, Ma Mingyuan

Story written by: Zhu Siqi

English editor: Keely Stanley

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