London Youlan Qin Society
Encyclopedia
The London Youlan Qin Society is a London
based qin society serving guqin
players in the UK. Of the three major qin societies of the West (the other two being the North American Guqin Association
and the New York Qin Society
), this society is the most informal and the most active in terms of regular events and yajis.
The Society began to adopt a constitution in 2011 and has begun to evolve into a more formal learned society.
and several guqin enthusiasts. According to the society's website, the society aims to "promote interest in and understanding of Chinese musical culture and philosophy, especially of the qin [...] in the UK." The society had existed before then in an inchoate form with a group of qin players having irregular yajis. Then in 2003, the group of players decided to create a more formal society, thereby creating Britain's first and only qin society.
The society is an off-shoot of the UK Chinese Ensemble
, also headed by Dr. Cheng, which includes the Silk String Quartet and other projects.
During 2010, it was decided that the Society will become more formal and adopt a new constitution in order to expand the Society's promotion as well as gain easier access to funding. A new committee was elected to support the Society's increased workload.
s as well as the occasional concert and the yearly guqin music summer school
in association with (before 2011) the Asian Music Circuit
at the Royal Academy of Music
, London.
Though it is primarily based in London, the society may hold meetings at other places in the UK for special occasions. One such meeting was held at Oxford University in 2004. On average, around 10 - 20 members attend for each meeting.
The summer school in London is the Society main event of the year, started in 2003. Each year, a qin master/player is invited to London to teach students for a week. So far, Prof. Li Xiangting, Gong Yi, Prof. Zeng Chengwei
and Dai Xiaolian have taught at the summer school, with Prof. Zeng becoming the most often. During the summer school, there is the main Society yaji/anniversary/Congregation event of the year, attended by the professor, members of the Society and guests. The summer school is the only of its kind outside China to offer yearly tutition from qin masters from China.
Since 2011, the Society has a more direct involvement with organising summer schools and workshops independent of the AMC.
The Society has an AGM in January every year and its meeting are mostly held at SOAS since 2011.
Membership is open to all who have an interest in music, particularly the music of the guqin, or are qin players/musicians. Members receive regular mailings via e-mail about the society's activities and important upcoming events. There is no formal requirement for members to attend any of the meetings or yajis but they must, beginning January 2011, pay a subscription fee.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
based qin society serving guqin
Guqin
The guqin is the modern name for a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family...
players in the UK. Of the three major qin societies of the West (the other two being the North American Guqin Association
North American Guqin Association
The North American Guqin Association is a guqin society based in the State of California, in the United States, which serves guqin players on the West Coast of the United States...
and the New York Qin Society
New York Qin Society
The New York Qin Society is a guqin society based in New York, New York in America, serving guqin players of East Coast of the United States. Of the three major qin societies of the West , this society is the most formally structured with a constitution statement and a more learned society approach...
), this society is the most informal and the most active in terms of regular events and yajis.
The Society began to adopt a constitution in 2011 and has begun to evolve into a more formal learned society.
History
The society was founded in 2003 by Dr. Cheng YuCheng Yu (musician)
Cheng Yu is a Chinese musician. She is internationally renowned as a performer of the pipa, a Chinese four-stringed lute, but also plays the guqin, a seven-stringed zither, and is a virtuoso, scholar and specialist of Chinese music....
and several guqin enthusiasts. According to the society's website, the society aims to "promote interest in and understanding of Chinese musical culture and philosophy, especially of the qin [...] in the UK." The society had existed before then in an inchoate form with a group of qin players having irregular yajis. Then in 2003, the group of players decided to create a more formal society, thereby creating Britain's first and only qin society.
The society is an off-shoot of the UK Chinese Ensemble
UK Chinese Ensemble
The UK Chinese Ensemble is an internationally recognised UK Chinese music ensemble that was founded in 1994 by Chinese virtuosi resident in Britain. The ensemble seeks to promote a wide variety of traditional repertoires as well as exploring contemporary styles...
, also headed by Dr. Cheng, which includes the Silk String Quartet and other projects.
During 2010, it was decided that the Society will become more formal and adopt a new constitution in order to expand the Society's promotion as well as gain easier access to funding. A new committee was elected to support the Society's increased workload.
Meetings and activities
The main activities the society holds are regular bi-monthly yajiYaji
A yaji is a special term meaning "elegant gathering". It describes a meeting of like-minded individuals and is mostly associated with the literati or intellectuals of Chinese artistic and cultural society...
s as well as the occasional concert and the yearly guqin music summer school
Summer school
Summer school is a school, or a program generally sponsored by a school or a school district, that teaches students during the summer vacation....
in association with (before 2011) the Asian Music Circuit
Asian Music Circuit
The Asian Music Circuit is a UK-based organisation based which produces tours and concerts internationally, holds educational and outreach events in the UK and works generally to promote the music of Asia. Registered in Hemel Hempstead, its office and museum are based in West London...
at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
, London.
Though it is primarily based in London, the society may hold meetings at other places in the UK for special occasions. One such meeting was held at Oxford University in 2004. On average, around 10 - 20 members attend for each meeting.
The summer school in London is the Society main event of the year, started in 2003. Each year, a qin master/player is invited to London to teach students for a week. So far, Prof. Li Xiangting, Gong Yi, Prof. Zeng Chengwei
Zeng Chengwei
Zeng Chengwei is a Chinese musician of the guqin, born in the Sichuan province of China. He is a sixth-generation transmitter of the Shu school of qin music, having studied with his maternal grandfather, Yu Shaoze. Zeng is also a gifted maker of the instrument.-Style:Zeng's style is fluid and yet...
and Dai Xiaolian have taught at the summer school, with Prof. Zeng becoming the most often. During the summer school, there is the main Society yaji/anniversary/Congregation event of the year, attended by the professor, members of the Society and guests. The summer school is the only of its kind outside China to offer yearly tutition from qin masters from China.
Since 2011, the Society has a more direct involvement with organising summer schools and workshops independent of the AMC.
The Society has an AGM in January every year and its meeting are mostly held at SOAS since 2011.
Membership
Before 2011, the society comprises two permanently elected officers, several artistic consultants and numerous ordinary members. Since 2011, a committee was set up consisting of three officers and three ordinary committee members with several advisors in addition to the ordinary membership.Membership is open to all who have an interest in music, particularly the music of the guqin, or are qin players/musicians. Members receive regular mailings via e-mail about the society's activities and important upcoming events. There is no formal requirement for members to attend any of the meetings or yajis but they must, beginning January 2011, pay a subscription fee.
Committee
Committee members are elected every three years.- President: Dr. Cheng Yu, MMus, PhD
- Secretary: Julian Joseph, BSc
- Treasurer: Shu Jun
- Ordinary Committee Member: Charles Rupert Tsua, BA, FGMS, FXKQS, FBS
- Ordinary Committee Member: Dennis Lee