In my second lesson with Lui Laoshi on April 29, 2012, he gave me two more pieces.
The first piece is 古琴吟, also known as 相思曲, which is supposed to allow practice of accurate finger sliding positions for the left hand. The ethereal harmonics at the beginning and end of the song calls up the ghost story related to the famous poet, Su Dongpo (1097–1100 AD). While by Hangzhou’s West Lake, he hears a woman playing outside his window one evening, singing the lyrics of this song. When he looks, he sees the young woman disappear under the wall. At daybreak, he digs underneath to find an old guqin. The earliest record of this piece dates from 1573.
Lyrics for 古琴吟:
音音音，恁負心，真負心。
辜負俺，辜負俺，到如今。
記得當初，低低唱，淺淺斟，一曲值千金。
如今撇我在古牆陰。
秋風蓑草白雲深，流水高山何處尋？
悲悲切切，冷冷清清，叫人怎禁。
The next piece is 秋風詞. This piece depicts the autumn breeze and bright fall moon, falling leaves being scattered by the wind, love, and memories. The first verse is borrowed from the poet, Li Bai 李白 (701–762 AD). The poem is titled 三五七言, or Verses of Three, Five, and Seven Characters.
Lyrics for 秋風詞:
秋風清，秋月明。
落葉聚還散，寒鴉樓復驚。
相親相見知何日，此時此夜難為情。
入我相思門，知我相思苦。
長相思兮長相憶。
短相思兮無盡致。
早知如此絆人心。
何如當初莫相識。
