Guan Pinghu (4 March 1897 – 28 March 1967), was a leading player of theguqin (古琴), a Chinese 7-string bridgeless zither. Born inSuzhou,Jiangsu, Guan came from an artistic family, and started to learn theguqin from his father, Guan Nianci. After the death of his father when he was thirteen, Guan continued with his father's friend Ye Shimeng and Zhang Xiangtao. He also studied with the leading players of three different schools; Yang Zongji (1865–1933), the leading player in Beijing, the Daoist Qin Heming, and the Buddhist monk Wucheng.

Before 1949, Guan did some teaching at theYenching University, but had most of his meager income from selling paintings and repairing old musical instruments and furniture.

In 1952, he became a teacher and assistant researcher at theZhongyang Yinyue Xueyuan (Central Conservatory of Music) and a leading force at theBeijing Guqin Yanjiuhui (Beijing Guqin Research Institute), both inBeijing. He also recreated and performed many pieces, includingGuangling San (《廣陵散》),Youlan (《碣石調幽蘭》- Secluded Orchid), andHujia Shiba Pai (《胡笳十八拍》 – Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute), that only existed as notation through a process known asdapu (打譜).^[1] These pieces have become part of the core repertory ofguqin music. Though he trained few prominent students, Guan's numerous recordings – notable for their austerity, subtlety, and bold presentation – have exerted wide and continuing influence.

In 1977, a recording of "Liu Shui" (流水; Stream), as performed by Guan, was chosen to be included in theVoyager Golden Record, a gold-plated LP recording containing music from around the world, which was sent into outer space byNASA on theVoyager 1 andVoyager 2 spacecraft. It is the second-longest excerpt included on the disc (lasting seven minutes and 37 seconds) and the only excerpt of Chinese music.

Please see:References section in the guqin article for a full list of references used in all qin related articles.

• New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, second edition, edited by Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (London, 2001).

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