Zither Songs

Among the uneven-line lyrics of entertainment music from the Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties, nearly fifty are lyrics composed for zither melodies. These pieces emerged during a period when the relationship between zither music and poetry was at its closest and when all forms of music were undergoing profound transformations. With their distinctive vocal performance techniques, they developed a unique literary style; while drawing heavily on the musical-literary traditions of earlier periods, they also exerted a significant influence on later song lyrics. As such, they represent an important path through which Tang uneven-line lyrics came into being.