This mode, which uses a lowered third string tuning, is also used for two melodies in Shen Qi Mi Pu but there it is called Man Jue Diao (Lowered Third Tuning) when it is used for the apparently ancient piece Dun Shi Cao, then Biyu Diao where it is used for the seemingly more recent Ba Ji You; Baji You is preceded by a modal prelude called Shenpin Biyu Yi.

The present huangzhong modal prelude seems to have been designed to go with the melody that follows it, Li Ling Si Han. However, whereas the tonal center of the modal prelude starts out variably but then goes solidy to do (1), with the secondary tonal center being sol (5), the tonal center throughout Li Ling Si Han is la (6), secondarily mi (3), at the end it changes to do, which is also the tonal center for the final harmonic coda.

This ambivalence between a 1 - 5 structure (compare Western major) and 6 - 3 (compare Western minor) is also found within some melodies using the tuning 1 3 5 6 1 2 3 , also sometimes called Huangzhong.

 
Original Preface

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Music (Listen to my recording 聽錄音)
One section; playing time: 1.01

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Huangzhong Yi
Elsewhere the name huangzhong is used for the tuning 1 3 5 6 1 2 3.
(Return)

2. From standard tuning lower the third string a half step. (Return)

Return to the annotated handbook list or to the Guqin ToC.