For more information see Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature.²

For its yu mode melodies Shen Qi Mi Pu has a modal prelude followed by two melodies, as follows:

For all three the main note is yu (6 [la, the open second string]) and the secondary note is jiao (3 [mi, the open fifth string]), giving it characteristics somewhat like those of the Western minor scale. The modal prelude seems to be particularly connected to Zhi Zhao Fei; its tonal center sometimes shifts to do (1), but it ends on la (6). Wu Ye Ti also gives some prominence to the note do.

All three are also in the yu mode section of Zheyin Shizi Qinpu, where they are rather different from their versions in SQMP. Particularly notable is the fact that at the very end the two titled melodies suddenly "modulate" to end on 1 (do). Ming dynasty yu mode pieces do seem often to shift their tonal center from 6 to 1, but they rarely end on 1: this is more of a characteristic of non-standard tuning modes such as guxian. (See, however, comments on Ping Sha Luo Yan.)

The Shen Qi Mi Pu Folio I melody Gufeng Cao, though there listed as in gong mode, seems to fit yu mode best.

Note also the footnote Zhi Mode in Weibin Yin.

Other melodies in yu mode published in the Ming dynasty include the following:³

The character yu means feather. It will be noticed that the theme of many of the melodies in this mode deal with flying creatures, whether they be birds or immortals (often known as yuren "feather men").

 
No original preface ⁴

 
Music
One section

(01.11) -- harmonics
(01.22) -- Modal prelude ends

Return to the Shen Qi Mi Pu ToC or to the Guqin ToC.

 
Footnotes (Shorthand references are explained on a separate page)

1. Celestial Air Defining Yu Mode (神品羽意 Shenpin Yu Yi)
29245.95 羽調 yu diao says 南曲之調 "a mode for southern melodies". "羽 Yu" literally means "feather".
(Return)

2. Modes
For more on mode see Modality in Early Ming Qin Tablature.
(Return)

3. Melodies in Yu mode published in Ming dynasty
Chinese titles are 佩蘭，春曉吟，鶴舞洞天，瑤天笙鶴，春思，伯牙弔子期。
Return)

4. Preface for Yu modal prelude
Although SQMP modal preludes have no prefaces, those in Zheyin (which all have identical music) do. The preface to the yu modal prelude in Zheyin is as follows:
（羽意）﹕希仙曰，
考之羽數四十有八聲，陰中之陰，最清也。 位於五弦專之，而為羽調。有清爽之音。
The meaning of Yu (mode): (not yet translated)
(Return)

Return to the Shen Qi Mi Pu ToC or to the Guqin ToC.