| As usual, I had an audience when I made this
drawing. In this case it was one of the older waitresses. She got agitated
when I drew the piba, and pointed at the neck of the instrument, where
the two short rods penetrate it. I had drawn them symmetrical, centered,
and the same length. She got me to take a closer look and I saw this was
a mistake. So, to her satisfaction, I erased the rods and redrew them asymmetrical,
non-centered and different sizes (slightly). When he was done, Pu Chen
Qing was kind enough to write his name down on the drawing so I wouldn't
forget who I had been drawing. I like the music from these instruments.
Whenever I hear a snatch of this music, I am immediately transported in
memory to these six stressful weeks spent in Suzhou. |
