I chose Guan Pinghu’s performance of “Liushui” because I wanted to hear another piece played on the guqin after we listened to “Yangguang Sandie” in class. The guqin is a seven-string fretless zither that was traditionally associated with scholars and quiet, reflective music. In this solo performance, the plucked notes leave space for each sound to linger. I especially like listening for the sliding sounds between notes, which give the melody a different character from music with a steady beat. The title, “Flowing Water,” also gave me an image to keep in mind while listening. I chose this recording because its simple texture makes it easier to focus on the sound of the instrument itself.