Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) CMTA Collection 琵琶
美国华人博物馆（MOCA）中国音乐剧社（CMTA）馆藏
The pipa is a pear-shaped, fretted Chinese lute, dating as far back as 200 BCE. According to a Han dynasty text, the name refers to how the pipa was played – “pí” (琵) signifies striking outward with the fingers and thumb, contrary to a guitar, and “pá” (琶) signifies the plucking inward. While a variety of plucked instruments may have been referred to generally as “pipa” during the Qin Dynasty, the pear-shaped pipa has remained one of the most popular and long-lasting traditional Chinese instruments, with a large repertoire of solo and ensemble scores and various schools of practice. The pipa is not only a staple of Chinese traditional music like Cantonese opera, but has been adopted by contemporary Chinese and Western composers alike. It has been used by Tan Dun in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and rock musicians like Incubus and Björk. Modern players can even enjoy playing the electric pipa. MOCA’s Chinese Musical Theatrical Association (CMTA) Collection includes a number of rare musical instruments such as this one, among other costumes, photographs, props, and related documents.
琵琶是一种梨形的、指板上有定音档子中国拨弦乐器，它的历史可以追溯到公元前200年。根据汉代资料考证，琵琶的名字来源于它的演奏方式----“pí” (琵)意味着用手指和大拇指向外击打，与吉他相反；“pá” (琶)的意思是向内拨动（琴弦）。虽然在秦朝，各种弹拨弦乐器通常都被统称为“琵琶”，但是这种梨形的琵琶最终成为了最受欢迎和流传最久的传统中国乐器之一，拥有大量的独奏和合奏曲目，以及各种演奏流派。琵琶不仅是粤剧等中国传统音乐的重要组成部分，而且被当代中国和西方的作曲家所采用。谭盾曾在《卧虎藏龙》中使用过它，摇滚乐团或乐手像Incubus乐团和Björk也都曾在作品中使用过它。现代演奏者甚至十分享受演奏电子琵琶的乐趣。MOCA的中国音乐剧社（CMTA）馆藏包括许多罕见的乐器，包括这件琵琶，另外还有戏服、照片、舞台道具和其他相关文件等。
Countdown to the TCS NYC Marathon on November 3, 2019: 216 Days.
2019年是美国第一条横贯大陆铁路建成150周年，为了纪念第一批华人来美建设这条铁路所做出的巨大贡献， MOCA将其2019 TCS NYC Marathon的活动命名为 MOCA Spike 150 – Running Forward With Our Stories！ 鼓励大家通过马拉松公益跑，全国线上接力，以及一天一个故事的方式讲述150个华人的历史故事，敬请大家持续关注， 讲出华人自己的故事，回顾过去，立足现在，展望未来，共同书写美国历史，使之更加充实完整。