少息short rest
Pinyin: shǎo xī
Terms and marksA brief pause: let the previous note settle and take a breath before going on.
How it is played
Usually written at the end of a phrase or between groups of notes, asking for a short pause, shorter than da xi. Normally let the ring of the previous note settle and then begin the next phrase at leisure. The Ming Xilutang Qintong, discussing a repeat “from gou, twice”, splits the two passes into halves: the first ends evenly to close the preceding idea, and after a shao xi the second rises boldly, so shao xi also separates repeated figures and lets the second start afresh. The jianzi combines 少 with 自, the upper part of 息.
In the classical handbooks
少息也。略歇息也。Gist: Shao xi: a slight rest.
谱中有从勾二作者。必分为二段。先一作平其声。以结前段之意。少息后一作取声猛壮。Gist: Where the score says “from gou, twice”, it must be divided into two sections: the first pass evens out its sound to close the idea of the preceding section; after a short rest the second pass takes a fierce, strong sound.
候宜逗留。則將少息以俟之。候宜堅促。則用疾急以迎之。Gist: Where the moment calls for lingering, use a short rest to wait for it; where it calls for firmness and urgency, use speed to meet it.
Where sources disagree
Whether the sound stops completely during shao xi
- Only a slight rest; neither its length nor the handling of the ring is specified. Source: Qinxue Rumen (Introduction to Qin Studies), vol. 1, left-hand symbols(opens in a new window) · View the original page
- Wait until the previous note has died away completely and rest in silence a moment before starting again, like a singer stopping to hold the beat. Source: Ziyuantang Qinpu (text as recorded in the Guoqinwang technique database)(opens in a new window)
- During shao xi the stopping hand may stay still, the thumb hidden under the four fingers making a faint vibrato, so a subtle ring remains within the pause. Source: Wuzhizhai Qinpu (via the Daizhige excerpt of Wuzhizhai Qinpu)(opens in a new window)
Easily confused with
- 大息dà xī· long restDa xi is longer and usually closes a section or a large phrase; shao xi is a small pause within or at the end of a phrase.