Interpreting Narrative in Ping Hu School Pipa Repertoire: Analysis of Ping Sha Luo Yan

In music performance, practice-led research emphasizes the generation of new knowledge through artistic practice. Since the latter half of the 20th century, music narrative has emerged as a significant analytical approach. Within this paradigm, the interpretation and performance of traditional Chinese pipa narrative works allow audiences to engage with their cultural and stylistic characteristics through representational narrative discourse. This deepens the understanding of Ping Hu School music and reshapes audience perceptions. This article focuses on one representative piece of the Ping Hu School, Ping Sha Luo Yan (《平沙落雁》). Through a narrative lens, the study analyzes the work’s structure, emotional content, and expressive intent from both analytical and performative perspectives. The article further explores how performance techniques and interpretative strategies can effectively convey the literary and artistic essence of the music. By positioning performance as both research and expression, this study offers a new perspective on understanding the storytelling and humanistic qualities of Ping Sha Luo Yan. Ultimately, it contributes to evolving performance-based research methods and enhances performer–audience engagement through informed interpretation.