  A simple model for QCD is presented, which is able to reproduce the meson
spectrum at low energy. The model is a Lipkin type model for quarks coupled to
gluons. The basic building blocks are pairs of quark-antiquarks coupled to a
definite flavor and spin. These pairs are coupled to pairs of gluons with spin
zero. The multiplicity problem, which dictates that a given experimental state
can be described in various manners, is removed when a particle-mixing
interaction is turned on. In this first paper of a series we concentrates on
the discussion of meson states at low energy, the so-called zero temperature
limit of the theory. The treatment of baryonic states is indicated, also.
