Folk music

Folk music

Shanxi has a wide variety of folk songs and folk dances, which represent the flower of folk cultures and customs of Han nationality and are precious tourism resources.

 

Traditional folk songs

Shanxi is usually called “the ocean of folk songs”. There are tens of thousands of folk songs, which can be roughly divided into five categories: songs sung in the mountains and fields, labor chants, ditties, Yangge and operatic songs.

 

Songs Sung in the Mountains and Fields

This genre has different names in different areas, such as Shanqu (mountain songs), Kaihuadiao {Tunes of Flower} and Juanxipian, to name just a few.  These songs share some common features: first, they are short in form, many of which are couplet structure；second, the contents of the songs are of unsophisticated simplicity and are often sung extemporaneously. These songs can be sung at any time and anywhere without accompaniment. Due to the differences in terms of local dialect, tune and singing approach as well as places of popularity, various styles and characteristics are developed over the long course of history. Mountain songs are popular in some counties in northwest of Shanxi in the Loess Plateau area including Hequ, Baode, Pianguan, Wuzhai, Shenchi, Ningwu, Lanxian, Xingxian, Linxian, Lishi etc. Mountain songs in these places are sonorous, loud, clear, lingering, and smooth and are imbued with a strong rustic flavor. Songs in Hequ County are especially outstanding. For most mountain songs, the melodies of the upper and lower sentences are essentially the same, with only one difference in the last note. The melody is melodious; the tune is rich in content, while the lyric is concise, vivid, and poetic. The love songs of this genre are particularly moving.

 

Kaihuadiao (Tunes of Blossom) is a kind of rustic song popular in Zuoquan, Heshun and Wuxiang. The upper sentence of the lyric often uses “…is blooming” to introduce the atmosphere, while the lower sentence enunciates the theme. Kaihuadiao is mild and fresh. It features clear and neat rhythm, smooth, natural, and fresh melody, melodious and pleasant tune. The upper and lower sentences vary greatly but echo each other in a contrast structure.

 

Juanxipian is popular in Xinzhou county and Yanbei Prefecture (areas to the north of Yanmenguan pass). Its rhythm is steady, its tune is melodious and its melody is graceful, and it conveys a unique artistic style. The lyric often use parallel structure in every two sentences, which is very appropriate in the context.

 

Labor Chants

Labor chants are the songs sung during the process of work by the working people. With a strong rhythm, the lines are repeated again and again. Labor chants in Shanxi fall into two categories. The first group is Gongcheng Haozi (chants specific to ramming labors, which feature two tunes: Dahang Haozi and Dawo Haozi). This kind of labor chants are very popular, people can often hear them in the construction site. The second group is Chuanfu Haozi (also called Chuangong Haozi). It’s sung by the boatmen of the Yellow river. It is popular in counties along the Yellow river such as Hequ, Hejin and Ruicheng. Chuanfu Haozi includes four types, the boatmen switch to different chants as they punt, haul the boat or put up awnings. These chants usually have different tones and no fixed lyrics. Usually they are sung extemporaneously by the leader singer inspired by the environment around the singers. The main characteristics of them are that the rhythm is clear and powerful, the tone is pure and smooth, and the mood is optimistic and bold with distinctive regional characteristics and labor division.

 

Ditties (Xiaodiao)

Ditties, evolved from Xiaoqu in Ming and Qing Dynasties, can be sung freely anytime and anywhere. It can be found in every corner of the province. It’s rich in expressive force, theme, and in various formats. Shanxi ditties cover a wide spectrum of genres. There are graceful and melodious love songs, moving songs of narration, cheerful and light-hearted songs, weepy elegies, witty humorous songs, and also satirical songs criticizing the ugliness of the society. In brief, Shanxi ditties are inclusive, embracing music of all kinds of moods. The musical forms are various, with four-sentence strophic song as the basic form. In addition, two-sentence ditties with a combination of the upper and lower sentences account for a large proportion. Besides, there are structures such as two and a half-sentence, three-sentences, five-sentence, five and a half-sentence, and six-sentence. For most ditties, each line of the lyric consists of seven characters, the others have ten characters or five characters in each line, while some also use the combination of these three forms. Also a small number of ditties adopt the structure of Changduanju (a kind of classical poetry consisting chiefly of seven - character lines interspersed with shorter or longer ones). As the musical forms and lyrics of Shanxi ditties appear to be colorful, many of them spread widely throughout the country, such as Embroider the Love Purse, Embroider Festive Lantern, Playing on the Swing, New Year’s Greetings, Celebrating Lantern Festival, Mountains in Jiaocheng County, Watch Lanterns, A Shoulder Pole.

 

Yangge

Shanxi is known as the “the ocean of Yangge”. A Portion of Shanxi Yangge belongs to folk songs, which often have characters and stories, and are suitable to be performed in a small theatre. However, with the development of our times, these folk songs with fixed format and stories became singing and dancing operetta and then proceeded to a style of traditional opera, such as Qitai Yangge, Fenxiao Yangge, Qinyuan Yangge, Hequ Song-and-dance duet, and Zuoquan Xiaohuaxi (small lantern dance).
 

 

Operatic Songs

The operatic songs (Taoqu) combine several tunes to present a complete story according to the requirement of the opera . Representatives are Zunquan Daqiang, Xingxian Kunqu Opera and Lishi Playing and Singing etc.

 

New Folk Songs

In modern times, influenced by the political, economic and cultural factors, Shanxi folk songs were added new contents, thus the new folk songs came into being. Songs like Chant for Yihetuan Movement, Make Havoc Against Salt and Grain Tax and To Expropriate the Local Tyrants belong to this genre.

 

During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and China’s War of Liberation, a large number of new folk songs sprang up in the Anti-Japanese base areas and the liberated areas. Some of them sing the praises of the Communist Party of China and the people’s leaders, such as Singing Praises of the Communist Party of China, Words Fail to Express the Kindness of the Party, All Hearts Turn to Mao Zedong, General Zuoquan, Commander He Long Came Around My Home; some chant the revolution, such as The Great Campaign with One Hundred Regiments Involved , Great Victory of Huangyadong, Guerrilla War, Counter-operations Against the Enemy's Mopping-up etc.; some show the social life in wartime, such as Sending Husband to Join the Army, Sending Our Army to Go to the Front, Elimination of Traitors, Children Keeping Watch etc.; some present the production activity such as Launch the Great Production Movement, Reclaim Wasteland, Spinning Cotton into Yarn, Mutual Aid in Production, Mutual Aid is Good etc.; some sing the anti-feudalism struggle, such as Reduction of Rent and Interest Is Good, Giving Back the Land to the Poor Peasants, Free Marriage, Look for a Marriage Partner by Yourself, Arranging a Marriage by Parents Is Terrible, Get Rid of Superstition etc.; some sing in praise of the happy life in the liberated areas, such as Singing in Praise of the Liberated Areas for Ten times, Going to the Spare Time School for Adults, Electing a Village Head, Celebrating a Bumper Harvest, Celebrating the New Year etc.; and there are also songs exposing the cruelty of the enemy and showing the miserable life of the people, such as Flee from Calamity, Big Tragedy etc.

 

After 1949, people in Shanxi used the new folk songs they compiled to praise New China, praise Communist Party of China and praise the new life.

 

Traditional Opera

Shanxi province is the home of many traditional operas, thus got the name---- cradle of traditional opera. As early as Northern Song Dynasty, opera began to sprout in the south of Shanxi. For example, farce, song-dance drama, acrobatics and performances, puppet show, and shadow play, which are very popular among the people. In Zezhou (now Jincheng) at that time, there was a literate folk artist Kong Sanchuan, who created Zhugongdiao (a kind of ballad, popular in the Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties) based on Dangongdiao (single ballad) including Daqu in Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty and Guzici (a spoken art accompanied by drum beats). He used some legends and strange tales to compile Zhugongdiao libretto to perform in the pleasure quarters in Bianjing (now Kaifeng, the capital city of Song Dynasty). He enjoyed quite a reputation at that time. His efforts also made great contribution to the formation of Zaju (poetic drama set to music which is flourishing in Yuan Dynasty).

 

In Ming and Qing dynasties, opera performances were thriving in Shanxi. Many styles of traditional opera came into being, including:

 

Four Bangzi (wooden clapper opera)

Pu opera was the earliest of the four Bangzi which has the longest history and the most influence. Both the Middle Road Wooden Clapper Opera and the North Road Wooden Clapper Opera are derived from Pu opera. Due to its origination in Puzhou (now the area of Yongji) in the south part of Shanxi, it is also called Puzhou Bangzi or South Road Wooden Clapper Opera.  As the main style of opera in the south of Shanxi, its voice is sonorous, simple and bold. It is suitable to present impassioned, solemn and stirring heroic repertoire and is good at depicting the nature and emotion of the characters in sentimental repertoire. There are some traditional programs such as Xue Gang Oppose the Imperial Government, Orphan of the Zhao Family, Kill the Dog, Run to the Battlement of the Capital Wall etc. There are still some ancient drama show relics in Linfen, such as the Yuan Dynasty Stage in Wei village, Dongyang village stage and Wangqu Yuan Dynasty stage. Those stages represent the achievements of ancient operatic arts in China.

 

Jin opera is the so called Middle Road Wooden Clapper Opera. As a typical opera in Shanxi province, Jin opera together with North Road Wooden Clapper Opera, Shangdang Wooden Clapper Opera and Pu opera are known as the four Bangzi operas in Shanxi. It’s an art form of blending folk tunes, local Yangge and singing and storytelling art when Puzhou Bangzi was spreading to the middle area of Shanxi province. It retains the artistic features that its melody is sweet and smooth; its tune is graceful, mellow and gentle with clear narration. It boasts an intense regional flavor and a unique style. Traditional repertoires descended from the past are over 400, such as Weishui River, Beating Gold Twig, Golden Water Bridge. Since it’s usually performed in the central area of Shanxi, especially in Taiyuan and Jinzhong, it enjoys great popularity by people in the central area of Shanxi, thus it got the name Middle Road Wooden Clapper Opera.

 

North Road Wooden Clapper Opera came into being after the Pu opera troupes went to the north part to perform. In its development, it merged with the local dialect and folk music and finally turned into a new type of opera. It first appeared in the middle of 16th century, and later became mature during the reigns of emperor Jiaqing and emperor Daoguang in the early years of 19th century. Over 300 years, due to its vehement and masculine style with a flavor of frontier fortress, it enjoys the popularity in northern Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Zhangjiakou, Baotou and Huhehaote and wins the love of the people.

 

Shangdang Bangzi originated from the last years of Ming Dynasty. Its tune is loud, sonorous, clear, bold and simple, with various melodies and impressive sound effects. In performance, it’s powerful and sprightly, emphasizing on singing and reciting. Among the over 400 traditional repertoires, a large proportion of them take ancient heroes, loyal ministers and good generals, resisting aggression, and penalizing traitors as the themes. Many of them have strong patriotic emotion and positive significance. The most well-known repertoires are scripts telling the stories of the loyal generals of the Yang Family in Northern Song Dynasty  and the Yue Family in Southern Song Dynasty. The performances are vehement, moving and tragic.

 

Operetta

Traditional opera in Shanxi not only has a long history, but also has a large quantity of styles, in a way it can rank first in the country. For example, Saixi (also Saisai, a religious sacrificial performance) in the north of Shanxi, Luoguzaxi(opera mainly focuses on chant and recitation and uses gong and drum to accompany) in south of Shanxi, Duizixi(usually one or two couples of characters) in Southeast of Shanxi, Wanwanqiang in Xiaoyi, and some old styles that put some melodies together, such as Shua Hai’er, Daoqing, Xianqiang, Xianziqiang, Qingxi and Meihuxi. All of them fall into the genre of local operetta in Shanxi, corresponding to the four Bangzi. These operettas are regional. It requires small area to perform, in fixed format and simple voice, and the contents are closer to the local life, therefore attracting the love of the local people.

 

Statistics states that local operetta in Shanxi totaled 56, the largest number in the country. Divided according to the performing characteristics, they are Yangggexi, Daoqingxi, Singing and dancing, leather-silhouette show and puppet show.

 

Ynaggexi is the most abundant, almost accounting for half of the total number of operetta in Shanxi. It is a combination of local dances and folk songs. After a long-term of merging and permeation, it has received constant development and perfection. Typical styles are Qitai Yangge, Fenxiao Yangge, Qinyuan Yangge, Hequ Song-and-dance duet, “Zuoquan Xiaohuaxi (small lantern dance), which are mainly performed in Taiyuan, Jinzhong and Lvliang.

 

Daoqing chants Taoist scripture to advocate Taoist doctrines, with distinct local characteristics, which is mainly popular in northern Shanxi. It can be divided into Youyu Daoqing, Shenchi Daoqing, Daixian Daoqing and Yingxian Daoqing. It remains the musical structure of combined melody, like Zhugongdiao and southern and northern drama music, which combine different modes and tunes and reserve the old tradition. There are about a hundred Daoqing programs, which can be roughly divided into three types: The first group mainly reflects Taoist life and important Taoist figures, such as Stories of Han Xiangzi, The Story of Ten Taoist Figures Becoming immortal. Programs in this category are derived from librettos which serve to promote positive propaganda of Taoist doctrines. The second category are Taoists thoughts about cultivating virtues and persuading people to do good deeds and stories of folk life. Such plays like Three Saints and Four Persuasions are short and vivid with rich flavor of everyday life. The last category is historic story, such as Arbitration of the Case of Chen Shimei, Eight Martyrs, developed under the influence of the wooden clapper opera.

 

Leather-silhouette show is a kind of shadow play, which uses transparent leather of cow and donkey to carve the characters, mountains, flowers and birds and is performed by using lantern to project shadows on the screen. It is popular among the people for a long time in the history in many regions. It has two schools. The south school has Xinjiang, Quwo, Linfen and Yuncheng as the representatives. Due to the influence of the central and east school in Shaanxi province, the leather-silhouette figures are small and exquisite with fine carving skill, simple and lively colors and are highly decorative. The northern school is usually performed in Guangling, Lingqiu, Daixian and Hunyuan, influenced by the western school in Beijing, its leather-silhouette figures are plump in shape, the carving skill is careful and exquisite, with bright and beautiful color. Shanxi Leather-silhouette shows are mainly popular in Xiaoyi county in Lvliang district and Quwo, Houma in southern Shanxi.

 

Puppet show, according to the legend, originated from Han Dynasty, and was flourishing in late Qing Dynasty and the early years of the Republic of China. It has its origin in sacrificial puppet, and has two types in Shanxi, rod puppet and string puppet, mainly popular in Xiaoyi and Fushan. Some representative programs are The Tongtian River, Flaming Mountain, Beating the White Bone Demon for Three Times, Monkey King Borrows the Plantain Fan, Puppet Acrobatics etc.
 


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Folk music

Shanxi has a wide variety of folk songs and folk dances, which represent the flower of folk cultures and customs of Han nationality and are precious tourism resources.

 

Traditional folk songs

Shanxi is usually called “the ocean of folk songs”. There are tens of thousands of folk songs, which can be roughly divided into five categories: songs sung in the mountains and fields, labor chants, ditties, Yangge and operatic songs.

 

Songs Sung in the Mountains and Fields

This genre has different names in different areas, such as Shanqu (mountain songs), Kaihuadiao {Tunes of Flower} and Juanxipian, to name just a few.  These songs share some common features: first, they are short in form, many of which are couplet structure；second, the contents of the songs are of unsophisticated simplicity and are often sung extemporaneously. These songs can be sung at any time and anywhere without accompaniment. Due to the differences in terms of local dialect, tune and singing approach as well as places of popularity, various styles and characteristics are developed over the long course of history. Mountain songs are popular in some counties in northwest of Shanxi in the Loess Plateau area including Hequ, Baode, Pianguan, Wuzhai, Shenchi, Ningwu, Lanxian, Xingxian, Linxian, Lishi etc. Mountain songs in these places are sonorous, loud, clear, lingering, and smooth and are imbued with a strong rustic flavor. Songs in Hequ County are especially outstanding. For most mountain songs, the melodies of the upper and lower sentences are essentially the same, with only one difference in the last note. The melody is melodious; the tune is rich in content, while the lyric is concise, vivid, and poetic. The love songs of this genre are particularly moving.

 

Kaihuadiao (Tunes of Blossom) is a kind of rustic song popular in Zuoquan, Heshun and Wuxiang. The upper sentence of the lyric often uses “…is blooming” to introduce the atmosphere, while the lower sentence enunciates the theme. Kaihuadiao is mild and fresh. It features clear and neat rhythm, smooth, natural, and fresh melody, melodious and pleasant tune. The upper and lower sentences vary greatly but echo each other in a contrast structure.

 

Juanxipian is popular in Xinzhou county and Yanbei Prefecture (areas to the north of Yanmenguan pass). Its rhythm is steady, its tune is melodious and its melody is graceful, and it conveys a unique artistic style. The lyric often use parallel structure in every two sentences, which is very appropriate in the context.

 

Labor Chants

Labor chants are the songs sung during the process of work by the working people. With a strong rhythm, the lines are repeated again and again. Labor chants in Shanxi fall into two categories. The first group is Gongcheng Haozi (chants specific to ramming labors, which feature two tunes: Dahang Haozi and Dawo Haozi). This kind of labor chants are very popular, people can often hear them in the construction site. The second group is Chuanfu Haozi (also called Chuangong Haozi). It’s sung by the boatmen of the Yellow river. It is popular in counties along the Yellow river such as Hequ, Hejin and Ruicheng. Chuanfu Haozi includes four types, the boatmen switch to different chants as they punt, haul the boat or put up awnings. These chants usually have different tones and no fixed lyrics. Usually they are sung extemporaneously by the leader singer inspired by the environment around the singers. The main characteristics of them are that the rhythm is clear and powerful, the tone is pure and smooth, and the mood is optimistic and bold with distinctive regional characteristics and labor division.

 

Ditties (Xiaodiao)

Ditties, evolved from Xiaoqu in Ming and Qing Dynasties, can be sung freely anytime and anywhere. It can be found in every corner of the province. It’s rich in expressive force, theme, and in various formats. Shanxi ditties cover a wide spectrum of genres. There are graceful and melodious love songs, moving songs of narration, cheerful and light-hearted songs, weepy elegies, witty humorous songs, and also satirical songs criticizing the ugliness of the society. In brief, Shanxi ditties are inclusive, embracing music of all kinds of moods. The musical forms are various, with four-sentence strophic song as the basic form. In addition, two-sentence ditties with a combination of the upper and lower sentences account for a large proportion. Besides, there are structures such as two and a half-sentence, three-sentences, five-sentence, five and a half-sentence, and six-sentence. For most ditties, each line of the lyric consists of seven characters, the others have ten characters or five characters in each line, while some also use the combination of these three forms. Also a small number of ditties adopt the structure of Changduanju (a kind of classical poetry consisting chiefly of seven - character lines interspersed with shorter or longer ones). As the musical forms and lyrics of Shanxi ditties appear to be colorful, many of them spread widely throughout the country, such as Embroider the Love Purse, Embroider Festive Lantern, Playing on the Swing, New Year’s Greetings, Celebrating Lantern Festival, Mountains in Jiaocheng County, Watch Lanterns, A Shoulder Pole.

 

Yangge

Shanxi is known as the “the ocean of Yangge”. A Portion of Shanxi Yangge belongs to folk songs, which often have characters and stories, and are suitable to be performed in a small theatre. However, with the development of our times, these folk songs with fixed format and stories became singing and dancing operetta and then proceeded to a style of traditional opera, such as Qitai Yangge, Fenxiao Yangge, Qinyuan Yangge, Hequ Song-and-dance duet, and Zuoquan Xiaohuaxi (small lantern dance).
 

 

Operatic Songs

The operatic songs (Taoqu) combine several tunes to present a complete story according to the requirement of the opera . Representatives are Zunquan Daqiang, Xingxian Kunqu Opera and Lishi Playing and Singing etc.

 

New Folk Songs

In modern times, influenced by the political, economic and cultural factors, Shanxi folk songs were added new contents, thus the new folk songs came into being. Songs like Chant for Yihetuan Movement, Make Havoc Against Salt and Grain Tax and To Expropriate the Local Tyrants belong to this genre.

 

During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and China’s War of Liberation, a large number of new folk songs sprang up in the Anti-Japanese base areas and the liberated areas. Some of them sing the praises of the Communist Party of China and the people’s leaders, such as Singing Praises of the Communist Party of China, Words Fail to Express the Kindness of the Party, All Hearts Turn to Mao Zedong, General Zuoquan, Commander He Long Came Around My Home; some chant the revolution, such as The Great Campaign with One Hundred Regiments Involved , Great Victory of Huangyadong, Guerrilla War, Counter-operations Against the Enemy's Mopping-up etc.; some show the social life in wartime, such as Sending Husband to Join the Army, Sending Our Army to Go to the Front, Elimination of Traitors, Children Keeping Watch etc.; some present the production activity such as Launch the Great Production Movement, Reclaim Wasteland, Spinning Cotton into Yarn, Mutual Aid in Production, Mutual Aid is Good etc.; some sing the anti-feudalism struggle, such as Reduction of Rent and Interest Is Good, Giving Back the Land to the Poor Peasants, Free Marriage, Look for a Marriage Partner by Yourself, Arranging a Marriage by Parents Is Terrible, Get Rid of Superstition etc.; some sing in praise of the happy life in the liberated areas, such as Singing in Praise of the Liberated Areas for Ten times, Going to the Spare Time School for Adults, Electing a Village Head, Celebrating a Bumper Harvest, Celebrating the New Year etc.; and there are also songs exposing the cruelty of the enemy and showing the miserable life of the people, such as Flee from Calamity, Big Tragedy etc.

 

After 1949, people in Shanxi used the new folk songs they compiled to praise New China, praise Communist Party of China and praise the new life.

 

Traditional Opera

Shanxi province is the home of many traditional operas, thus got the name---- cradle of traditional opera. As early as Northern Song Dynasty, opera began to sprout in the south of Shanxi. For example, farce, song-dance drama, acrobatics and performances, puppet show, and shadow play, which are very popular among the people. In Zezhou (now Jincheng) at that time, there was a literate folk artist Kong Sanchuan, who created Zhugongdiao (a kind of ballad, popular in the Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties) based on Dangongdiao (single ballad) including Daqu in Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty and Guzici (a spoken art accompanied by drum beats). He used some legends and strange tales to compile Zhugongdiao libretto to perform in the pleasure quarters in Bianjing (now Kaifeng, the capital city of Song Dynasty). He enjoyed quite a reputation at that time. His efforts also made great contribution to the formation of Zaju (poetic drama set to music which is flourishing in Yuan Dynasty).

 

In Ming and Qing dynasties, opera performances were thriving in Shanxi. Many styles of traditional opera came into being, including:

 

Four Bangzi (wooden clapper opera)

Pu opera was the earliest of the four Bangzi which has the longest history and the most influence. Both the Middle Road Wooden Clapper Opera and the North Road Wooden Clapper Opera are derived from Pu opera. Due to its origination in Puzhou (now the area of Yongji) in the south part of Shanxi, it is also called Puzhou Bangzi or South Road Wooden Clapper Opera.  As the main style of opera in the south of Shanxi, its voice is sonorous, simple and bold. It is suitable to present impassioned, solemn and stirring heroic repertoire and is good at depicting the nature and emotion of the characters in sentimental repertoire. There are some traditional programs such as Xue Gang Oppose the Imperial Government, Orphan of the Zhao Family, Kill the Dog, Run to the Battlement of the Capital Wall etc. There are still some ancient drama show relics in Linfen, such as the Yuan Dynasty Stage in Wei village, Dongyang village stage and Wangqu Yuan Dynasty stage. Those stages represent the achievements of ancient operatic arts in China.

 

Jin opera is the so called Middle Road Wooden Clapper Opera. As a typical opera in Shanxi province, Jin opera together with North Road Wooden Clapper Opera, Shangdang Wooden Clapper Opera and Pu opera are known as the four Bangzi operas in Shanxi. It’s an art form of blending folk tunes, local Yangge and singing and storytelling art when Puzhou Bangzi was spreading to the middle area of Shanxi province. It retains the artistic features that its melody is sweet and smooth; its tune is graceful, mellow and gentle with clear narration. It boasts an intense regional flavor and a unique style. Traditional repertoires descended from the past are over 400, such as Weishui River, Beating Gold Twig, Golden Water Bridge. Since it’s usually performed in the central area of Shanxi, especially in Taiyuan and Jinzhong, it enjoys great popularity by people in the central area of Shanxi, thus it got the name Middle Road Wooden Clapper Opera.

 

North Road Wooden Clapper Opera came into being after the Pu opera troupes went to the north part to perform. In its development, it merged with the local dialect and folk music and finally turned into a new type of opera. It first appeared in the middle of 16th century, and later became mature during the reigns of emperor Jiaqing and emperor Daoguang in the early years of 19th century. Over 300 years, due to its vehement and masculine style with a flavor of frontier fortress, it enjoys the popularity in northern Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Zhangjiakou, Baotou and Huhehaote and wins the love of the people.

 

Shangdang Bangzi originated from the last years of Ming Dynasty. Its tune is loud, sonorous, clear, bold and simple, with various melodies and impressive sound effects. In performance, it’s powerful and sprightly, emphasizing on singing and reciting. Among the over 400 traditional repertoires, a large proportion of them take ancient heroes, loyal ministers and good generals, resisting aggression, and penalizing traitors as the themes. Many of them have strong patriotic emotion and positive significance. The most well-known repertoires are scripts telling the stories of the loyal generals of the Yang Family in Northern Song Dynasty  and the Yue Family in Southern Song Dynasty. The performances are vehement, moving and tragic.

 

Operetta

Traditional opera in Shanxi not only has a long history, but also has a large quantity of styles, in a way it can rank first in the country. For example, Saixi (also Saisai, a religious sacrificial performance) in the north of Shanxi, Luoguzaxi(opera mainly focuses on chant and recitation and uses gong and drum to accompany) in south of Shanxi, Duizixi(usually one or two couples of characters) in Southeast of Shanxi, Wanwanqiang in Xiaoyi, and some old styles that put some melodies together, such as Shua Hai’er, Daoqing, Xianqiang, Xianziqiang, Qingxi and Meihuxi. All of them fall into the genre of local operetta in Shanxi, corresponding to the four Bangzi. These operettas are regional. It requires small area to perform, in fixed format and simple voice, and the contents are closer to the local life, therefore attracting the love of the local people.

 

Statistics states that local operetta in Shanxi totaled 56, the largest number in the country. Divided according to the performing characteristics, they are Yangggexi, Daoqingxi, Singing and dancing, leather-silhouette show and puppet show.

 

Ynaggexi is the most abundant, almost accounting for half of the total number of operetta in Shanxi. It is a combination of local dances and folk songs. After a long-term of merging and permeation, it has received constant development and perfection. Typical styles are Qitai Yangge, Fenxiao Yangge, Qinyuan Yangge, Hequ Song-and-dance duet, “Zuoquan Xiaohuaxi (small lantern dance), which are mainly performed in Taiyuan, Jinzhong and Lvliang.

 

Daoqing chants Taoist scripture to advocate Taoist doctrines, with distinct local characteristics, which is mainly popular in northern Shanxi. It can be divided into Youyu Daoqing, Shenchi Daoqing, Daixian Daoqing and Yingxian Daoqing. It remains the musical structure of combined melody, like Zhugongdiao and southern and northern drama music, which combine different modes and tunes and reserve the old tradition. There are about a hundred Daoqing programs, which can be roughly divided into three types: The first group mainly reflects Taoist life and important Taoist figures, such as Stories of Han Xiangzi, The Story of Ten Taoist Figures Becoming immortal. Programs in this category are derived from librettos which serve to promote positive propaganda of Taoist doctrines. The second category are Taoists thoughts about cultivating virtues and persuading people to do good deeds and stories of folk life. Such plays like Three Saints and Four Persuasions are short and vivid with rich flavor of everyday life. The last category is historic story, such as Arbitration of the Case of Chen Shimei, Eight Martyrs, developed under the influence of the wooden clapper opera.

 

Leather-silhouette show is a kind of shadow play, which uses transparent leather of cow and donkey to carve the characters, mountains, flowers and birds and is performed by using lantern to project shadows on the screen. It is popular among the people for a long time in the history in many regions. It has two schools. The south school has Xinjiang, Quwo, Linfen and Yuncheng as the representatives. Due to the influence of the central and east school in Shaanxi province, the leather-silhouette figures are small and exquisite with fine carving skill, simple and lively colors and are highly decorative. The northern school is usually performed in Guangling, Lingqiu, Daixian and Hunyuan, influenced by the western school in Beijing, its leather-silhouette figures are plump in shape, the carving skill is careful and exquisite, with bright and beautiful color. Shanxi Leather-silhouette shows are mainly popular in Xiaoyi county in Lvliang district and Quwo, Houma in southern Shanxi.

 

Puppet show, according to the legend, originated from Han Dynasty, and was flourishing in late Qing Dynasty and the early years of the Republic of China. It has its origin in sacrificial puppet, and has two types in Shanxi, rod puppet and string puppet, mainly popular in Xiaoyi and Fushan. Some representative programs are The Tongtian River, Flaming Mountain, Beating the White Bone Demon for Three Times, Monkey King Borrows the Plantain Fan, Puppet Acrobatics etc.