Making-up Times: Consecutive excellent operas

Talking about the music of Chinese opera, it is primarily with gong and bongo to create the beats, but there are the orchestra instruments to accompany singing.It is very rich to enhance the plot and atmosphere of the performance.Such music is called “literary and martial setting.”Orchestra of literary setting is to accompany singing, with hu qing, yueh qing, xian ze, flute, sheng, so-na, and hei flute.It is primarily to accompany singing, but also used to accompany performing movements.Batting instruments of martial setting is by using pan, single leather drum (bongo), tang drum, bass gong, gong, nao-pa, qi pa, zhuang zhong, yun-lo, and pang-ze, and so on.They are used primarily to be background music to the dancing movements of the actor, especially to enhance the atmosphere of the martial art.Among the instruments, pan, single leather drum, bass gong, and gong are the major instruments.Below we are going to briefly introduce the major instruments of the literary and martial setting of Chinese opera, please click the picture that you may hear the sound of them.
Instruments of the literary setting﹝.jing hu│.er hu│.san xian│.da ruan│. yueh-chin│.flute│.pi pa│.so-na﹞

◎jing hu Primarily used in Chinese opera with strong and clearly loud sound.	◎er hu One kind of hu qing, bigger than hu qing, and made of wood or bamboo, primarily use for Chinese opera.
jing hu(press to listen)	er hu(press to listen)
◎san xian A major accompany instrument of Chinese opera, the nature of its sound is crispy and clear with forceful transparency.	◎da ruan The color of its sound is low, rich and heavy.
san xian(press to listen)	da ruan(press to listen)
◎yueh-chin Crispy and clear sound, it is one of the major instruments for Chinese opera.	◎flute There are two kinds normally used: pang-ti and qu ti. The small sized pang ti is often used for pang ze opera with clear and crispy sound; it is the major instrument of playing song titles.
yueh-chin(press to listen)	flute(press to listen)
◎pi pa When playing with two hands hold it vertically with left hand presses the pin, and right hand plays; with diverse techniques.	◎so-na mostly used for sheng role in singing as mythology opera or expressing drastical emotions.
pi pa(press to listen)	so-na(press to listen)

Instruments of the martial setting﹝big tang drum│.Bass gong│.little tang drum│.gong│.Ban bongo│.nao-pa (cymbals)│.gong bongo jing﹞

◎big tang drum used for war setting to enhance the atmosphere.	◎Bass gong Mostly used for the getting on and off of the stage of martial general or high ranking characters, drastic setting or cope with sudden change of emotions.Sound of bass gong is out loud and strong, suitable for solemn and drastic setting.Operas of lao sheng and ching are primarily used by bass gong.In addition, for noble status and bold character also use this instrument.
big tang drum(press to listen)	Bass gong(press to listen)
◎little tang drum bongo normally used small pa and gong to play light tempo.	◎gong Mostly used for the getting on and off stage for letterman, woman, or chou, or cope with tiny movement of gestures.The sound of gong is crispy and gentle, suitable for easy and humorous setting.Primarily used in the operas of ching I, hua tan, and chou roles.In addition, ordinary people and gentle setting normally used gong.
little tang drum(press to listen)	gong(press to listen)
◎Ban bongo as the leading position in the joint music playing and accompany playing.	◎nao-pa (cymbals) when strikes, two pas strikes each other to make stunning sound and noise.
Ban bongo(press to listen)	nao-pa (cymbals)(press to listen)
◎gong bongo jing to strengthen the richness and sense of level of the percussion music
gong bongo jing(press to listen)

Reference: sorted by the research team from Guoguang Opera Company
http://www.kk.gov.tw/
Source of Photos/sound: photography/ recorded by research team

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