Chinese music and Opera

[LiYuanXi]

Hi all, it has been a long time since i last came to this forum. I am here once again to promote chinese traditonal music and opera.

Just wondering if anyone of you likese traditional music and opera. Here are some pictures of chinese opera i acted in.

The above opera form is called Li Yuan Xi. Yes, that's my nickname. Hope u like it!

I would like to know more people who like opera like me!

[wushijiao]

Hi all, it has been a long time since i last came to this forum.

Welcome back!

Just wondering if anyone of you likese traditional music and opera.

I'm interested in traditional opera, but I'm still fairly ignorant about most of it.

In any case, I've been to a 昆剧，and a few 京剧 shows. Some were better than others. I also listen to a decent amount of 豫剧 (Henan opera). I especially like 马金凤, and have a few of her CDs.

Recently I went to a 晋剧 performance by the 太原市实验晋剧青年剧团. It was a performance of 范进中举. This was, I can easily say, the best show I've ever seen. The singing was powerful. The story was easy to understand because it is a satirical story about a guy who keeps taking the national exam to become an official but always fails. Finally he passes the test, and then goes crazy and becomes corrupt. Also, the stage directing seemed fairly advanced, with a decent amount of "special effects". Lastly, the music was great. There seemed to be a continuous "score" (like a movie) throughtout the whole thing, in coordination with other traditional instruments. To some degree, the background music reminded me of an old Zhang Yimou movie. I'm not sure if this sort of music is typical of all 晋剧?

What about traditioanl opera do you like Liyuanxi?

[Lu]

The only complete opera I've seen was Wangzi fuchou ji, better known as Hamlet. I loved it. I'd watch more if I could but I don't know where to find performances.

[Celso Pin]

If you want to be "opera literatte", my sugestion is start (and finish) with the book : The new Kobbe's opera book. written by Gustav Kobbe and revised (and edited) by the Earl of Harewood... ISBN: 0091814103 (but there are another editions). The book covers around 500 operas... It was my textbook on Opera 101

[Celso Pin]

off course (yes... off course)

is my knowledge regarding chinese opera... do you know some bibliography to recommend me?

[LiYuanXi]

Hi Wushijiao.

I havent seen any 晋剧 yet as opera vcds are very hard to get in Singapore but i still have a fair amount of them bought off the internet. I love 昆剧!! The lines in 昆剧 are very fine and classical. It is so classical that sometimes i don't even know what they are talking about!

I do believe that not all 晋剧 has those advance special effects and musical scores like the one you have seen. I call them 'modernised chinese opera'. These modernised opera has got more tasteful sets, costumes and special effects. Traditionally, chinese opera has only one table and 2 chairs on the stage which act as (besides being a table and chair) a mountain, an onbstacle, a bridge etc.. almost anything. Thus, you need a lot of imagination to watch chinese opera because it's all abstract.

Example:

See the image below, the red bamboo stick that the lady is carrying represents a horse whip. She is actually riding a horse. The guy infront, notice the position of his hands, he is actually pulling at the reins of the horse and his eyes are staring at the horse. The lady is looking at the road in front of them.

Lu and Celso Pin, actually i don't know much about western opera. I haven't seen them before. Celso, i don't have any bibliography to introduce but i can suggest you to just watch it and let your imagination run wild!

[wushijiao]

I do believe that not all 晋剧 has those advance special effects and musical scores like the one you have seen. I call them 'modernised chinese opera'.

I didn’t mean to suggest that 晋剧 was more modernized. I think it was just that particular company- 太原市实验晋剧青年剧团. Also, I think 实验 might imply that it has more modern stuff.

Nonetheless, I see your point. I think one of Chinese opera's best qualities is that it can improv most situations, like your horse example. The only problem (or good thing from another point of view) is that much of Chinese opera is an acquired taste. I think the more educated a viewer is in Chinese opera, the more he or she can enjoy the opera.

[Celso Pin]

"The only problem (or good thing from another point of view) is that much of Chinese opera is an acquired taste. I think the more educated a viewer is in Chinese opera, the more he or she can enjoy the opera."

as the same in western opera (and erudit music)... due this, almost 100% of people declare not to enjoy opera, is people never watch it...

[Lu]

LiYuanXi, I was talking about jingju. There's a Peking opera version of Hamlet, and it's very good if you ask me. I don't know much about western opera either, but from what I know I think I prefer Chinese opera to western, it's more artful.

[LiYuanXi]

Wushijiao: Yup, you need to learn to watch. I used to hate opera because of the screeching high pitch but i learnt to appreciate it and enjoy it.

Celso: To watch a western opera in singapore is difficult because people here don't really appreciate things like that. Even when there is an opera troupe here, they charge too high for the tickets and people like me can't afford to watch it.

Lu: I didnt know there is a peking opera version of Hamlet! wow.. that must be interesting.. OMG.. wish i can see it too..

[zixingche]

I'm interested in traditional Chinese music, mainly instumental music as as jiangnan sizhu江南丝竹. I do like opera but as I can't understand the lyrics I tend to listen to the music that goes with it. There are quite a few huqin pieces that are based on opera music eg Henan xiaoqu河南小曲.

[Mai Kairong]

I thought Chinese opera sounded awful until I took a class on the history of Chinese theatre and learned to love it. Since then I've only had a chance to see one live performance though. Where in the states can you see opera?

[Lu]

LiYuanXi: I didn't know either, until I was asked to translate it :-) It was performed in Amsterdam by the Shanghai Peking Opera troupe, they've also performed it elsewhere, maybe they'll come to Singapore someday, too!

For a few pictures see here (not just Hamlet, also some other operas).

[LiYuanXi]

Lu: Thanks for the link. The pics are lovely. Shanghai pekin opera troupe just came to singaproe 2 months ago and i went to watch their performance. It was splendid. They did Glorious years of Zhen Guan and another night of excerpts. I like Fu Xi Ru, he is kinda cute. haha...

Mai Kairong: I don't think there are many chances to see chinese opera in the states. But i do know that there are some amateur opera troupes in US. Maybe you can find out more about them and even join them! it is fun. Or else, you can get VCDs off the internet.

zixingche: Have you heard music played by the 编钟？I think they are splendid. It is hard to find CDs with bianzhong nowadays.

[Lu]

LiYuanXi: I think Fu Xiru is an extremely good singer & performer, and as Hamlet he's very shuai, but cute, nah, I guess we have different taste :-)

And do you mean the bianzhong that were excavated in... where was it again, in the tomb or Marquis Yi?

[LiYuanXi]

Lu.. yah Fu xiru is cute cuz i have seen him without make up before..

Yup... the bianzhong excavated iin the tomb of marquis yi. The music played by bianzhong was magnificent, just like palace music.

[zixingche]

I haven't heard any bianzhong music, I remember seeing a CD of recontructed bianzhong music once, can't remember where. There's a bianzhong on display in the British museum.

I suppose yunluo is sort of similar, I've got a few CDs which has yunluo on them.

[LiYuanXi]

zixingche: I have never heard of yunluo before. If you would like to listen to some bianzhong music, you can go to the site below.

http://www.guqu.net/soft/610.htm

The title of the piece is 'Chu Shang' 楚商。

[zixingche]

Thanks for the link. Yunluo 云锣 (cloud gong) are a set of small tuned gongs fixed to a wooden frame, not really like a bianzhong but you get the idea, I'll try to find a pic.

[keetaec]

Dear all,

I really need your help. Does anyone know where I can get lyrics and music to a relatively "easier" Peking Opera sesssion? I have to perform one short piece and don't know where to start... and it'll be just me... and shouldn't take no more than 3-5 mins.

Oh, one more request: anyone know where I can get costumes for this in London?

thank you!

keetaec