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Suona Art

Ⅱ-37Traditional MusicXuzhou, JiangsuBatch 3 (2011)Extension ItemFeatured

01 · Historical Records

As the hub of grain transport on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Xuzhou saw the suona enter the folk musical life of the city during the Ming dynasty. In 1952 Xuzhou founded the Xuzhou Folk Music Association, which gathered many virtuoso suona players. In 1956, at the East China Folk Music and Dance Gathering held in Shanghai, the suona troupe assembled by Xuzhou caused a sensation at its public performance, leaving a deep impression on the organizing committee and on the general audience.

02 · Core Techniques & Process

The suona of Xuzhou is most representative in the city's Fengxian County, Peixian County, Suining County and the urban districts. Xuzhou suona has a numerous and rich repertoire, and its representative tune patterns can be summed up in eight words: 'Yao Jin Fan Diao' and 'San Ling Si Lai'. 'Yao Jin Fan Diao' refers to 'Liu Jin Yao' and 'Fan Zi Diao'; 'San Ling Si Lai' refers to 'Jiang Jun Ling', 'De Sheng Ling', 'Hui Ma Ling' together with 'Dao Chun Lai', 'Dao Xia Lai', 'Dao Qiu Lai' and 'Dao Dong Lai'. The suona has deep historical and cultural roots in Xuzhou. In leading, accompanying or playing together with gong and drum, the Xuzhou suona produces a distinctive artistic effect, and it is normally used in folk singing gatherings, yangge gatherings, drum bands, opera and song-and-dance performances. The Xuzhou suona is suited to expressing a warm and joyful atmosphere and to depicting magnificent and sweeping scenes; above all, its bold and fiery melodies have a stirring effect. At the same time it can express inner feeling in a deep and delicate way and imitate the calls of birds and the light chirping of insects so vividly that it leaves an impression of music that lingers for three days.

Liu Jin Yao

One of the representative tune patterns of the Xuzhou suona grouped under 'Yao Jin Fan Diao'.

Fan Zi Diao

One of the representative tune patterns of the Xuzhou suona grouped under 'Yao Jin Fan Diao'.

Jiang Jun Ling

One of the three 'orders' among the 'San Ling Si Lai' of the Xuzhou suona.

Dao Chun Lai

One of the four 'comings' among the 'San Ling Si Lai' of the Xuzhou suona.

03 · Regional Records & Related Items

The bands of Xuzhou wind-and-percussion music are usually formed by family or by master and apprentice, and number six to eight people; the suona is divided into the leading player and the second player, accompanied by sheng, flute, clappers and such percussion instruments as drum, cymbals and gong. The musicians of Fengxian and Peixian are good at playing the large suona, with a full and bold timbre, while the musicians of Suining, Tongshan and the urban districts are equally skilled at imitating the vocal styles of kaxi, Liuqin opera and Bangzi opera, forming a local school that uses playing in place of singing.

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04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding

In recent years this folk music form has faced the danger of being lost for want of successors, and is in urgent need of rescue and protection. Li Shupeng (official archival record of the associated inheritor): Male, Han nationality, born in December 1967, a native of Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province. He joined the Jiangsu Bangzi Opera Troupe in 1992. His suona playing technique is distinctive, with a rounded tone and a melodious line, and he enjoys wide influence among audiences in the Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Anhui area. Representative inheritor of the fifth national-level batch of the intangible cultural heritage item suona art (Xuzhou suona). He has taken part many times in national and provincial and municipal suona competitions and won major prizes; in 2006 he took part in the seventh China Folk Literature and Art Shanhua Award for Folk Art Performance and the first national folk singing exhibition, where he was highly praised. At the same time he has persisted in training inheritors and has repeatedly received the Excellent Instructor Award and the Coaching Award.

05 · Associated Representative Bearers

Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:

06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography

  1. Suona Art (Xuzhou, Jiangsu) · China ICH Official Project Archive
  2. Li Shupeng · National Representative Bearer Archive

Sources

China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)

Read the official ihchina.cn record ↗

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