Gong and Drum Art
01 · Historical Records
Songjiang ancient ceremonial music is an ancient genre of instrumental music current among the people of Songjiang District, Shanghai; it originated in folk wind-and-percussion music such as the “Shi Yang Jin” of the Songjiang area during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, and is formed by assembling in anthology fashion the character singing passages, the accompaniment (interlude) music and the folk ditties of different opera repertories, organically fusing them together into forms and melodies with a character of their own.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Although the instruments used vary from place to place, they consist mainly of high-volume percussion instruments such as gongs, drums, naos and cymbals; the rhythm is stirring and sharply marked, the performance scenes are grand, the artistic style is marked by imposing momentum, martial vigour and ardent warmth, and it is performed mainly at various folk auspicious celebrations and ceremonial occasions. Its representative work, “Shijin fine gong-and-drum”, has been handed down chiefly by the folk performance troupe “Yangchun Tang” of Sijing Town, Songjiang, and has now passed through seven generations, with a history of more than three hundred years. Songjiang ancient ceremonial music was transformed mainly out of opera music and folk ditties; on the one hand it carries the characteristics of opera music, and on the other hand it has merged and remodelled the original opera and folk music from the point of view of melody, forming an independent musical style. In performance one person handles several instruments: after beating out a passage of gong-and-drum rhythm patterns, the player takes up the strings and pipes to play, alternating in this way, being proficient in several specialities at once. Even when beating out gong-and-drum patterns, several styles are required to be mastered at the same time.
Shijin fine gong-and-drum
The representative work of Songjiang ancient ceremonial music, handed down chiefly by the folk performance troupe “Yangchun Tang” of Sijing Town, Songjiang, now in its seventh generation, with a history of more than three hundred years.
Seven generations of Yangchun Tang
Handed down by the folk performance troupe “Yangchun Tang” of Sijing Town, now passed through seven generations.
Alternating percussion and silk-bamboo
In performance one person handles several instruments: after beating out a passage of gong-and-drum rhythm patterns, the player takes up the strings and pipes to play, alternating in this way, being proficient in several specialities at once.
Medley form
It originated in folk wind-and-percussion music such as the “Shi Yang Jin” of the Songjiang area during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, and assembles in anthology fashion the character singing passages, the accompaniment (interlude) music and the folk ditties of different opera repertories, organically fusing them together into forms and melodies with a character of their own.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
Gong-and-drum music is a relatively common form of folk instrumental performance in China; it is widely distributed, and is found in Hebei, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shanghai, Henan, Hubei, Shanxi and other places. Sijing Shijin fine gong-and-drum has the soft and mellow artistic character of southern Kunqu; it is refined rather than martial, elegant rather than noisy, gentle rather than rough, with a clear beat, a strong sense of rhythm and a very delicate expression, clearly distinguished from ordinary gong-and-drum patterns.
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04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Songjiang ancient ceremonial music is an outstanding representative of the ancient music of Wu, and Sijing Shijin fine gong-and-drum in particular provides a living model for the in-depth study of ancient opera and folk music, including the study of the original forms of certain opera music (including its tune patterns), the arrangement of the various elements of the music, vocal styles and vocal production methods. At present, as the urbanisation process in the suburbs of Shanghai accelerates, local culture and folk art are slowly fading from people's view; under the actual situation that older artists are ageing and new successors are becoming ever fewer, the prospects for Sijing Shijin fine gong-and-drum are worrying and protection measures urgently need to be strengthened. Songjiang ancient ceremonial music takes “Yangchun Tang” as its main body of transmission; musicians around Sijing Town mostly perform in teahouses, at temple fairs and on celebratory occasions; each performer handles several instruments, beating out a passage of gong-and-drum rhythm patterns and then taking up the strings and pipes in alternation, being proficient in several specialities at once; even when beating out gong-and-drum patterns, several styles are required to be mastered at the same time.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
- Liu Yaowen 03-0882
- Zhao Manzong 05-2134
- Zhang Shushe 05-2135
- Wu Mingchang 05-2136
- Yang Renhe 05-2137
- Liu Qingyun 05-2138
- Liu Zhen 05-2139
- Li Xingguang 05-2140
- Wangdaozhang 05-2141
- Cheng Qinxiang 05-2142
- Wang Guohai
- Xuezongfeng
- Hong Yuqing
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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