Shifan music (Chuzhou Shifan gongs and drums)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Shifan music (Chuzhou Shifan gongs and drums)

Applicant: Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province

Project No.: 75

Project No.: Ⅱ - 44

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Music

Region: Jiangsu Province

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province

Protection unit: cultural center of Huai'an District, Huai'an City

Introduction to Shifan music (Chuzhou Shifan gongs and drums)

Applicant: Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province

Shifan music, also known as "Shiban" and "wudui", is named after 10 musical instruments made of silk, bamboo, leather, wood and gold. This kind of music is relaxed and lively, with strong sense of rhythm, harmonious rhythm and pleasant to the ear. It is widely spread in Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places in China. Most of Shifan tunes come from folk ditty and huapai (suona tune). At the same time, they also absorb a lot of nutrients from opera, quyi and song tunes. Their performance forms include sitting, walking and dancing. Generally speaking, they are conducted by the person in charge of the board.

During the reign of Daoguang in Qing Dynasty, sun Yuqing, a folk songwriter in Chuzhou, compiled the Kunqu music performed by Gaozong during his first tour to the south in 1751, and added the lyrics with local customs and unique percussion music to form the folk music of Chuzhou Shifan gongs and drums (Wukun). Shifan gongs and drums have been popular in Chuzhou for more than 200 years. Up to now, a complete manuscript of the original gongchi music manual has been preserved, on which are recorded nine pieces of music, dozens of unique folk gongs and drums tunes, as well as instrument stringing, singing, percussion, notation, etc.

Chuzhou Shifan gongs and drums have three parts: chorus, playing and beating. The playing instruments include 10 percussion instruments and 16 string instruments, plucked instruments and wind instruments (also known as "double pipe system"). Gongs and drums are often added to the music, and at the end of the music, gongs and drums are mainly used. At the climax of instrumental music, gongs and drums are often added to set off the atmosphere and enhance the rendering power. Chuzhou Shifan gongs and drums show their unique characteristics in terms of the title, lyrics, music cards, musical instruments and playing methods. The names of gongs and drums, such as "golden basin fishing for the moon" and "chanting flowers", are rare in the works of art of all ethnic groups at home and abroad from ancient times to the present. The names of gongs and drums, such as "chuyun mountain" and "Jinqian flower", are also quite different from those of traditional opera and folk gongs and drums. Chuzhou's Shifan gongs and drums are composed of duet flute, duet Xiao, duet bamboo flute, duet Sheng, duet Pipa and duet Sanxian to make up for the deficiency of sound effect of single pipe system. This kind of duet band has a history of hundreds of years. In addition, the percussion instruments of Chuzhou Shifan gongs and drums also have their own characteristics. Their sound is unique, and the sound effect is very clear from high to low.

Chuzhou Shifan gongs and drums evolved from the Kunqu music of the court, which was also integrated with the creation of folk musicians. Its formation and development process can provide important materials for the history of music and has high research value. However, due to the death of the older generation of artists and the lack of government financial investment, the survival of Chuzhou Shifan gongs and drums is at stake, which urgently needs systematic research and active rescue and protection.