The art of gongs and drums

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Art of gongs and drums

Applicant: Songjiang District, Shanghai

Project No.: 622

Project No.: Ⅱ - 123

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: Traditional Music

Region: Shanghai

Type: new item

Applicant: Songjiang District, Shanghai

Protection unit: Community Service Center of Sijing Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai (cultural and Sports Service Office of Sijing Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai)

Introduction to the art of gongs and drums (Sijing ten brocade fine gongs and drums)

Applicant: Songjiang District, Shanghai

Gong and drum art is a common form of folk instrumental music in China. It is widely distributed in Hebei, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shanghai, Henan, Hubei, Shanxi and other places. Although the musical instruments used in different places are different, most of them are high volume percussion instruments such as gongs, drums, cymbals and cymbals. The rhythm is more and more vivid, the performance scene is spectacular, and the artistic style is majestic and powerful. They are mainly performed in various folk auspicious occasions and ceremonies.

Songjiang ancient opera music is a kind of ancient instrumental music popular among the people in Songjiang District of Shanghai. It originated from the folk percussion music such as "shixianjin" in Songjiang area during the Wanli period of Ming Dynasty. It organically integrates the singing segments of characters, accompaniment (passing) music, folk songs and minor tunes in different operas in a way of collection, forming a unique form and melody. His representative work "ten brocade fine gongs and drums" is mainly handed down by the folk performance group "Yangchun hall" in Sijing town of Songjiang. It has been handed down for seven generations and has a history of more than 300 years.

Songjiang ancient opera music is mainly transformed from opera music and folk songs. On the one hand, it has the characteristics of opera music. On the other hand, it has integrated and transformed the original opera and folk music from the perspective of music, forming an independent music style. Sijing ten brocade fine gongs and drums have the artistic characteristics of soft and glutinous in Nankun. They are gentle but not martial, elegant but not noisy, soft but not rough. They have distinct rhythm and strong sense of rhythm. Their performance is very delicate, which is obviously different from the general gongs and drums. When playing, one person should bring several musical instruments, play a period of gongs and drums, and then pick up the silk and bamboo to play alternately. Even when it comes to gongs and drums, it is necessary to master several styles at the same time.

Songjiang ancient opera music is an outstanding representative of ancient Wu music. Sijing ten brocade fine gongs and drums provide a living model for the in-depth study of ancient opera and folk music, including the original form of some opera music (including Qupai), the configuration of various elements of music, singing methods, sound production methods, etc. At present, with the acceleration of urbanization in the suburbs of Shanghai, local culture and folk art are gradually fading out of people's vision. In the reality that older artists are aging and new inheritors are fewer and fewer, the prospect of Sijing ten brocade fine gongs and drums is worrying, and it is urgent to strengthen protection measures.