Video of a non-staged (Kunqu qingchang, 昆曲清唱) performance of a duo aria from Kunqu (昆曲), China's tradition of classical opera dating back to the Ming Dynasty. The aria is entitled "Shan Tao Hong" (《山桃红》, The Mountain Peach Blossoms Pink), from the "Interrupted Dream" portion of the famous play entitled "The Peony Pavilion" (Mudan Ting, 《牡丹亭‧驚夢》). The closing qupai (曲牌, named tune) is entitled "Wan Nian Huan" (《万年欢》, Everlasting Joy).
This performance features a fairly large accompanying ensemble. From left to right, the instruments include:
● Erhu (二胡, 2-stringed vertical fiddle with hardwood body and snakeskin face)
● Tiqin (提琴, 2-stringed vertical fiddle with coconut body and paulownia wood face), tuned a fourth lower than the erhu
● Suona (唢呐, shawm)
● Sheng (笙, mouth organ), played by the same musician playing the suona
● Guban (鼓板, hardwood clapper and drum, both played by a single player)
● Xiaobo (小钹, small cymbals), played by the female singer
● 2 dizi (笛子, bamboo flute), the one on the left played by the male singer
● Sanxian (三弦, 3-stringed banjo, with snakeskin-covered soundbox)
● Daruan (大阮, bass round-bodied lute)
● Pipa (琵琶, pear-shaped lute)
Filmed at the 2016 Kunshan City "Intangible Heritage" Cultural Exhibition and Jiangli [Village] Culture Temple Fair (2016年昆山市“非遗”文化展示展演暨姜里文化庙会), held at Bagua Square, Jianghang Village, Zhangpu town (张浦姜杭村八卦广场), Kunshan (昆山市), Suzhou (苏州市), southeastern Jiangsu province, east-central China, c. May 6, 2016. Jiangli village (姜里村) and Jianghang village (姜杭村) are located adjacent to one another in Zhangpu town, Kunshan.
Thanks to Mr. Richard Ho for his assistance with translations.
This performance features a fairly large accompanying ensemble. From left to right, the instruments include:
● Erhu (二胡, 2-stringed vertical fiddle with hardwood body and snakeskin face)
● Tiqin (提琴, 2-stringed vertical fiddle with coconut body and paulownia wood face), tuned a fourth lower than the erhu
● Suona (唢呐, shawm)
● Sheng (笙, mouth organ), played by the same musician playing the suona
● Guban (鼓板, hardwood clapper and drum, both played by a single player)
● Xiaobo (小钹, small cymbals), played by the female singer
● 2 dizi (笛子, bamboo flute), the one on the left played by the male singer
● Sanxian (三弦, 3-stringed banjo, with snakeskin-covered soundbox)
● Daruan (大阮, bass round-bodied lute)
● Pipa (琵琶, pear-shaped lute)
Filmed at the 2016 Kunshan City "Intangible Heritage" Cultural Exhibition and Jiangli [Village] Culture Temple Fair (2016年昆山市“非遗”文化展示展演暨姜里文化庙会), held at Bagua Square, Jianghang Village, Zhangpu town (张浦姜杭村八卦广场), Kunshan (昆山市), Suzhou (苏州市), southeastern Jiangsu province, east-central China, c. May 6, 2016. Jiangli village (姜里村) and Jianghang village (姜杭村) are located adjacent to one another in Zhangpu town, Kunshan.
Thanks to Mr. Richard Ho for his assistance with translations.
