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Peking Opera is
deemed as the national opera and national quintessence. The
accompanying music, singing and costumes are all fascinating and
artistic. Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents
audience an encyclopedia of Chinese culture as well as unfolding
stories, beautiful paintings, exquisite costumes, graceful
gestures and acrobatic fightings. Since it enjoys a higher
reputation than other local operas, almost every province of China
has more than one Peking Opera troupe to entertain numerous fans,
who are called piaoyou in Chinese. It is so popular in the Chinese
people, especially the senior that even an activity called Peking
Opera Month is held.
Peking Opera has
a more than 200-year history. It originated from Xipi and Erhuang
in Anhui and Hubei respectively, which are the main melodies of
Peking Opera, though it is called Peking Opera. And later along
its way, it borrowed techniques from many other local operas to be
mature.
It is generally
accepted that Peking Opera gradually came into being after 1790
when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Peking
Opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor
Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi under the imperial
patron, and eventually became more accessible to the common
people.
In the ancient
times, Peking Opera was performed mostly on open-air stages in
markets, streets, teahouses or temple courtyards. The orchestra
had to play loudly and the performers had to develop a piercing
style of singing, which could be heard over the crowds. The
costumes are a garish collection of sharply contrasting colors
because the stages were dim, lit only by oil lamps. It is a
harmonious combination of Grand Opera, Ballet and acrobatic
display, consisting of dancing, dialogue, monologue, acrobatic
combat and mime. However emphasis will lie on the stage.
The Peking Opera
band mainly consists of orchestra band and percussion band. The
former frequently accompanies peaceful scenes while the later
often follows scenes of war and fighting. The commonly used
percussion instruments include castanets, drums, bells and
cymbals. One person usually plays the castanets and the drum
simultaneously, which are the conductor of the whole band. The
orchestral instruments mainly compose of the Erhu, the Huqin, the
Yueqin, the Sheng (reed pipe), the Pipa (lute) and other
instruments. The band usually sits at the left side of the exit of
the stage.
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