Xiqu

“Killing Liu Feng by Rolling Drums Downhill”

Sixian qiang vocal style. The story comes from the famous The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Excerpt for actors skilled in playing the roles of second rank painted face and civilian comic male is a creation by veteran Dian Opera writer Yang Ming and an iconic work of renowned Dian Opera performer Qiu Yunsu. Sixian qiang, particularly in Erliu and Kupin, is used throughout the excerpt: after Zhang Fei sings a line, the gong and drum will beat once, to be followed by a movement by Liu Feng. After this routine, Liu Feng, accompanied by gong and drum music “Fanshanrao”, waves his sleeves and manipulates the long pheasant tail feathers on his helmet as he sings. During the time of the Three Kingdoms, Guan Yu, defeated, escaped to Maicheng. Liu Bei’s adopted son Liu Feng refused to send reinforcements, resulting in Guan Yu’s death after being besieged. Zhang Fei devised a plot to trap Liu Feng inside a drum and killed him by rolling the drum down a steep hill.

“Barging into the Palace”
Huqin qiang vocal style. Barging into the Palace is the most brilliant excerpt of the Dian Opera Qin Xianglian. Some of the tunes sung in the excerpt, for example the Meihuaban and Erliu, are so sad and touching that they have become widely popular. Some of its recitations, which recall the past, such as the Yunbai and Yunlibai, are unique to Dian Opera. Chen Shimei bandoned his wife Xianglian and their son to become the son-in-law of the emperor. In order to appeal to Chen’s love and sympathy for them, Xianglian barged into the palace to tell him about their dire situation caused by continuous famines in his hometown. But the avaricious and ungrateful Chen was unmoved and drove them out of the palace.

“Taking the Tonsure on Mount Wutai”
Sixian qiang vocal style. This is an excerpt from iconic Dian Opera work, Generals of the Yang Family: Battle of the Golden Beach, in which the singing is sonorous, and at times gentle and tender. Daoban, Erliu, Aizi and Kupin are used to fully unfold Yang (Yande) Wulang’s war-weariness, passiveness and pessimism. This is followed by his father Yang Jiye’s elaborate singing of over sixty fine lines in three slow and three quick tempos. His rising and falling tonal variation fully expresses his boldness, loyalty and will power. Emperor Taizong went to the Shuanglong Assembly held at the Jinsha Beach. Tricked by the wicked Pan Hong, the Yang warriors were defeated at Mount Wutai and suffered great casualty. Losing his son, Yang Jiye was heartbroken. His fifth son Yande, disillusioned with the mortal world, wanted to become a monk in Mount Wutai. Jiye, who loved Yande dearly, disapproved. However, Yande was so determined that Jiye eventually gave his permission reluctantly.

“The Killing of Yan Xijiao”
Huqin qiang vocal style. This excerpt, coming from Stories of the Water Margin written by Shi Naian, is a climax of the whole drama. There are two features in this excerpt; the first is its emphasis on acting and the second is the use of the Anqing tempo. The Anqing tempo is best for expressing the shrewdness of Yan Xijiao and the indignation of Song Jiang. This excerpt has become an iconic Dian Opera work to be preserved and continued. Chao Gai, leader of the Liangshan Marsh, sent a letter to Song Jiang. After receiving the letter, Song went to his House Wulong to stay for the night, but he carelessly lost the letter there. His wife Yan Xijiao found the letter and used it to threaten Song, who was forced to yield to her requests. Still, Yan wanted to get rid of Song by exposing his dealings with the outlaws of the Liangshan Marsh to the officials. Despite Song’s repeated pleas to her, Yan insisted on giving the letter to the officials. With no alternative, Song killed the heartless Yan in anger.

“Going to War from The Lady Generals of the Yang Family”
Traditional piece of Dian Opera from The Lady Generals of the Yang Family. The singing is in Sixian qiang, which is the ideal vocal style to capture and express the intense enthusiasm and lofty aspiration of Mu Guiying and She Taijun to fight against the invading enemies. It can be sonorous and intense, solemn and stirring, as well as lighthearted and lively. Western Xia, a foreign military power, invaded Northern Song. The valiant and heroic Mu Guiying took command of the army and led the female warriors of the Yang family to fight the invaders.