Aural elements Cantonese opera

1 aural elements

1.1 speech types
1.2 music
1.3 musical instruments

aural elements
speech types

commentators draw essential distinction between sung , spoken text, although boundary troublesome one. speech-types of wide variety: 1 identical standard conversational cantonese, while smooth , refined delivery of passage of poetry; have 1 form or of instrumental accompaniment while others have none; , serve specific functions, while others more adaptable variety of dramatic needs.

cantonese opera uses mandarin or guān huà (官話; cantonese: gun waa) when actors involved government, monarchy, or military. obscures words taboo or profane audience. actor may choose speak dialect of mandarin, ancient zhōngzhōu (中州; cantonese: zung zau) variant used in cantonese opera. zhōngzhōu located in modern-day hénán (河南) province considered cradle of chinese civilization , near yellow river or huáng hé (黃河). guān huà retains many of initial sounds of many modern mandarin dialects, uses initials , codas middle chinese. example, words 張 , 將 both pronounced /tsœːŋ˥˥/ (jyutping: zœng) in modern cantonese, respectively spoken /tʂɑŋ˥˥/ (pinyin: zhāng) , /tɕiɑŋ˥˥/ (pinyin: jiāng) in operatic guān huà. furthermore, word 金 pronounced /kɐm˥˥/ (jyutping: gam) in modern cantonese , /tɕin˥˥/ (pinyin: jīn) in standard mandarin, operatic guān huà use /kim˥˥/ (pinyin: gīm). however, actors tend use cantonese sounds when speaking mandarin. instance, command leave 下去 , articulated /saː˨˨ tsʰɵy˧˧/ in operatic guān huà compared /haː˨˨ hɵy˧˧ / (jyutping: haa heoi) in modern cantonese , /ɕi̯ɑ˥˩ tɕʰy˩/ (pinyin: xià qu) in standard mandarin.

music

cantonese opera pieces classified either theatrical or singing stage (歌壇). theatrical style of music further classified western music (西樂) , chinese music (中樂). while singing stage style western music, theatrical style can chinese or western music. 4 great male vocals (四大平喉) actresses , notable exponents of singing stage style in 20th century.

the western music in cantonese opera accompanied strings, woodwinds, brass plus electrified instruments. lyrics written fit play s melodies, although 1 song can contain multiple melodies, performers being able add own elements. whether song performed depends on performers own emotional involvement , ability.

musical instruments

bāngzi (梆子) 1 of main instruments used in cantonese opera

cantonese instrumental music called ching yam before people s republic established in 1949. cantonese instrumental tunes have been used in cantonese opera, either incidental instrumental music or fixed tunes new texts composed, since 1930s.

the use of instruments in cantonese opera influenced both western , eastern cultures. reason canton 1 of earliest places in china establish trade relationships western civilizations. in addition, hong kong under heavy western influence when british colony. these factors contributed observed western elements in cantonese opera.

for instance, use of erhu (two string bowed fiddle), saxophones, guitars , congas have demonstrated how diversified musical instruments in cantonese operas are.

the musical instruments divided melodic , percussive types.

traditional musical instruments used in cantonese opera include wind, strings , percussion. winds , strings encompass erhu, gaohu, yehu, yangqin, pipa, dizi, , houguan, while percussion comprises many different drums , cymbals. percussion controls overall rhythm , pace of music, while gaohu leads orchestra. more martial style features use of suona.

the instrumental ensemble of cantonese opera composed of 2 sections: melody section , percussion section. percussion section has own vast body of musical materials, called lo gu dim (鑼鼓點) or lo gu (鑼鼓). these percussion patterns serve variety of specific functions.

to see pictures , listen sounds of instruments, visit page 1 , page 2.