Chapter 109 Xi'an Drum Music

Xi'an Drum Music is a well-known traditional instrumental music.Although it is uncertain when it was produced, judging from the earliest date of its extant transcription, the ninth year of Yongzheng (1731) in Qing Dynasty, it was very popular at least in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties.Xi'an is a famous western capital in history, and the capital of Zhou, Qin, and Western Han dynasties. It has a rich cultural heritage, and Xi'an drum music should be said to be uniquely endowed.Judging from its existing score, musical instruments, titles and performance forms, it probably retains some Tang Dynasty music, especially the materials of Tang Jiaofang music.Its tunes are derived from songs of Song Ci and Yuan Zaju, as well as folk songs, quyi music and other instrumental music.Sitting music is played indoors, generally on a larger scale and more rigorous in structure. Full set" and "vulgar school sitting music".Carpegas is mostly performed on the street or at temple fairs, and there are "Tongle Drums" (also known as "Gaobazi". The music is stable and elegant) and "Luan Baxian" (also known as "single-faced drum". It is named after the use of eight musical instruments: flute, sheng, pipe, cloud gong, single-faced drum, small gong, hinge, and hand clapper).In addition, there is also a kind of reciting music with strong religious color, which is specially used for worshiping gods in temples. It is sung in harmony with the accompaniment of drum music, which is greatly influenced by fanbai music and folk music.

The musical instruments used in Xi’an Drum Music include pipa, zither, flute, sheng, pipe, etc. The percussion instruments are mainly seated drums, as well as war drums, musical drums, single-faced drums (bronze drums), high-bamboo drums, gongs, and cymbals. , Nao, hinge, star, clapper, etc.There are three schools of music in the playing class club: monk, Taoist, and vulgar.The Daoist school is gentle and elegant, emphasizing skill performance; the monk school is bold and rough, full of life atmosphere; the vulgar school is vigorous and full of folk colors. Xi'an drum music is mainly popular in Nanjixian Village of Zhouzhi County, Hejiaying Village of Chang'an County, Lantian County and Xi'an area in Shaanxi Province.Most of the members of the drum music club are local farmers, workers, small handicraftsmen, monks, and Taoist priests.