Chapter 30 Section 5 The Prosperity of Small Instrumental Ensembles

The development of rap music and opera music in the Song and Yuan Dynasties also brought about the prosperity of folk small instrumental ensemble art.The so-called "small instrumental ensemble" refers to a type of pure instrumental music performance that does not combine a large number of instruments like the Palace Jiaofang Daqu Orchestra, but only a few wind instruments, stringed instruments and percussion instruments.In the historical documents of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, this type of pure instrumental music performance was once called "Xiyue", "Qingyue", "Small Musical Instruments" and "Guban".According to Naideweng's "Capital Ji Sheng": "Xinyue...is combined with Xiaoguan, Sheng, (upper Bamboo and Xiaqin), Jiqin, and Fangxiang"; "Qingyue...adds Fangxiang, Sheng, The flute and the small drum are used, and the sound is also soft.” It can be seen that Xiyue and Qingyue are made of small “Sizhu music” bands, which have the artistic characteristics of light and concise instrument combinations and elegant and beautiful music styles. It is very appropriate to be dubbed "fine" and "clear" in the title.In addition, the so-called "small musical instrument" means that this type of pure instrumental music performance is only "one or two people moving together", which is equivalent to today's "instrumental duet" and "instrumental trio" forms, such as qin and xiao ensemble, sheng and flute Ensemble or something. "Guban" is a combination of flutes, drums, boards and other musical instruments. Its tunes mostly come from "Changzhuan" tunes, so some historical documents call it "Chuizhuandongguban".From the Ming and Qing Dynasties to modern times, instrumental music performances such as blowing songs and drum and flute music that have been widely spread among the people have a historical connection with the "drum board".

It has been handed down to the present and there are documents that show that it is the "fine music" of the "relict tone" of the Yuan Dynasty, and there is an instrumental ensemble form called "Baisha Xiyue" preserved in the Naxi area of ​​Lijiang County, Yunnan. "Baisha Xile" is recorded in the local chronicles as "Thank you at the time of farewell" and "Beisha Xili". "Baisha" is a place name. It is located in the north of Lijiang County, Yunnan Province. It was the political, economic and cultural center of the ancient Naxi people.According to legend, this music is the music that Kublai Khan, the ancestor of the Yuan Dynasty, expedition to Dali, Yunnan Province in the 13th century, presented the music to Aliang, the leader of the Naxi tribe, Mutian King when he passed through Lijiang.The "Lijiang Mansion Records" compiled in the eighth year of Qianlong (AD 1743) contains: "All kinds of barbarian people have songs, dances, dances and dances, and the musicians call it 'Xiyue'", "It is said that it is the legacy of the Yuan people".The "Lijiang County Chronicles" compiled during the Guangxu period also said: "Its tunes have names such as "North and South Songs", "Dao Dao Ling", "A Book", and "Parasite Grass". side, called 'Xi Le'".Today's Baisha Xiyue uses flute, reed pipe, pipa, Huobusi, Erhuang, huqin and other instruments.The tune has been integrated with many Naxi folk music.The traditional repertoire includes "A Book", "Thinking of the Canal", "Princess Cries", etc. The music is lingering and sad.

Today, many images of small instrumental ensembles that were popular at that time can be seen in the remains of music relics in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. For example, "Song People Playing Music" copied by the painter Qiu Ying in the Ming Dynasty. Piper (pipe) and other instruments are playing. This is a group of "sizhu music" orchestra, which belongs to the aforementioned "fine music" or "qing music" type (Figure 33).In addition, in the murals of King Song Yongyong in Anyang, Henan Province, there are also four people playing with flutes, 筚篥, clappers, thin waist drums and other instruments. This is a group of "drum music" bands.Judging from the use of musical instruments, it also has many similarities in form with the aforementioned "drum board" type of small instrumental ensemble (Figure 34).

Song and Yuan small-scale instrumental ensembles have eclectic and diverse characteristics in band organization. It created a precedent for the art of pure instrumental ensembles. Well prepared for the early development.