MUSIC 4TH QUARTER PEKING OPERA

• The Peking Opera was developed in the Qing dynasty during the eighteen century under the rule of the emperor Qianlong.
• Peking opera is also known as the Beijing Opera.
• PEKING OPERA - This is said to be the most sophisticated and highly developed theatrical drama in China.
• In Peking opera, an actor or actress is trained and concentrates for only one category of character for the whole of his or her training period
• PEKING OPERA - This is a play where both the imperial court and common people perform as well as same classes in the audience.
• The music does not follow a composed piece created by a music expert, rather, it is based on sets of traditional organized tunes.
• the xipi, used to express happiness
• erhuang, used to express mood such as sorrow and melancholy
• wenchang or civil division, used to accompany singing
• wuchang or military division, used to accompany acting, dancing, and fighting.
• The roles in the peking opera are differentiated into fixed characters types: sheng, dan, jing, and chou.
• Laosheng – distinguished older role with kind and cultured personality
• Wudan- martial women
• The jing or hualian character is a painted face role in Peking opera.
• Laodan- old woman
• Wudan- martial women
• Daomadan- young female warriors
• Qingyi- elite and virtous women
• Huadan- unmarried women
• Wenchou- civilian roles such as merchants and jailers
• Wuchou- minor military roles
• Mang- This is a phyton court robe worn only by imperial family members, generals, or prime ministers
• Pei- This is a casual clothing for imperial members  or upper class persons.
• kao- This is a kind of armor worn by warriors
• zhezi- This is a casual clothing for middle-class and ordinary persons.
• xue- This is an informal clothing or garment worn by everybody.
• yi- This is an umbrella term for clothes.
• Xiaocheng – young main role who sings in a high shrill voice.
• Wusheng – a martial role who does acrobatics, and produces a natural singing voice.