Peking Opera-China

• Jingju


  a form of Chinese opera which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics. It is also known as the theater of the capital. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by mid- 19th century.
• Peking Opera 


  A famous combination of Grand Opera, Ballet and acrobatic display. In each performance, there is dancing, dialogue, monologue, acrobatic combat and mime. This type of opera is physically demanding, requiring an actor or actress. It was regarded as one of China's Pride during the Qing dynasty.
• How many years that is usually takes a student to train singing and acrobatic skills?

  10
• 1790


  This was when the Peking Opera started when it was brought by the four Great Anhui Troupes. It was staged for the Imperial court specifically for Emperor Quianlong’s birthday celebration.
• Peking Opera


  Has more than 200 years of history. It is an art form that is considered unique, magnificent, and full of Chinese traditional values. It traces its roots from the ancient ritual dances, the Yuan and the Ming Romance. It is considered as the national art form.
• A male Peking Opera Performer


  What is the picture?

  
• Performer's main aim is to make every motion attractive on stage.

  True
• Most opera derived their plots from folklore, popular novel and historical

  True
• Farewell my Concubine


  One piece of classical Peking Opera. The woman, Consort Yu, deeply loved the King Xiang Yu (middle of the stage), and when he failed in a war, she committed suicide for him.

  
• FOUR MAJOR ROLES IN THE PEKING OPERA

  Sheng, Dan, Jing, and Chou
• Sheng


  A male role. This role has several subtypes according to the character's age, personality and status, which has Laosheng (Senior Male role), Hongsheng (Middle-age male), Xiaosheng (handsome young male of singing and recitation), Wusheng (Acrobatic male role/ Military men) and Wawasheng ( a child role ).
• Dan


  A female role
• Laodan


  Old women
• Huadan


  Single / unmarried women
• Other than Laodan and Huadan, these are under Dan


  Wudan (military women), Daomadan (young warriors), and Qing (elite women)
• Jing 


  A male role with a painted face that projects a very strong voice
• Painted face meanings:

  Red - loyalty, White - evil, and Black - Integrity
• Tongchui


  a role that entails heavy singing
• Jiazi


  A role with less singing but more on physical movements
• Wujing


  A role with martial and acrobatic movements.
• Chou


  A male clown role, the name of the role is homophone of the word chou meaning "ugly".
• Chinese People


  They believe that ugliness and laughter combined could drive evil spirits away.
• Tempo


  Depends on the plot, scene, and personality of the character being portrayed. May be slow (manban), rubato beat (sanban, medium-fast tempo (yuanban), and shaking beat (yaoban). A range in scale (Octave or fifths)
• SIX MAINTYPES OF SONG LYRICS

  emotive (emotional and touchy) , condemnatory (critical and disapproving) , narrative (descriptive), descriptive (explanatory and expressive), disputatious (argumentative), and Shared space and separate sensation lyrics.
• TWO MAIN MELODIES USED IN PEKING OPERA:

  Xipi and Erhuang
• Xipi


  Which means "Skin Puppet Show". Its melody is relatively vivacity, bright and powerful in aria, and intensive in rhythm which manifests a pleasant, firm and resentful mood.
• Erhuang


  Expresses a lyric mood such as mild, placid and gentle. It is smooth in rhythm, fluent in aria. It has melody that expresses grief and pensive emotion suitable in portraying sadness and tragedies.
• Lead Melodic Instruments:

  Jing Hu and Yuen
• Instrument that accompany singing

  Erhu, Sheng, and Souna
• Bangzi


  An instrument used to accompany military scenes, a wooden drum that is struck using a pair of wooden sticks.
• OTHER PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS

  Daluo, naobo, and xiaoluo