Tang Opera Music Creation Theory

Author: Han Xi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Tang Opera is recognized by the people of Tangshan and has been recorded in the history of Chinese opera. Although its history is short, once a genre is formed, it cannot be changed by human will. Who doesn’t admit it? Wasn’t there someone who insisted on changing it to "Yingdiao Opera"? That’s not appropriate. Because each place has its own shadow puppetry. Even in Beijing’s Tianqian Street, shadow plays were performed, and their music was also Beijing-based. Tang Opera music is primarily based on Tangshan shadow puppetry music, absorbing local folk arts, folk songs, wind music, and other folk music to create it. The Theory of Tang Opera Music Creation is a summary of this genre’s 42-year journey. The author of this book—Comrade Han Xi—is one of the key figures in creating this new genre. Because he experienced the entire process of Tang Opera’s birth, development, setbacks, and renewed progress. During this process, there were successes, failures, joys, and also disasters, human misfortunes, and tears of sorrow. Because he experienced the entire process, he could write this book. Such a book cannot be written just by interviewing some writers or journalists. Just like General Xiao Hua, who experienced the entire Long March of the Red Army, wrote The Long March Ode. Only Han Xi is qualified to write this book. This is not only because he is a witness but also because he is a practitioner. After years of calm reflection, he examined its successes and failures using the theory that "music is the seed of a genre," summarized its experiences, and undoubtedly provided some valuable insights for how opera art can keep pace with the times and fulfill the great mission of "representing the advanced direction of culture."