Gong and drum are indispensable musical instruments in China folk culture. It is the pillar of drama rhythm. Singing, acting, dancing and martial arts in China's traditional operas.
Everyone has a strong sense of rhythm, and gongs and drums are a kind of musical instrument with strong voice and distinct rhythm. Accompanied by gongs and drums, it can enhance the rhythm and accuracy of opera singing and performance, help to express the emotions of characters, touch the color of drama, and set off and render the stage atmosphere.
1. Gong and drum
China traditional gongs and drums, no matter what kind of drama, are nothing more than gongs, cymbals and drums. Among them, there are many kinds of musical instruments, because they are different in shape, style, production and use.
The types of gongs and cymbals are: gong, sieve gong, big gong, small gong (hand gong), horse gong, stuffy gong and cloud gong; Cymbals, cymbals, cymbals, water cymbals, cymbals, cymbals, cymbals, cymbals, hinges, bells, etc. The types of drums are: Dan Pigu (Bangu), Huaigu, Tanggu (Tanggu), Dagu and Guogu. Playing time includes sandalwood, bangzi, wooden fish and so on.
Each musical instrument has many varieties and names because of its different tones. When playing gongs and drums, all kinds of musical instruments must be arranged and coordinated in an orderly way. Only when the drums are conducted can all kinds of rhythmic and regular sounds be played.
All kinds of operas are generally combined with the singing style of operas in terms of the selection of musical instruments, timbre and tone, the number and combination of musical instruments, and various rhythm patterns (generally called "ideas" and some called "branding"), forming a unique style of this kind of opera.
For example, the gongs and drums in Beijing Opera are basically composed of four musical instruments: big gongs, small gongs, cymbals and drums (drums and drums are two musical instruments, Dan Pigu and ebony, both of which are mastered by drummers, so they are listed together). According to special needs, drums and cymbals are sometimes used to express specific scenes, atmosphere and dramatic emotions.
2. Cooperate with body movements
The routine and standardized movements of traditional Chinese opera performances are called "pictures". The up and down of the role, as well as the action performance on the field, should be based on the foot color, identity, personality, feelings, movements and the designated scene where the role is located, and different gongs and drums should be used to help express the regularity of body movements and the coherence of plot and emotion.
3. Guide and end the singing
In the art of traditional Chinese opera, the vocals of various characters, before and after the start or after the stop, or the connection and transformation between vocals, all need to be started, stopped and interpreted with gongs and drums, which can show the pattern and singing speed of vocals.