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| Traditional Chinese: | 1. 粵劇 2. 大戲 3. 神功戲 |
Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Cantonese culture. Chinese Opera ( Chinese: 戏曲/戲曲 Pinyin: xìqǔ is a popular form of Drama and Musical theatre in China with roots going back China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Cantonese people ( Jyutping: gwong2 dung1 jan4 broadly speaking are persons originating from the present-day Guangdong province in southern China It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia. Guangdong ( EFEO: Kouangtong; Pinyin Guǎngdōng; Postal map spelling: Kwangtung) is a province on the Guangxi (or Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region;) is a Zhuang autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Macau topics. Singapore For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Like all versions of Chinese opera, it is a traditional Chinese art form, involving music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics, and acting. Chinese art ( Chinese: 中國藝術/中国艺术 has varied throughout its ancient history, divided into periods by the ruling Dynasties of China and changing Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for Combat. Acrobatics (from Greek Akros, high and bat, walking is one of the Performing arts, and is also practiced as a Sport. Acting is the work of an Actor or Actress, which is a person in Theatre, Television, Film, or any other Storytelling 粵劇 (Yuèjù) should not be confused with 越劇 (Yuèjù), the theatre of Zhejiang. Zhejiang ( is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China.
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History
There is a debate about the origins of Cantonese opera, but it is generally accepted that the opera form was imported from the northern part of China and slowly migrated to the southern province of Guangdong in late 13th century, during the late Southern Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms In the 12th century, there was a theatrical form called "Southern style" (Chinese: 南戲 (Cantonese: Naam4 hei3, Mandarin: Nánxì)) or the Nanxi (Southern drama), which was performed in public theaters of Hangzhou, then capital of the Southern Song Dynasty. Standard Cantonese is the standard variant of the Cantonese (Yuet language Standard Mandarin, also known as Standard Spoken Chinese, is the official modern Chinese spoken language used in mainland China and Taiwan Nanxi (南戏 or Nan-hsi) is an early form of Chinese Drama, developed from ancient traditions of mime, singing and dancing during the ( Postal map spelling: Hangchow) is a Sub-provincial city located in the Yangtze River Delta in the People's Republic of China, The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms With the invasion of the Mongol army, Emperor Gong of Song dynasty, called Zhào Xiǎn (趙顯), fled with hundreds of thousands of Song people into the province of Guangdong in 1276. Emperor Gongdi ( chinese: 宋恭帝 1271-1323 also known as Zhào Xiǎn (趙顯 was the 16th Emperor of Song Dynasty. Among these people were some Narm hei artists from the north. Thus narm hei was brought into Guangdong by these artists and developed into the earliest kind of Cantonese opera.
Many well-known operas performed today, such as The Purple Hairpin and Rejuvenation of the Red Plum Flower, originated in the Yuan Dynasty, with the lyrics and scripts in Cantonese. The Yuan Dynasty ( Pinyin: Yuáncháo Dai Ön Ulus (Дай Юан Улс was a ruling Dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Until the 20th century all the female roles were performed by males. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on
Beginning in the 1950s massive waves of immigrants fled Shanghai to destinations like North Point[1]. 1950s in Hong Kong began after the Japanese rule ended in 1945 with Sovereignty returning to the British. Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million North Point is a mixed-use urban area located at Eastern District Hong Kong. Their arrival boosted the Cantonese opera fanbase significantly.
Characteristics
Cantonese opera has much in common with other Chinese theatre genres. Commentators often take pride in the idea that all Chinese theatre styles are but minor variations on a pan-Chinese music-theater tradition, and that the basic features or principles are consistent from one local performance form to another. Thus, music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics and acting all feature. Most of the plots are based on Chinese history and famous Chinese classics and myths. Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era Chinese classic texts or Chinese canonical texts ( refer to the pre- Qin Chinese texts especially the Confucian Four Books and Five Classics Chinese mythology is a collection of Cultural history, Folktales, and Religions that have been passed down in oral or written form The culture and philosophies of the Chinese people can be seen in the plays. The Culture of China (traditional Chinese 中國文化 simplified Chinese 中国文化 is home to one of the world's oldest and most complex Civilizations covering a history Chinese philosophy is Philosophy written in the Chinese tradition of thought Virtues like loyalty, moral, love, patriotism and faithfulness are often reflected by the operas.
Some particular features of Cantonese opera are:
- Chihng sik sin: formulaic, formalized
- Heui yih sing: abstraction of reality, distancing from reality
- Sin mihng sing: clear-cut, distinct, unambiguous, well-defined
- Jung hahp ngaih seuht yihngsik: a composite or synthetic art form
- Sei gung ng faat (四功五法, pinyin: sì gōng wǔ fǎ; jyutping: sei3 gung1 ng5 faat3) : the four skills and the five methods, a simple codification of the basic skills and techniques of acting and singing.
The "four skills" and "five methods" are a simple codification of the areas of special training for theatre performers, and also stand as something of a metaphor for the most well-rounded and thoroughly trained performers. The "four skills" apply to the whole spectrum of vocal and dramatic training: singing, acting and movement, delivery of the "speech-types" and martial and "gymnastic skills," while the five methods are categories of techniques associated with specific body parts: hands, eyes, body, hair, feet or walking techniques.
Significance
Other than being simply a form of entertainment, it can carry messages or lessons, which was particularly important before widespread formal education. The government often used theatre to promote the idea of be loyal to the emperor and love the kingdom (忠君愛國). Because of this, the theatre was often examined by the government. If the underlying message was not considered beneficial, the theatre would be banned.
As time progresses, fewer and fewer performance houses are also left to preserve the art, an example is Hong Kong's Sunbeam Theatre. Sunbeam Theatre (Chinese 新光戲院 is a landmark Theatre in Hong Kong showcasing Cantonese Opera. Which remains one of the last facility dedicated to the Cantonese genre.
Types of play
There are two types of Cantonese opera plays: Mou (武, "martial arts") and Man (文, "highly educated", esp. in poetry and culture) . Mou plays emphasize war, the characters usually being generals or warriors. These works contain action scenes and involve a lot of weaponry and armour. Man plays tend to be gentler and more elegant. Scholars are the main characters in these plays. Water sleeves (see Frequently Used Terms) are used extensively in man plays to produce movements reflecting the elegance and tenderness of the characters; all female characters wear them. Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China 's Cantonese culture. In man plays, characters put a lot of effort into creating distinctive facial expressions and gestures to express their underlying emotions.
Musical instruments
Cantonese instrumental music was called ching yam prior to the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Cantonese instrumental tunes have been used in Cantonese opera, either as incidental instrumental music or as fixed tunes to which new texts were composed, since the 1930s.
The use of instruments in Cantonese opera is influenced by both western and eastern cultures. The reason for this is that Canton was one of the earliest places in China to establish trade relationships with the western civilizations. Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city In addition, Hong Kong was under heavy western influence when it was a British colony. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. These factors contributed to the observed western elements in Cantonese opera.
For instance, the use of erhu (two string bowed fiddle), saxophones, guitars and the congas have demonstrated how diversified the musical instruments in Cantonese operas are. The erhu ( also called nanhu ( 南[[wikt 胡|胡]] "southern fiddle" and sometimes known in the West as the "Chinese The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles The conga is tall narrow single-headed Cuban Drum of African origin probably derived from the Congolese Makuta drums or Sikulu
The musical instruments are mainly divided into melodic and percussive types.
Traditional musical instruments used in Cantonese opera include wind, strings and percussion. The winds and strings encompass gaohu, erhu, yehu, yangqin, pipa and dizi, while the percussion comprises many different drums and cymbals. The gaohu ( 高胡; Pinyin: gāohú Cantonese gou1 wu4 also called yuehu 粤[[wikt 胡|胡]] is a Chinese The erhu ( also called nanhu ( 南[[wikt 胡|胡]] "southern fiddle" and sometimes known in the West as the "Chinese The Sogdian-Turkish title of Yabgu is transliterated into literary Chinese as Yehu (Sogdian title in various Chinese historical works. The trapezoidal yangqin ( is a Chinese Hammered dulcimer originally from the Middle East ( Persia (modern-day Iran) The pipa ( is a plucked Chinese String instrument. Sometimes called the Chinese Lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body The dizi ( is a Chinese Transverse flute. It is also sometimes known as the di ( 笛) or hengdi ( 橫[[wiktionary The drum is a member of the percussion group technically classified as a Membranophone. Cymbals are a modern percussion instrument Cymbals consist of thin normally round plates of various Cymbal alloys; see Cymbal making for a discussion of their The percussion controls the overall rhythm and pace of the music, while the gaohu leads the orchestra.
The instrumental ensemble of Cantonese opera is comprised of two sections: the melody section and the percussion section. The percussion section has its own vast body of musical materials, generally called loh gu dim or simply loh gu. These 'percussion patterns' serve a variety of specific functions.
To see the pictures and listen to the sounds of the instruments, visit [1] and [2].
Music
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Recognize mutually (認相) There are actually two female singers with Bak Sheut Sin and Yam Kim Fai in this sample. Bai Xuexian (Born on April 1, 1926 in Guangzhou, Guangdong with family roots in Shunde, Guangdong) was a famous Chinese Yam Kim Fai (Chinese 任劍輝 ( December 29, 1912 &ndash November 29, 1989) was a famous Cantonese opera actress in China Yam Kim Fai is using her trademark indistinguishable male voice behind the Cantonese opera disguise. Yam Kim Fai (Chinese 任劍輝 ( December 29, 1912 &ndash November 29, 1989) was a famous Cantonese opera actress in China Only traditional Chinese instruments are used. Traditional Chinese musical instruments comprise a wide range of string wind and percussion instruments - Problems playing the files? See media help.
Cantonese opera pieces are classified either as "theatrical" or "singing stage" (歌壇). The theatrical style of music is further classified into western music (西樂) and Chinese music (中樂). While the "singing stage" style is always Western music, the theatrical style can be Chinese or western music. The "four great male vocals" (四大平喉) were notable exponents of the "single stage" style in the early 20th century.
The western music in Cantonese opera is accompanied by strings, woodwinds, brass plus electrified instruments. A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a Musical instrument that produces Sound by means of Vibrating strings In the Hornbostel-Sachs Types of woodwind instruments See also List of woodwind instruments Single-reed instruments use a reed, which is a thin cut Brass is any Alloy of Copper and Zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties Lyrics are written to fit the play's melodies, although one song can contain multiple melodies, performers being able to add their own elements. Whether a song is well performed depends on the performers' own emotional involvement and ability.
Roles
There are six set roles:
- man4 mou5 saang1 (文武生, transliteration: civilized martial man; the clean-shaven scholar-warrior)
- siu2 saang1 (小生, transliteration: 'young gentleman'; young scholar)
- faa1 daan3 (花旦, transliteration: 'flower' of the ball; young belle)
- yi6 faa1 (二花旦, transliteration: 'second flower'; supporting female)
- cau2 saang1 (丑生, clown)
- mou5 saang1 (武生, bearded male warrior)
Costumes
Costumes correspond to the theme of the play and indicate the character of each role.
As mentioned above, each type of play is associated with particular costumes. Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China 's Cantonese culture. The water sleeves of Mun plays can be attached to the waist or the sides of the breast areas. Costumes can be single or double breasted.
Costumes also indicate the status of the character. Lower-status characters, such as females, wear less elaborate dress, which those of higher rank have more decorative costumes.
Makeup
Applying makeup for Cantonese opera is a long and specialised process. One of the most common styles is the "white and red face": an application of white foundation, with red around the eyes and on the cheeks. The eyebrows are sometimes elongated. Lipstick is usually bright red. Lipstick is a cosmetic product containing pigments oils waxes and emollients that applies color and texture to the lips.
Actors are given temporary facelifts by holding the skin up with a ribbon on the back of the head. This lifts the corners of the eyes, producing an authoritative look.
Each role has its own style of make-up: the clown has a large white spot in the middle of his face, for example. A sick character has a thin red line pointing upwards in between his eyebrows. Aggressive and frustrated character roles often have a "ying hong jee" (an arrow shape fading into the forehead) in between the eyebrows.
Strong male characters wear "hoi1 min4" (開面; "open face") makeup. Each character's makeup has its own distinct characteristics, with symbolic patterns and coloration.
Hairstyle, hats and helmets
Hats and helmets signify social status, age and capability: scholars and officials wear black hats with wings on either side; generals wear helmets with pheasant feathers; soldiers wear ordinary hats, and kings wear crowns. A hat is a headcovering It may be worn for protection against the elements for religious reasons for safety or as a Fashion accessory. A helmet is a form of Protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries a variation of the hat Scholarly method &mdash or as it is more commonly called scholarship &mdash is the body of principles and practices used by scholars to make their claims about the world as An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it in an Organisation or Pheasants are a group of large Birds in the order Galliformes. A crown is the traditional Symbolic form of Headgear worn by a Monarch or by a Deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power Queens or princesses have jewelled helmets. If a hat or helmet is removed, this indicates the character is exhausted, frustrated, or ready to surrender.
Hairstyles can express a character's emotions: warriors express their sadness at losing a battle by swinging their ponytails. "Ponytails" redirects here For the girl group see The Poni-Tails. For the female roles, buns indicated a maiden, while a married woman has a Dai tow.
Frequently used terms
Pheasant feathers/Antennae: These are attached to the helmet in 武 plays, and are used to express the character's skills and expressions. They are worn by both male and female characters.
Water Sleeves: These are used for expressive effect by both males and females in 文 plays.
Hand Movements: Hand and finger movements reflect the music as well as the action of the play. Females hold their hands in the elegant "lotus" form. Nelumbo is a Genus of aquatic plants with large showy Water lily -like flowers commonly known as Lotus or sacred lotus
Round Table/Walking: A basic feature of Cantonese opera, the walking movement is one of the most difficult to master. Females take very small steps and lift the body to give a detached feel. Male actors take larger steps, which implies traveling great distances.
Go Hur: These are black boots with high white soles worn by males, which can impede walking. A boot is a type of Shoe that covers at least the Foot and the Ankle and sometimes extends up to the Knee or even the Hip.
Gwou Wai: This is a movement in which two performers move in a cross-over fashion to opposite sides of the stage.
Tuir Mok: In this movement, two performers walk in a circle facing each other and then go back to their original positions.
Lai saan and Wun Sou: These are the basic movements of the hands and arms.
Jurt Bo/Choot Bo: This is a gliding effect used in walking.
Siu Tiu: Most common in 武 plays, the actor stamps before walking.
Fay Tuir: A crescent kick.
Hair-flinging/"Headbanging": A circular swinging of the ponytail, expressing sadness and frustration.
Chestbuckle/ Flower: A flower-shaped decoration worn on the chest. A red flower on the male signifies that he is engaged.
Horsewhip: Performers swing a whip and walk to imitate riding a horse.
Sifu: Literally, master, this is a term for experienced performers and teachers.
Major artists
Major Cantonese opera artists include:
- Yam Kim Fai (任劍輝)
- Bak Sheut Sin (白雪仙)
- Man Chin Sui (文千歲)
- Yuen Siu Fai (阮兆輝)
- Wun Fei Yin (尹飛燕)
- Sun Ma Tsaih (新馬仔)
- Kwan Tak Hing (關德興)
- Koy Ming Fai (蓋鳴暉)
- Lum Gar Sing (林家聲)
- Fong Yeem Fun (方艷芬)
- Ho Fei Faan (何非凡)
- Hoong Ceen Leui (紅線女)
- Fung Wong Leui (鳳凰女)
- Leung Sing Boh (梁醒波)
- Loong Geem Saung (龍劍笙)
- Lang Chi Bark (靚次伯)
- Boong Yut Ngon (半日安)
- Connie Chan Po-chu (陳寶珠)
Four Great Male Vocals (平喉四大天王):
- Tsuih Lau Seen (徐柳仙)
- Siu Ming Sing (小明星)
- Cheung Yuet Yee (張月兒)
- Cheung Waih Fong (張惠芳)
Four Super Stars (四大天王):
- Sit Gok Sing (薛覺先）
- Ma Si Tsang （馬師曾)
- Kwai Ming Yeung (桂明楊)
- Bak Yook Tong (白玉堂)
Development in Hong Kong
To intensify education in Cantonese opera, the Cantonese Artists Association of Hong Kong started to run an evening part-time certificate course in Cantonese opera training with assistance from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 1998. Yam Kim Fai (Chinese 任劍輝 ( December 29, 1912 &ndash November 29, 1989) was a famous Cantonese opera actress in China Bai Xuexian (Born on April 1, 1926 in Guangzhou, Guangdong with family roots in Shunde, Guangdong) was a famous Chinese Kwan Tak Hing, MBE ( 27 June 1905 - 28 June 1996) was an actor who played the role of Martial artist Wong Fei Hong Connie Chan Po-chu was born in 1947 in Guangdong, China to impoverished parents and at least 8 other siblings The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts ( located near the north coast of Wan Chai on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong, is both an academic institution In 1999, the Association and the Academy further conducted a two-year daytime diploma programme in performing arts in Cantonese opera in order to train professional actors and actresses. Aiming at further raising the students' level, the Association and the Academy have launched an advanced course in Cantonese opera in the next academic year.
In recent years, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council has given grants to Love and Faith Cantonese opera Laboratory to conduct Cantonese opera classes for children and youths. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has also funded the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong Branch) to implement the "Cultural Envoy Scheme for Cantonese Opera" for promoting traditional Chinese productions in the community.
Speech types
Commentators draw an essential distinction between sung and spoken text, although the boundary is a troublesome one. Speech-types are of a wide variety: one is nearly identical to standard conversational Cantonese, while another is a very smooth and refined delivery of a passage of poetry; some have one form or another of instrumental accompaniment while others have none; and some serve fairly specific functions, while others are more widely adaptable to variety of dramatic needs.
References
- ^ Wordie, Jason. [2002] (2002) Streets: Exploring Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 962-2095631
See also
- Cantopop
- Huangmei Opera
- Beijing Opera
- Music of China
- Music of Hong Kong
- Culture of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Heritage Museum
- List of Cantonese-related topics
- Chinese Artist Association of Hong Kong
External links
- Bay Area Cantonese Opera
- More Cantonese Opera Artists
- Can You Hear Me?: The Female Voice and Cantonese Opera in the San Francisco Bay Area The Scholar and Feminist Online
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