Kunqu , also known as Kunju (昆剧), Kun opera or
Kunqu Opera, is one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera. It evolved
from the Kunshan melody, and dominated Chinese theatre from the 16th to the
18th centuries. The style originated in the Wu cultural area. It is listed as
one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by
UNESCO since 2001.(A qunqu opera tour in China.)
Origin
and History
Kunqu Opera, also called Kunshanqiang, is
said to be the mother of all Chinese operas. Its origins can be traced to the
late Yuan Dynasty, some 600 years ago, in the lower Yangtze River Valley. Among
the earliest genres of drama, the traditional performing art was named for its
birthplace, Mt. Kunshan, near the city of Suzhou in today's Jiangsu province,
East China(Suzhou tour).
The development of Kunqu Opera music went
through several stages. In the early days, the songs were composed of long and
short lines. The singer sang solo, and the orchestra came in at the end of each
line. In the chorus, only percussion instruments were used.
In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), reformed
by Wei Liangfu during the reign of Emperor Jiajing, Kunqu Opera became mild,
smooth, and graceful. The performers attached great importance to clear
recitation, correct singing, and pure tunes. Meanwhile, the composers wrote the
musical scores after working out the tunes, and the songs were written in
seven-character or ten-character lines. Moreover, three types of musical
instruments (stringed instruments, bamboo flutes, and drums and clappers)
formed the accompaniment. In addition, Kunqu Opera had 12 roles, and the Jing
and Chou roles were no longer those exclusively portraying foolish, awkward, or
stingy people.
Main
Features
Kunqu Opera is acknowledged as an elegant
opera in terms of music, recitation, and the performers' movements. It is
foremost acclaimed as "watermill songs" because of its soft arias and
the graceful movement of its performers. Carrying forward the tradition of
ancient poetry and common speech, the art is also of very high literary value.
Kunqu has a complete system of acting as
well as its own distinctive tunes. Its wide-ranging repertoire has many
delicate and elegant tunes. The orchestra consists of traditional instruments
including the dizi, a horizontal bamboo flute which plays the lead part; the
xiao, a vertical bamboo flute; the sheng, a mouth organ; and the pipa, a
plucked string instrument with a fretted finger board. Many Chinese local
operas are greatly influenced by its tunes and acting style.
The representative works of the Kunqu Opera
are: The Peony Pavilion, Fifteen Strings of Coins (Shiwu Guan), Love at First
Sight (Qiang Tou Ma Shang), and Escorting Jingniang Home (Qianli Song
Jingniang).
Risk
of Disappearance
Kunqu Opera, acknowledged as an elite
opera, has suffered somewhat of a decline since the eighteenth century because
it requires a high level of technical knowledge from the audience. Today, it is
facing competition from mass culture and a lack of interest amongst the young.
Of the 400 arias regularly sung in opera performances in the mid-20th century,
only a few dozen are still performed.
If you are interested in qunqu, we will
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Ig you are interested in kunqu opera, you may book a tour package to China.
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