●
What is Peking Opera
The Acting:
Acting is stylized and can be traced to religious retuals. All
movement is choreographed which is not exactly related to dancing
but which draw from traditions such as martial arts, Tai-chi,
and other art forms such as caligraphy. All movements, such as
eyes, faces, dressing, etc. have special meanings and must
follow strict rules. For example, there are more than 100
ways ot cryings, smilings, and coughing, performed by the
different sets of rules and not a single gesture can be
delivered without following the rules set for it.
The Singing:
While in western opera a singer is identified by his voice
range, Chinese actors are categorized by role. Each role
uses different voicing and vocal expressions. The use of the
falsetto and artifically high-pitched voice is used in
most of the roles. Only the old female role (Lao3 Dan4)
carrys a voice most closely similar to the voice ordinary
person speaks or sings. In compliance with the Peking
Opera principle that nothing real is allowed, vocal art
is more difficult to achieve in the Chinese opera than in
the western opera because the actors must sing like speech
and speak like singing.
The Music:
Voices are accompanied by two Jing1 Hu3, which is a kind of
string fiddles originating from northern China. Other
instruments inclyde bamboo flutes, which is used more
often in the opera styles of the southern prices near
Shanghai. Aother very important instrument is Yueh-chin,
a three string guitar like instrument; cymbals, bells
drums and a hardwood 'time clapper', which directs the
movement of the actors as well as the orchestra.
|
