Beijing Opera originated in northern China in the mid-19th century during the Qing Dynasty. It combines elements of opera, ballet, acrobatics, dance, dialogue, martial arts, and mime. Performances feature colorful costumes and symbolic acting accompanied by both a peaceful orchestra and a percussion band that plays during battle scenes. There are four main roles - male, female, painted face, and comic - each with its own singing style. Melodies and influences vary regionally but are typically played on instruments like the erhu, pipa, and sheng.

1. Beijing Opera
Dafne

2. Origins
❖Mid 19th century (Qing Dynasty)
❖Beijing and Tianjin: northern base cities
❖“Highest expression of Chinese culture”
❖Orchestra (peaceful scenes) and percussion band (battles)
❖Combination of opera, ballet, acrobatics, dance,
dialogue, monologues, martial arts, and mime.

3. Drama
❖Symbolic nature of acting
❖Costumes are very colorful
❖Four main roles: Sheng (male), Dan (female), Jing
(painted face), Chou (comic)
➢ various divisions within the four categories
➢ each role has its own singing style
➢ Lian Pu (personality makeup)

4. Orchestra Instrumentation (Wen Chang)- accompanies
singing
Erhu
Huqin Yueqin Sheng Pipa

5. Percussion Band Instrumentation (Wu Chang)-
accompanies acting, dancing, etc.
Castanets
Drums
Bells
Cymbals.

6. Characteristics
❖Variation of Xipi and Erhuang melodies
➢ Xipi: lively, vigorous and quick → excited moods
➢ Erhuang: gentle, steady, and deep → subdued moods
❖Influences of main melodies: Anhui, Hubei, Kunqu and more
❖Archaic dialect
❖Singers sing very loudly → piercing
❖“Harmonious rhythms”: five/seven word sentences

7. Musical Example
Opera- Dadengdian
Singer- Shengsu Li

8. Analysis
Meter: Tempo changes, duple (variates)
Medium: Voice (1 female), erhu, various supporting string instruments,
castanets
Harmony: Homophonic, revolves around the tonic, becomes brighter
(changes key?), doubling of voice by erhu
Melody: Narrow tessitura, wide range, vocal ornaments, mostly conjunct,
Form: 12 lines
Vocal: 1 female, piercing, high pitched, nasal
Style/Context: Doubling, China, opera music, tells a story

9. Works Cited
"ABOUT PEKING OPERA - Peking Opera Festival 2013." ABOUT PEKING OPERA - Peking Opera Festival 2013. Web. 15 Oct.
2015.
"Beijing Opera." ChinaHighlights. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
"Beijing Opera - EBeijing.gov.cn." Beijing Opera - EBeijing.gov.cn. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
"Chinese Opera Mask Colors." Chinese Opera Mask Colors. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
"Introduction to Beijing Opera." California Institute for Chinese Performing Arts. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
"Music and The Orchestra of Beijing Opera." - China Culture. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
"The Cultural Heritage of China :: Entertainment :: Chinese Opera :: Beijing Opera." The Cultural Heritage of China ::
Entertainment :: Chinese Opera :: Beijing Opera. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.