Chinese theater, traditionally considered the highest art form in China, includes Peking Opera. Peking Opera is a stylized form of opera that developed in Beijing in the late 18th century combining speech, singing, mime, and acrobatics accompanied by various instruments. It features two main musical styles - Erh-huang and His-p'l - and strict conventions for vocal delivery and rhythmic spoken passages. The orchestra typically includes 8 musicians playing instruments like flutes, trumpets, violins, lutes, guitars, drums and gongs to accompany the performers and signify the beginning and tempo of the performance. Peking Opera remains an important part of China's cultural heritage.

1. CHINESE
THEATER
MR. CARLO JUSTINO J. LUNA
Malabanias Integrated School
Angeles City
MUSIC
Unit 4 – Musical Theater and Festivals of Asia

2. PEKING
OPERA

3. Chinese
Theater
Chinese theater traditionally
was considered as the highest
form of arts in China.

4. • is also known as the Beijing opera
• still follows traditional Chinese arts in
stressing meaning, rather than precise
actions
PEKING
OPERA
Chinese
Theater

5. • is a stylized Chinese form of opera
dating from the late 18th century, in
which speech, singing, mime, and
acrobatics are performed to an
instrumental accompaniment
PEKING
OPERA
Chinese
Theater

6. • became fully developed and
recognized by the mid-19th century
• was regarded as one of the cultural
treasures of China and was extremely
popular in the Qing Dynasty court
PEKING
OPERA
Chinese
Theater

7. • The opera artists’ goal is to make
every performance exceptionally
beautiful in every movement they will
make.
PEKING
OPERA
Chinese
Theater

8. PEKING
OPERA

9. STYLES
OF MUSIC

10. Basically, the Peking opera has two main
styles of music:
• Erh-huang
• His-p’l
These styles are very
similar and the only
difference is the key.
Main
Styles of
Music

11. His-p’l has lower sound than erh-
huang.
They also utilize the
technique called
fan-pan which is
commonly used for
sorrowful songs, and is
only sung by bearded characters.
Main
Styles of
Music

12. • It comprises about 8 musicians sitting
on stools in the far corner of the stage.
• Each performance in a Peking opera
begins with the ta-lo and siao-lo, a
small and large gong and cymbals.
PEKING
OPERA:
ORCHESTRA
Chinese
Theater

13. • In some performances, they also start
with a single skin drum or kettle drum.
• The conductor usually sits in the center
of the orchestra and creates tempo
with this drum.
PEKING
OPERA:
ORCHESTRA
Chinese
Theater

14. • The actor’s delivery of lines is rigidly
controlled by conventions.
• Each role has its prescribed vocal timbre
and pitch, and syllables are often drawn
out with regards to conversational usage in
order to maintain the appropriate rhythm.
PEKING
OPERA:
VOCAL
Chinese
Theater

15. • Even spoken passages are governed by
strict rhythms and tempos.
• Chanted and sung passages are freely
inserted into spoken monologues or
dialogues.
• Thus, lines are rendered in an extremely
stylized manner.
PEKING
OPERA:
VOCAL
Chinese
Theater

16. MUSICAL
INSTRUMENTS

17. 1. Ti-ts – cross flute; usually played
along singing
2. Siao – recorded flutes; usually
played along singing
3. Sona – trumpet; announces
prosperous occasions (victories,
good news, etc.)
Aerophone
Chinese
Theater

18. Violin-Like
1. Hu-ch’in – is a two-stringed violin-
like instrument that is held upright
against the knee
2. Bu-ch’in – is also a two-stringed
violin-like instrument that has a
more graceful sound
Chordophone
Chinese
Theater

19. Guitar-Like
1. Yue-ch’in – is a four-stringed moon
guitar
2. San-sien – is a three-stringed
instrument
3. Pi-p’a – is similar to lute with four
strings
Chordophone
Chinese
Theater

20. 1. Ta-lo
2. Siao-lo
3. Tan-pi-ku – kettle drum; used to
create the tempo of the
performance
Idiophone
Chinese
Theater
}gongs; signify the
beginning of the
performance

21. Pictures of
Peking Opera
Performers

28. Peking Opera
PERFORMANCE

29. PEKING
OPERA

30. PEKING
OPERA

31. THANKS!MR. CARLO JUSTINO J. LUNA
Malabanias Integrated School
Angeles City
MUSIC
Unit 4 – Musical Theater and Festivals of Asia