The Art of Chaozhou Zheng Music
"Chaozhou Music" and Chaozhou Zheng Music" are actually further
developments of ancient tunes which originally belonged to the
central part of China. As the central kingdom shifted from the
north to the south, its music culture was apt to be influenced
by that of the south. Thus, a new genre of music was developed,
i.e. "Chaozhou Music". This genre, folk music prevalent in
Chaozhou and Shantou districts in Guangdong Province, is
well-known both in China and overseas for its long history and
distinctive flavour.
The Chaozhou Zheng music is characterized by its gentle and
refined melodies as well as elegant and sentimental colouring.
Traditionals of Chaozhou Zheng music, include mostly "Xi-music",
"Han-music", and "Xianshi-music". "Temple-music",
"Di-qu-music", and various folk songs of "Chaozhou Music" also form
a part of the repertory. The popular pieces are "Butterflies
Dancing among Flowers", "Jackdaws Gambol Water", "Lamentations of
Lady Zhaojun" and "Liuqinniang". Famous Zheng players include
LIN Yong-zhi, SU Wen-xian and GUO Ying.
Chaozhou Zhengs are tuned in pentatonic scale, and are mostly in
the key of "F". Traditional scores are written in the form
"Er-si-score", i.e. the seven Chinese characters "Er", "San", "Si",
"Wu", "Liu", "Qi" and "Ba" denote the seven pitches "5, 6, 1,
2, 3, 5, 6". Like other forms of Chaozhou music, it employs special
modes. The most important modes are the "Unstressed Six",
"Stressed Six", "Unstressed Three Stressed Six", "Varying
Three-five", and "Fan-xian". These special modes are important
ingredients of the Chaozhou Zheng School.
The melodies of Chaozhou Zheng music are usually pentatonic.
Although sometimes "Fa" and "Si" may be employed, the basic
skeletons are still pentatonic. Moreover, in Chaozhou Zheng music,
though basically the "Three-section Temperament" is employed.
"Fa" is higher, and "Si" is lower than usual. To a further extent
is the frequent involvements of "Neutral intervals", "3/4
Whole Tones", and "1/2 Semi-tones". These unusual intervals not
just provide more chances for melodic development, but also
enrich the tone colour and distinctive flavour.
The methods for variation and ornamentation are quite unique in
the Chaozhou Zheng School. "Tou-ban" (Grave), "Er-ban" (Lento), and
"San-ban" (Allegro) are the three basic tempi in Chaozhou Zheng
music. Base on the same melody, three different methods may be
employed for variation, they are "Kao-pai", "Single-cui and
"Double-cui". The following table shows these methods:-
Er-ban: 32 35 |
32 3 |
61 61 | 31 2 | ......
Kao-pai: 02
05 | 32 33 | 01 01 | 31 22 | ......
Single-cui: 32
| 35 |
32 | 33 | 61 | 61 | 31 | 22 | ......
Double-cui: 3332 | 3335 | 3332 | 3333 | 6661 | ......
6661 | 3331 | 2222 | ......
The fingerings of this school are also quite sole and unique.
These include different kinds of vibrato, glissando and
stoppings. They all contribute much to the distinctive colouring of
this school.