Dong Pipa Plucked Lute of Southern China: Its performance practices and changes

Abstract

This research work, Dong Pipa Plucked Lute of Southern China: Its performance practices and changes, was a qualitative research. Its objectives included 1) To investigate the historical development of Dong Pipa in Southern China. 2) To analyze investigate the performance practices of Dong Pipa in Southern China; and 3) To study the change of the performance practices of Dong Pipa in Southern China.. Doccument and field data were collected and field data were obtained through interviews and observations. The data were anakyzed and presented in analytical descriptive form.The results of the research were as follow:

On the historical development, the development was divided in two periods before and after 1949 A.D. Before 1949. Dong Pipa underwent its traditional development phase, predominantly characterized by performances within the folk life of Dong ethnic villages. After 1949 the performance practicesand of Dong Pipal experienced significant development。

On the performance practices, it was divided into the following items musical instrument's structure and classification,tuning System, music repertoires and performance occasions and functions. The classification and structure of Dong pipa.Tuning system for different sizes of lutes. Different performance occasions and functions before and after 1949. Collected are traditional and contemporary selected repertoire of Dong Pipa, which reflect the unique musical morphological characteristics of Dong Pipa.

On the changes of the performance practices , it was also on the musical instrument's structure, tuning system, its repertoires and performance occasions and functions. This chapter aims to investigate the changes in the performance practices of Dong Pipa after 1949, including alterations in instrument structure, tuning systems, repertoire and performance occasions and functions. This exploration is intended to facilitate better innovation and adaptation to the development of the times in the future.

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