Huangmei Opera in Anqing City,Anhui Province,China

Abstract

This dissertation is a study of Huangmei opera in Anqing City, Anhui Province, China. It describes the characteristics of its music, its history, and its preservation, promotion and transmission in the context of contemporary times. Huangmei opera has a history of more than 200 years from the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty to the present. Its history is divided into four periods, during which the performance practices have changed from simple to complex, the singing style has drawn from folk songs to other opera styles, the repertoire has significantly expanded, the musical ensemble accompaniment has evolved from single to multiple forms, and its popularity has spread from around Anqing areas to all over the country.

This study also deals with the opera’s music structure, scales and modes, and melodic and phrase structure. Huangmei opera music uses both the qupai systerm and banqiang systerm as known in Chinese music. The melodies are sung mainly in the gong mode and zhi mode.

The preservation, promotion and transmission of Huangmei opera has undergone through a development crisis in the contemporary times impacting the performer, audience and the troupe. To attract more audiences to appreciate Huangmei opera, the troupes and performers have made a series of reforms, adaptations and innovations, which brought about its effective preservation and transmission. Huangmei opera is not only a kind of opera but an essential part of traditional Chinese music as well. The Anqing area is the centre for the development of Huangmei opera, and its highest performance level in China. Studying Huangmei opera in Anqing area can not only understand its historical development, musical characteristics and current situation, but also illustrates an example of an exploration on the development of traditional music in contemporary Chinese society.

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