Naxi Music
Foundation
Naxi ancient music ensemble introduction
Bai Sha Xi music ensemble was consisted of farmers who were interested in music. They usually stayed at home farming, and only played Bai Sha Xi music at funerals. There was no uniformed costumes, and the size of the ensemble ranged from 4 to 10 people.
Dong Jing music ensemble was more "prestigious". Only government officials, literati, and rich musicians could join the ensemble. Dong Jing music ensemble had different roles, including president, ShanZhang(the conductor), vice ShanZhang, etc.
Video editor/ interviewer| Ziyue Yang
Musician| Zemin Yang
2020 June
Percussion Instruments
Shimian Yunluo (percussion)
Ten- pitch Gong
made by Dayan Naxi ancient music ensemble
Origin
Shimian Yunluo (lit.ten pitch Gong) can also called as nine pitch gong (because the top gong is not frequently being used). The earliest historical record of this instrument is in The History of Yuan Dynasty: Ritual and Music: "Shimian Yunluo is made of copper. It has 10 small gongs, placed on the same wooden framework. Musician uses left hand to hold the instrument and strikes the gong using the mallet in the right hand."
Musician| Zemin Yang
2020 June
note: In this video, the instrument is handmade, so it is not perfectly tuned but off by one semitone.
However, in Lijiang, Shimian Yunluo has 10 gongs instead, and the pitches are G, A, C, D, E, F#, which is from Ya heptatonic scale(七声雅乐音阶) in Ancient China music. However, in Naxi ancient music, particularly Dongjing music, F# is played instead of F as in the original Ya heptatonic scale.
Role in ensemble
Shimian Yunluo acts as the "conductor" in an ensemble. The musicians that play the Shimian Yunluo are usually Shan Zhang who can memorize both the scripture and the music. The tempo of the ensemble is controlled by Shan Zhang. Besides, Shan Zhang is also responsible of ringing the Fa bell as the piece move from Sanban (the temporary disregarding of strict tempo to allow an expressive quickening or slackening, usually without altering the overall pace) to ZhengBan where the tempo is no longer being disregarded.
The other musicians in the ensemble listen to the Shimian Yunluo for both the rhythm and the melody, so the position Shan Zhang is vitally important.
Fishknocker
(percussion)
Fishknocker back
made by Dayan Naxi ancient music ensemble
Fishknocker profile
Fishknocker front
Ringdrum
(percussion)
Ringdrum front
made by Dayan Naxi ancient music ensemble
Ringdrum profile
Ringdrum back
Bo
(percussion)
Bo front and back
made by Dayan Naxi ancient music ensemble
Sugudu
(string)
Video editor/ interviewer| Ziyue Yang
Musician| Zemin Yang
2020 June
In NaXi language, "Su" means metal, and "Gudu" means walnut. Together "Sugudu" is an instrument made by metal and walnut. According to the legend, Sugudu was brought to LiJiang during Southern Song dynasty by HuBiLie. At first Sugudu was only used for funeral music NaXi BaiShaXi music. Later in the early years of Republic of China, it is slowly played for NaXi DongJing music too.
Sugudu is an important coloring instrument for both DongJing and BaiShaXi music. Musicians usually play glissando on Sugudu.
Sugudu back
Sugudu profile
Sugudu front
made by Mr. ZhaoLin He
Bent neck Pipa
(string)
made by Mr. Zhaolin He
Bent neck pipa profile
Bent neck pipa back
Bent neck pipa front
Three-string
(string)
San Xian
San Xian profile
San Xian front
made by Dayan Naxi ancient music ensemble
Di Hu
(string)
Its neck is made of phyllostachys aurea or wood, the texture is soft, with a dragon head on the top for decoration and snakeskin covered case.
Dihu profile
made by Dayan Naxi ancient music ensemble
Dihu back
Zhong Hu
(string)
made by Dayan Naxi ancient music ensemble
Zhong Hu profile
Zhong Hu
Zhong Hu front