Nantang Wind and Percussion Music

19.Nantang Wind and Percussion Music

Nominating Unit: City of Shanwei

Originated from the Zhengxuan Family of Nantang Town in City of Lufeng in East Guangdong Province, Nantang traditional wind and percussion Music has a history of more than 100 years. Now popular in coastal cities such as Haifeng, Lufeng, Huilai, Huidong and Puning, the music is performed at both weddings and funerals, and sometimes it is even put on stage. It enjoys great popularity among the masses.

One branch of the Foshan Percussion Music with Qingxing as the representative set up at the beginning of the Republic of China became the form of instrumental Foshan Percussion Music. With suona (trumpet) of various sizes as the major instrument supplemented with gong, drum, cymbal and other percussion music equipment, the branch is divided into different categories, including wind and percussion music, musical instruments performance, drum and wind music, and strains of music accompanied by drumbeats, etc. Depending on occasions and stories, different sorts of folk vocal arts will be selected, for example, Buddhist chime, Taoist chime and Zhengzi Opera song, coupled with other instrumental tunes like Sitting on High Terrace, Soldier Marching and Confrontation on special occasions. Moreover, the Foshan Percussion Music has other tailor-made repertoires and tunes which can be performed in solo, duo unison or hung from the rope while acrobatics is being staged. The tune, though simple, is high-pitched and bold with outstanding South China characteristics. Representative of the branch, Mr. Zhengxuan is expert in blowing suona with his head and arms holding ceramic bowls. In 2006 during the 7th China Folk Arts Festival, he was honored as “China’s King of Musical Instrumental Performer”.(https://www.daowen.com)

Different from the non-Chinese music in terms of wind instrument performance, performers of Nantang wind and percussion music exhale air through the mouth and inhale through the nostril to complete air circulation in one breath. They can even use their fingers to control the sound holes or smartly add other notes into the music to create differing variations. After being passed down from one generation to another, performers’ skills of wind instrument and songs have reached the pinnacle.

Nantang wind and percussion music is closely related to local customs, drama and opera music, and religious music. Therefore, it plays an important role in the study of the circulation and evolution of the central plain’s culture in coastal areas of East Guangdong Province.

However, with the passage of time and changes of economic modes, people’s mindset changes, too. The young generation either changes their professions to become businessmen or makes a living somewhere else. The remaining artists are so senior in years that the tradition risks getting lost. In light of this, recovering and protecting the traditional practice are urgently needed.