Brief Introduction of “Song and Dance of Tang
Dynasty”
Xi’an (called Chang’an in ancient times), is a city where 13
dynasties established capitals in the long Chinese history. Among
them, the Tang Dynasty (618A.D.-907A.D.) that has enjoyed fame
throughout the history，reveals prosperity and brilliance of Chinese
civilization. “Song and Dance of Tang Dynasty” is one of the
symbols of its culture when the dynasty was at the pinnacle of
power and splendor.
“Song and Dance of Tang Dynasty” assembles the best of songs and
dances in the past generations, and drew essences from many ethnic
groups in Western Regions and foreign cultures, which fully
reflected the national conditions and customs of the Dynasty at the
height of its power. It is the perfect portraiture of the
prosperity and peace of the booming Tang Dynasty.
Time:? 20:00, November 1, 2006
????????????20:00,
November 2, 2006
Place: The South Africa State Theatre, Pretoria
Program
White Ramie Dance
The Spring Oriole’s Singing
Dance to Song
Masked Warriors
Dance to Maoyuan Drum
Parting at Yangguan Pass (Yangguan Sandie)
Take a Break
Dance in Feathered Clothing
Hitting Jujube
Guici Dance
The King of Qin Breaks the Battle Array
The Quarreling Ducks, The Tiger Grinds Its Teeth
Ritual Music of Grand Tang Dynasty
Introduction of program
White Ramie Dance
This is a long sleeve dance very popular in the royal court and
among civilians during the Tang Dynasty. It was originated in the
State of Wu (the present Jiangsu province) as early as Jin Period
(265-402) and got popular in the central plains in the Tang
Dynasty.?
The Spring Oriole’s Singing
The story goes that when Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty was
holding the ceremony to confer the title of Prince on his son, an
oriole passed by, which was considered to be a sign of good luck.
Then Gaozong ordered the official professional musician to compose
music as celebration. Paixiao is an age-old traditional Chinese
musical instrument and has a history of over three thousand
years.
Dance to Song
At the springtime, in the green field, a group of graceful and
charming girls come along slowly. Their gentle, beautiful, and
light dance and willowy figures are integrated with the radiant and
enchanting rural landscape and form a wonderful scene.
Masked Warriors
Masked dance was recorded as early as the Chinese Zhou Period
and became popular in the Tang Dynasty. The dance reflected the
spirits of Tang people’s aspiration for a happy and peaceful life
through driving away diseases and ghosts and conquering evil
spirits.
Dance to Maoyuan Drum
Maoyuan drum is a percussion musical instrument in Tang dynasty.
The dance is created according to the dancing image of “Paradise
Skilled Musical Bodhisattva” in the Dung Huang Mural. It adopts the
multiple drum sources of “flowery drums” in the ancient folk dance
of the Qin and Jin dynasties.
?
Parting at Yangguan Pass (Yangguan
Sandie)
This is a famous piece of music in the Tang Dynasty. Because
there are two place names “Yangguan” and “Weicheng” in the poem, it
is also called Music of Yangguan or Music of Weicheng. “Yangguan”
also becomes a surrogate for the bidding farewell to friends.
Sandie refers to the three variation of one tune in the three
segments of the whole piece of music.
Dance in Feathered Clothing?
This was a famous palace dance in the Tang Dynasty. According to
the legendary, it was written by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang
Dynasty and danced by his beloved imperial concubine Yang Yuhuan.
The original dance was lost. The present performance is conceived
and recreated according to written records and poems. The music
adopts the ancient Chang’an Drum Music as the source material and
the dance assimilates some dancing poses of Shanxi and Dung Huang
Mural. Tang grand music structure is adopted.
Hitting Jujube
The music gives full play to all kinds of performing skills of
Suona and imitation of singing in drama. Hitting jujube reflects
people’s cheerful and humorous sanguine character and describes a
joyful and happy life scene.
Guici Dance
The ancient Guizi is located in today’s Kuche in Xinjiang. In
order to display the prosperity of the country and balance the
relations between Han and the ethnic groups in Xinjiang, the Tang
Emperor Li Shimin had the court dancing choreographed on the basis
of the essence of the dancing and music in Wei, Jin, and North and
South Dynasties, of which Guizi dance was a representative.
The King of Qin Breaks the Battle
Array
King of Qin is the title of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.
After he ascended the throne, he designed the dance by himself, in
which 128 people dancing with armors and halberds. Now the
performance is done on the basis of the Tang Dynasty music with the
original lyrics.
The Quarreling Ducks, The Tiger Grinds Its
Teeth
These are two pieces of percussion music. The former is derived
from Xi’an drum music and the latter from folk drum music of
Weibei. The two pieces portray the vivid scene of ducks quarreling
and playing and the tiger’s mighty appearance when walking like
high wind and sitting like a huge rock.
Ritual Music of Grand Tang
The splendid collective dance suite and the colorful music and
dance performance demonstrate the unprecedented great power of the
prosperous Tang Dynasty and display the verve and grace of oriental
music and dance culture.
Brief Introduction of Song and Dance Group of Shaanxi
Provincial Song and Dance Ensemble
Song and Dance Group of Shaanxi Provincial Song and Dance
Ensemble is an artistic performing group of music and dance that is
well-known in China and enjoys very high reputation home and
abroad.
This Group’s excellent young performers have professional
training background .Their artistic accomplishments and adept
skills and talent have contributed to their own unique performing
style and artistic characteristics. The first classical Chinese
music and dance “Song and Dance of Tang Dynasty” is created and
performed by this Group. This Group has visited over 40 countries
including USA, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Brazil, and Japan and
performed for over 100 heads and visiting delegations from
different countries. It maintains arts exchanges with Taiwan, Hong
Kong and Macao.
Organizers:
The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of
China
Department of Arts and Culture of the Republic of South
Africa
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of
South Africa
(China.org.cn October 29, 2006)
