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Lijiang
Naxi Ancient Music
When walking on the ancient streets of
Lijiang Old Town, you will undoubtedly
hear the wonderful Naxi (also spelt Nakhi and Nahi) Ancient Music, the
traditional Naxi classical music that is regarded as a 'living fossil of
Chinese music.'
Naxi people must enjoy special favor in the eyes of the
divinity, for they seem to be born with artistic qualities and poetic
minds. Great talents in the areas of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and
music have all come from this rich and captivating culture.
A crystallization of Taoist rite, Confucian ceremony, and the literary
lyrics, poetic topics and musical tones of the Tang, Song and Yuan
Dynasties, Naxi Ancient Music has developed its own unique style and
traits - the result of 500 hundred years of evolution. It originally
included three parts -'Baisha Fine Music' (Baisha Xiyue), 'Dongjing
Music' (Dongjing Yinyue), and 'Huangjing Music' (Huangjing Yinyue), the
last of which has long been lost in the river of time. Played on
venerable Chinese musical instruments such as flute, shawm, Chinese
lute, plectrum, and zither, Naxi Music has the power to cleanse the
heart and relax the mind.
Baisha Fine Music:
It is said that Baisha Fine Music was an honoraria from
the first emperor of the Yuan Dynasty-Kublai Khan. When this brave
conqueror was on his expedition to Dali, which is not far from Lijiang,
he met danger while crossing the Golden Sand River and received help
from Mailiang, the leader of the Naxi people. To show his pure-hearted
appreciation, Kublai Khan left half of his band and many musical scores
as a gift before leaving. Baisha Fine Music is one of ancient China's
few large-scale, classical orchestral forms of music and has 24 'qupai'
(tunes) which are archaic, simple and elegant in style, and exquisite,
euphonious and energetic in character.
Dongjing Music:
This is a type of Taoist music which was introduced to
Yunnan from the central Plains during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Deeply rooted and widely spread among the Naxi people, Dongjing Music
became the most well preserved musical form in all of China. Besides its
intrinsic stateliness, purity and elegance, Dongjing Music incorporated
the local musical elements, styles and the skills used in performances
of the Naxi ethnic group-creating a feeling of transcendental artistic
conception and charming folk flavor which can be easily appreciated. It
was originally an enjoyment reserved for the noble class, but these
shackles were eventually broken because of the Naxi people's passion for
music.
At least four unabridged orchestras exist in and around
Lijiang, and these characteristic bands are famous for their
'three-olds': first, old men (most of the players are over 70 years
old); second, old musical instruments (many are antiques dating back
more than 100 years, some of which can not be seen in other places);
third, old songs (all are antiquated classical music). Members of the
bands are drawn from all kinds of occupations including teachers,
artisans, farmers, butchers, clerks, etc. Naxi Ancient Music Bands have
been invited to perform in Hong Kong, Great Britain, America, Holland,
Belgium and Norway, exercising great influence and gaining attention
from all over the world.
Generations of national musicians devote themselves to
Naxi Ancient Music and make it a part of Naxi culture. Music can
represent a nation's spirit and offer a better way to know the people
who play and enjoy it, so take the opportunity to hear Naxi Ancient
Music; it is guaranteed to be an unforgettable life experience.
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