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)