Posted 2017/7/5
Hengqi Tune is a unique kind of opera in our local operas. In the period of Wanli in the Qing Dynasty. A person who fled from famine carried it to Zhuanhe Village and Hengqi Village. Up to now, some village in Baoding also have remained this traditional artistic entertainment and been on show at every Spring Festival.
The melody of Hengqi Tune: The melody that was carried to Zhuanghe Village is the simple upper-four tune that has only two tunes. The melody that was carried to Hengqi Village is the complicated lower-four tune that is divided into nine accents and eighteen tunes. At present, because of the performance of modern plays and the need for plot, some tunes turn into the quick beating and slow singing.
The role and its voice of Hengqi Tune: Before 1949, all the women roles were acted by men whose spoken parts and singing voice were replaced by their falsetto. After 1949, there appeared women performers who used their own voice more than the second voice. As the instruments, the banhu is the leading one which is accompanied by sanxian, black flute, erhu,, sheng and pipa in the civil division; while in the military division, the big small-cymbals, war drum, hand-hold gong, suona and bass drum are used.
The content of Hengqi Tune: Before 1949, its plays are mainly all kinds of fairy tales and historic play of different periods, such as Western Qi, Qipan Mountain, Eight Junior and Gallants The famous Mansion etc. After 1949, because of the need for social development, many modern plays were performed, such as Little Son-in-law, The Second Son of Hei Family Goes to Marry and The Shore of Jinshe River. All of these sere greatly praised by all the people. At present, Baoding Hengqi Troupe is the professional troupe to perform this kind of opera.
