Posted 2017/8/13
Hebei Bangzi Opera is a main local opera in Hebei. It roots in early shanxibangzi. It has about 140 year history. It comes from the villages of Hebei and distributes over Hebei province. It once prevails not only in the great cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, but also spread all over Shandon and northeast. It is a great opera that the popular area is extensive and the effect is very strong. Its list of plays contains the traditional list and the fashionable-dress opera list. Its playbooks are vulgar and pellucid, and have more local language rich in local feature. Its tone is strong and accompaniment is swingeing.
Hebei bangzi is derived from Qinqiang and Shanxi bangzi operas, which were introduced to Hebei during the middle of the Qing Dynasty. It is sung in Beijing dialect. Performers and roles of Hebei Bangzi also include Sheng (生), Dan (旦), Jing (净), Chou (丑), the same roles as Beijing opera.
Xusheng (须生), a man with whiskers, plays the leading male role and his singing style is forceful and solemn. The Qingyi (青衣) female role emphasizes loud, clear singing, and the Huadan (花旦) female role stresses acting and dialogue.
Songs in the Hualian (花脸) male role are performed with a painted face, and are rustic and vigorous. Hebei Bangzi has a special acting role, the Jingsheng (净生), which combines Sheng (生) costumes, Jing (净) tunes and the performance styles of both Jing and Sheng.
Musical patterns of Hebei Bangzi include five rhythmic structures. The accompanying instruments are the banhu, two-stringed Chinese fiddle: dizi, horizontal bamboo.
