Chinese Traditional String Music

Chinese traditional string music, also known as string music, Xuanshi music, or xiyue (fine music), is popular in the north, south and central plains. It was used to accompany operas and folk arts in the Song and Yuan dynasties. Later,it referred to music ensembles featuring several plucked stringed instruments and bowed instruments. Due to their elegant styles and long history, Chinese traditional string music is also known as elegant and ancient music,with typical representatives including the 13 sets of stringed musical instruments of Beijing,bantou tunes of Henan,and fine music of Chaozhou.

Despite popularity in different regions, variations in local features and styles,these varieties of music share a lot in common in tones,band combination, and form of performance, and the structure of music. Generally,only three or four pieces of string musical instruments with local characteristics are used, such as the guzheng,pipa,yangqin,sanxian,and huqin.Each instrument has its own characteristics of independent performance with a harmonious coordination of various instruments.