List of ensemble formations in traditional Chinese music

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Miao (Hmong)-Musicians of Guizhou are playing in a Lusheng-Ensemble

This is a list of ensemble formations in traditional Chinese music:

Luogu and drum ensembles[edit]

Luogu (锣鼓; pinyin: luógǔ; literally "gongs and drums") are Chinese percussion ensembles, which are typically made up of several different types of drums (鼓; pinyin: gǔ) and several different types of metal idiophones, usually including gongs (鑼/锣; pinyin: luó) and cymbals (鈸; pinyin: bó). Such ensembles sometimes play in juxtaposition with melodic ensembles. There are also ensembles that consist solely of drums.

Loud wind and percussion ensembles[edit]

Ensembles comprising loud wind instruments (including suona, guanzi, sheng, and sometimes also dizi, long straight brass trumpets, or string instruments) and the percussion instruments of the luogu ensemble are usually referred to as either guchui (literally "drumming [and] blowing") or chuida (literally "blowing [and] hitting") ensembles. Such ensembles traditionally perform outdoors, often while marching, for weddings, funerals, or (originally) military purposes. They include the following:

Silk and bamboo ensembles[edit]

Ensembles made up primarily of strings, flutes, and small percussion instruments are usually referred to as sizhu (丝竹; pinyin: sīzhú; literally "silk [and] bamboo") ensembles. They include:

Buddhist and Daoist ritual music[edit]

Once performed regularly at Buddhist and Daoist temples throughout China, since 1949 such music has experienced a significant decline, and may now be found at only a few temples in China and Taiwan.

Ancient Chinese orchestra[edit]

The ancient Chinese orchestra, which comprised up to several hundred or more traditional Chinese musical instruments of many types, existed from at least the Shang Dynasty and performed yayue (雅樂) music for court rituals and sacrifices, as well as for entertainment of the court.

Modern Chinese orchestra[edit]

The modern Chinese orchestra, comprising up to 100 or more traditional (or modernized traditional) Chinese musical instruments, as well as often cellos and double basses, was developed in the early 20th century.

Non-Han ensembles[edit]

Many ensembles are found only among China's 55 ethnic minorities. These include:

  • Bayin (八音) - literally "eight sounds"; instrumental ensemble of the Zhuang people of Guangxi, which includes such instruments as the maguhu, tuhu, huluhu, sanxian, drums, and cymbals, as well as other instruments
  • Lusheng ensemble (芦笙) - ensemble of lusheng mouth organs of various sizes (and sometimes also mangtong) performed by the Miao and Dong peoples of southern China

References[edit]

See also[edit]

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