Scholar from Bashan County: A Sichuan Opera

Abstract

gaoqiangc, kunqud, tanqiange, huqinqiangf, and dengxig--originated in different parts of China, and each has its own unique characteristics. In the early part of this century, these five traditions came to be performed together in Sichuan under the name chuanju (Kalvodova 1966, 517). The chuanju play Scholar from Bashan County (Bashan xiucaih) uses primarily gaoqiang music. From southeastern China, gaoqiang (also referred to asyiyangqiangi) arrived in Sichuan in the late seventeenth century (Kalvodova 1966, 508). Perhaps its most distinctive features are its (bangqiangj) and its use of a solely idiophonic (percussion) orchestra to accompany the singing of principal actors (Mackerras 1975, 156). The helping chorus may be composed of members of the orchestra or, in some cases, just the orchestra conductor; in most instances, however, a separate group of singers who do not take individual roles in the play constitute the helping chorus, appearing on stage in costumes or in street dress, or more often singing unseen from the wings (Zhongguo 1981, 117, 221). In most contemporary chuanju performances, including performances of this play, the