Jiangnan Sizhu Music Clubs

Jiangnan Sizhu music clubs are located in Shanghai, China.  China has produced a variety of ensembles throughout the years, genres composed of mainly string and wind instruments are identified as Sizhu musics.  Sizhu literally means “silk and bamboo” referring to the instruments and Jiangnan referring to the location in China (South of the River).  These ensembles generally consist of the dizi (bamboo transverse flute), xiao (end-blown bamboo flute), sheng (mouth-organ), erhu (two-stringed fiddle), pipa (four stringed plucked lute), sanxian (three stringed plucked lute) and yangqin (hammer dulcimer), accompanied by small percussion instruments such as a clapper.  These instruments are collectively owned and stored in a back room to be brought out during the weekly sessions.  Approximately two hundred musicians participate in these music clubs with regularity. The dizi assumes the lead role, usually deciding which pieces are to be played next.  One of the most interesting parts about the Jiangnan Sizhu ensemble is their repertoire.  Their core repertoire is called the ba daqu, the “eight great pieces”.  These songs are based on common Chinese melodies and are often repeated several times in a single session.  The beauty is found in the individuality with which each musician plays a well-known song.  

We saw this video in class but it is worth watching again.  This gives a visual to the tearoom/intimate/amateur feel. 

Below there are two clips of the same song, Hua San Liu (one of the Eight Great Pieces).  Even to an untrained ear you can identify that each song has its own local flavor and ornamentation.  

An important factor of this ensemble is the amateur nature.  Performances do not occur in order to receive praise or compensation.  These musicians play the pieces over and over again for their own enjoyment. 

This clip is interesting as it shows an ensemble in what seems to be a parade of sorts.  Potentially a wedding celebration has brought the ensemble out of doors.  This is in contrast to the standard practice of sitting around in a circle or around a table.   

Jiangnan Sizhu practices exemplify the joy in music itself.  These musicians play the same music hundreds of thousands of times in their lifetime and yet continue to love the tradition.  

Resources: 

http://contemporary_chinese_culture.academic.ru/390/Jiangnan_sizhu

https://www.jstor.org/stable/852140?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

https://www.jstor.org/stable/851891?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents