Shanghai opera (Chinese: 沪剧; pinyin: huju), formerly known as Shenqu (Chinese: 申曲; pinyin: shēnqǔ), is a variety of Chinese opera from Shanghai typically sung in Shanghainese. It is unique in Chinese opera in that virtually all dramas in its repertoire today are set in the modern era (20th and 21st centuries). This arose from Yue opera's dominance in Shanghai in the 1940s.[1]
Huju is particularly popular in Baihe, the oldest town in the Qingpu District of Shanghai.[2] There are eight to ten huju ensembles in the Baihe, and many local residents hire these ensembles to perform for weddings and funerals.[3]
Huju is accompanied by traditional Chinese instruments, including dizi (transverse bamboo flute), erhu (two-stringed fiddle), pipa (pear-shaped lute), yangqin (hammered dulcimer), and percussion. The instrumentation and style are closely related to the instrumental genre of Jiangnan sizhu.
The well-known Chinese composition "Purple Bamboo Melody" (紫竹调; 紫竹調) has been adapted and used for huju.
The Shanghai opera is rooted in the folksongs of the Huangpu River area. According to historical records from 1796, there was more than 200 years of cultural development from the original Huaguxi operas before the emergence of contemporary Shanghai opera.[4]
During the rule of the Qianlong emperor of the Qing dynasty, Huaguxi was very popular in Shanghai. Influenced by Huaguxi and other forms of drama during the reign of the Guangxu emperor of Qing dynasty, these folksongs developed into Tanhuang [cmn] (滩簧). In order to distinguish them from Sutan and Nibo Tanhuang, Shanghainese people called them "bentan" (本滩) or "shentan" (申滩). Performance of shentan began in Shanghai around the 1900s.
Before and after the revolution of 1911, shentan were performed in various venues across Shanghai. In 1914, Wenbin shao (邵文滨), Lanting Shi (施兰亭), and Shaolan Ding (丁少兰) organized "zhenxinji " to improve bentan. It was then renamed "shenqu " (申曲).[citation needed]
In 1941, Shanghai Huju She was founded in Shanghai. It was an ensemble that consisted of several opera performers.[5] They renamed shenqu as Huju. During this period, Huju became a more concrete art form.[6]
During the 1950s and 1960s, Huju adapted many modern plays. It adopted divisions of acts and recognized the role of the playwright and director at a much earlier time than other similar art forms. Red Lantern and Shajiabang—the most influential Jingju (Peking opera) plays among the eight model plays created during the Cultural Revolution—were both adapted from Huju plays.
Shanghai opera legend Mao Shanyu in 2019
Characteristicsedit
Huju is performed in Shanghainese, a dialect that is considerably different from Mandarin. Translators are often available at the venues where these are performed.
The pieces tend to reflect certain aspects of real life because they derive from folk songs. Performances of the early Huju only needed two performers: one played a musical instrument and the other told contemporary stories. Huju also adopted many elements of movies and dramas in lighting, expression, and stage designs. Through Huju, people can gain a better knowledge of the life and history of Shanghai people.
Future prospectsedit
Like many other regional opera styles, Huju is in danger of disappearing. Wu dialect, which pertains to Shanghai, is not currently popular with local audiences. Performances of Huju are decreasing,[7] and few young actors take up this art form when television and film have more popularity and influence. Meanwhile, lack of good Huju scripts is also a problem for the survival of Huju.[citation needed]
^"Opera lover protects art form in Qingpu". Eastday/Shanghai Daily. 17 January 2005.
^"2005-01-17 Opera lover protects art form in Qingpu". Qingpu Shanghai Web Portal. Shanghai Qingpu Government. 6 June 2005.
^Stock, Jonathan (2003). Huju: Traditional Opera in modern Shanghai. Oxford ; New York : Published for the British Academy by Oxford University Press. ISBN0197262732.
^. 新华网. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016.
^"Learning "Huju" in Shanghai, 1900-1950: Apprenticeship and the Acquisition of Expertise in a Chinese Local Opera Tradition". Asian Music. 33 (2 (Spring - Summer, 2002), pp. 1-42).
shanghai, opera, shanghai, western, style, opera, company, shanghai, opera, house, chinese, 沪剧, pinyin, huju, formerly, known, shenqu, chinese, 申曲, pinyin, shēnqǔ, variety, chinese, opera, from, shanghai, typically, sung, shanghainese, unique, chinese, opera, . For Shanghai s western style opera company see Shanghai Opera House Shanghai opera Chinese 沪剧 pinyin huju formerly known as Shenqu Chinese 申曲 pinyin shenqǔ is a variety of Chinese opera from Shanghai typically sung in Shanghainese It is unique in Chinese opera in that virtually all dramas in its repertoire today are set in the modern era 20th and 21st centuries This arose from Yue opera s dominance in Shanghai in the 1940s 1 Shanghai operaShanghai opera in 2013Native nameHuju 沪剧 EtymologyHu the abbreviation of ShanghaiOther namesShenqu 申曲 OriginQing dynasty 19th century Major regionShanghaiTypical instrumentsErhuYangqinSanxianPipaDiziPercussionTopolectShanghaineseTune systemTanhuang Shanghai operaTraditional Chinese滬劇Simplified Chinese沪剧Transcriptions Huju Luo Han Qian in 1952 Huju is particularly popular in Baihe the oldest town in the Qingpu District of Shanghai 2 There are eight to ten huju ensembles in the Baihe and many local residents hire these ensembles to perform for weddings and funerals 3 Huju is accompanied by traditional Chinese instruments including dizi transverse bamboo flute erhu two stringed fiddle pipa pear shaped lute yangqin hammered dulcimer and percussion The instrumentation and style are closely related to the instrumental genre of Jiangnan sizhu The well known Chinese composition Purple Bamboo Melody 紫竹调 紫竹調 has been adapted and used for huju Contents 1 History 2 Characteristics 3 Future prospects 4 References 5 External links 6 See alsoHistory editThe Shanghai opera is rooted in the folksongs of the Huangpu River area According to historical records from 1796 there was more than 200 years of cultural development from the original Huaguxi operas before the emergence of contemporary Shanghai opera 4 During the rule of the Qianlong emperor of the Qing dynasty Huaguxi was very popular in Shanghai Influenced by Huaguxi and other forms of drama during the reign of the Guangxu emperor of Qing dynasty these folksongs developed into Tanhuang cmn 滩簧 In order to distinguish them from Sutan and Nibo Tanhuang Shanghainese people called them bentan 本滩 or shentan 申滩 Performance of shentan began in Shanghai around the 1900s Before and after the revolution of 1911 shentan were performed in various venues across Shanghai In 1914 Wenbin shao 邵文滨 Lanting Shi 施兰亭 and Shaolan Ding 丁少兰 organized zhenxinji to improve bentan It was then renamed shenqu 申曲 citation needed In 1941 Shanghai Huju She was founded in Shanghai It was an ensemble that consisted of several opera performers 5 They renamed shenqu as Huju During this period Huju became a more concrete art form 6 During the 1950s and 1960s Huju adapted many modern plays It adopted divisions of acts and recognized the role of the playwright and director at a much earlier time than other similar art forms Red Lantern and Shajiabang the most influential Jingju Peking opera plays among the eight model plays created during the Cultural Revolution were both adapted from Huju plays nbsp Shanghai opera legend Mao Shanyu in 2019Characteristics editHuju is performed in Shanghainese a dialect that is considerably different from Mandarin Translators are often available at the venues where these are performed The pieces tend to reflect certain aspects of real life because they derive from folk songs Performances of the early Huju only needed two performers one played a musical instrument and the other told contemporary stories Huju also adopted many elements of movies and dramas in lighting expression and stage designs Through Huju people can gain a better knowledge of the life and history of Shanghai people Future prospects editLike many other regional opera styles Huju is in danger of disappearing Wu dialect which pertains to Shanghai is not currently popular with local audiences Performances of Huju are decreasing 7 and few young actors take up this art form when television and film have more popularity and influence Meanwhile lack of good Huju scripts is also a problem for the survival of Huju citation needed References edit Fu Jin 2021 A History of Chinese Theatre in the 20th Century II Translated by Zhang Qiang Taylor amp Francis ISBN 978 1 138 33066 5 Opera lover protects art form in Qingpu Eastday Shanghai Daily 17 January 2005 2005 01 17 Opera lover protects art form in Qingpu Qingpu Shanghai Web Portal Shanghai Qingpu Government 6 June 2005 Stock Jonathan 2003 Huju Traditional Opera in modern Shanghai Oxford New York Published for the British Academy by Oxford University Press ISBN 0197262732 1941年上海沪剧社成立 申曲被正式定名为沪剧 新华网 Archived from the original on October 22 2016 Learning Huju in Shanghai 1900 1950 Apprenticeship and the Acquisition of Expertise in a Chinese Local Opera Tradition Asian Music 33 2 Spring Summer 2002 pp 1 42 Shanghai opera About Education Stock Jonathan P J 2003 Huju Traditional Opera in Modern Shanghai OUP British Academy ISBN 0 19 726273 2 ISBN 978 0 19 726273 3 External links editArticle about huju Article about huju Article about American singing huju Article about the revival of hujuSee also editGu Yuezhen Yue opera opera from the Shaoxing region of northeastern Zhejiang Province Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shanghai opera amp oldid 1196891688, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
